Kisan Forum agri expo to be held from Dec 14 to 18

With an aim to bring farmers face to face with technologies and innovations in the agricultural sector, Kisan Forum, Pune, has organised its 12th international standard agriculture mega exhibition at Pune.

"The agri exhibition, which is being held from December 14 to 18, 2005 on the sprawling 12-acre land at Moshi, near Pune, will see participation of around 350 agro companies across the country and from abroad. About 1 lakh people are expected to visit the exhibition. This is the biggest ever exhibition in the country and the aim behind organising this exhibition is to bring every farmer face to face with the advanced technologies and innovations in the agriculture," said Niranjan Deshpande, convener, Kisan Forum.

Further on, Deshpande added, "Kisan exhibition serves as a pathfinder for the agri community and urge them to compete and capture the world market. Micro credit, technology alive, forum for discussions/deliberations, knowledge park, book fair, Vatika Plant Show and Agri Biz Hub will be the salient features of this largest and comprehensive agri show. This exhibition will give opportunities for farmers to experience and handle various advanced agricultural technologies and implements. They will also be provided with information regarding new methods of greenhouse and drip irrigation."

"In a section 'Farmers Forum', agricultural experts will interact with farmers and sort out their various issues. There will be participation of agriculture research institutions and agri universities in Knowledge Park section. Variety of plants for various type of farming horticulture and floriculture will be on display in Vatika Plant Show section. In Agri Biz Hub section, information regarding various agri business opportunities in global market will be provided. Financial development of farmers through micro credit groups can be studied in Micro Credit section. This section will be organised by Nabard," Deshpande informed.

"Farmers, who are willing to visit the exhibition, can enroll their entries through SMS on Mobile no 9860066744. In order to attract farmers to the exhibition, the Kisan Forum is in talks with agri traders, industrialists, gram panchayats, co-operative societies, rural banks etc," he said.

Deshpande informed that an entry fee of Rs 50 per person will be charged from people visiting the exhibition and stalls will be available on rental basis for participating companies during five-day exhibition. Ready booths will be available on rent at Rs 4,500 per sqm, Rs 3,500 per sqm. for bare display area and Rs 2,200 per sqm for open space.

The exhibition will cost Rs 2 crore and expenses will be managed from entry fees and companies' participation fees. The State Bank of India is the official bank of the exhibition and has contributed Rs 5 lakh for this exhibition.

Informing about the nature of the exhibition, Deshpande said, "It will be informative cum business event. Sale will not happen here, but orders or booking for various agricultural implements, technologies and other related equipments would be made by farmers towards the related companies. Such business turn over (of all participating companies) during last exhibition was Rs 800 crore. Hence, this exhibition will be fruitful business for participating companies too."