The Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation (KCDC) will organise a two-day cashew mela at Kadri Park in the city from Sunday, May 17.

Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Eshwar Khandre will inaugurate the event at 11 a.m.

Addressing press persons here on Friday, chairperson of KCDC Mamatha Gatti said that there will be technical sessions on cashew cultivation and processing on both days.

Sessions on Sunday

J. Dinakara Adiga, director of the Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Puttur, will speak regarding modern technologies in cashew farming on the first day of the mela, after the inauguration.

Later, Veena G.L. Gowda, senior scientist (horticulture), DCR, will speak on cashew processing and value addition.

Progressive cashew farmer Kadamajalu Subhash Rai will share his experiences on cashew farming, and cashew processor Vishwakeshava will also share his experiences, she said.

Sessions on Monday

Ms. Gatti said that Prakash Kalbavi, former president of the Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers Association, will speak on ‘Cashew Farming and Atma Nirbhar – 2035’ on Monday, May 18.

Venkatesh N. Hubballi, former director of the Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development (DCCD), Kochi, C. Sunil, co-ordinator, Cashew Technology Centre, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agriculture and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, and Dadasaheb Desai, deputy director (Horticulture), DCCD, will speak on various topics on Monday.

Free cashew apple juice

Ms. Gatti said that cashew apple juice will be served free of cost to the participants at the mela.

Cashew saplings and value-added products of cashew nuts will be sold during the event. There will be about 70 stalls at the mela selling farm products.

The KCDC has organised different competitions for students and women on the occasion. These include speech, drawing, and rangoli competitions. Progressive cashew farmers will be felicitated, and some cultural programmes will be held in the evenings. The KCDC has also organised free eye testing facilities for farmers at the mela, Ms. Gatti said.

Entry to the mela is free.