SME Times News Bureau | 22 Jan, 2018
The International Trade Fair
on Organics & Millets held here since Friday generated Rs107
crore business, said Karnataka Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre
Gowda on Sunday.
"The Fair generated Rs 107 crore
business in three days, including Rs 27.69 crore as letters of intent
between 34 farmers federations and entrepreneurs got commitments
worth Rs 340 crore for the next three years," said Gowda on the
event's last day.
Held for the first time in the southern
state at the sprawling Bengaluru Palace grounds in the city centre,
the Fair attracted a whopping 2 lakh people.
"We hope
to bring about a change in the dietary habits of the people and
promote a sustainable future with organic and millets," said
Gowda.
State IT Minister Priyank Kharge said 44 start-ups,
including 16 in agri-business, would get grants from the state
government but did not specify the amount or its break-up.
"The
state government is also setting up a new centre for excellence in
agriculture to hasten development in the agri-business sector with
access to labs and research centres," he said.
Noting
that India was in the pole position to lead the world in millet
production and exports, Gowda said Karnataka was at the forefront of
promoting and consuming the next-generation smart food as it was
"conscious of the food we eat, its nutritional value, impact on
farmers and the environment to get food from farm to fork".