Bengaluru’s Raitha Santhe at the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra in Hebbal drew more than 25,000 consumers on Saturday, with over 250 farmers selling farm and allied products directly to urban residents, according to Prajavani.
The monthly market, organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences on the last Saturday of each month, offered millets, fresh fruits and vegetables, organic products and a range of processed food items. Visitors also sampled speciality foods including avocado toast and Gir-breed ghee.
The market’s direct-sales format brought farmers and consumers together without an intermediary at the point of sale. In addition to selling produce, participating farmers provided information on healthy food and nutrition, the report said. The large turnout reflected consumer interest in locally available food products and farm-linked goods at an organised city venue.
Several varieties of greens attracted attention, including colocasia leaves used for making patrode, along with honagone, nela basale, nela nelli, Mexican spinach, pundi and ganake. The market also featured Swarnadhara poultry, a breed described as resembling Giriraja, country eggs, coconut-oil soaps, hair oil, shampoo, cosmetics, aromatic and medicinal plants, ornamental plants, fish, manure, handicrafts, areca and silk products, and honey.
Millet-based products were another attraction. Laddus, malt powder, biscuits and other snacks made from ragi, foxtail millet, pearl millet, little millet and other millets were displayed for shoppers. People maintaining kitchen gardens purchased tablets of organic manure, while agricultural scientists explained a newer type of fertiliser intended to improve soil fertility and support sustainable farming instead of requiring buyers to carry large bags of manure.
The event was inaugurated by K.S. Rajashekarappa, a member of the University of Agricultural Sciences’ Board of Management. Director of Extension Y.N. Shivalingayya, Registrar K. Madhusudhan, Dean of the postgraduate section N. Nataraja Karaba and Assistant Director K.P. Raghupasad also attended the market.
The next edition is scheduled under the university’s existing arrangement of holding the Raitha Santhe on the last Saturday of every month at the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra campus in Hebbal.
