Oota from your Thota (OfyT), a programme for organic farming enthusiasts, will be held on March 25th, Sunday, in Malleswaram. The programmes includes lectures and discussions on organic farming, pest control etc. There will also be exhibition and sale of seeds, saplings, gardening accessories, compost bins etc.
The event is organised by Malleswaram Swabhimana Initiative (MSI) – the Resident Welfare Association of Malleswaram – along with Garden City Farmers Trust (GCFT), an NGO that promotes organic farming. Citizen Matters is media partner for the event.
OfyT was held in BTM Layout last August. File Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi
G Shantaram, Joint Secretary of MSI, says that the event will help residents of the area to set up their own terrace gardens. "In general there is an interest towards organic products. There are residents in new flats who want to learn easy ways of organic gardening in small spaces like terraces. There are also long-term residents who have much land around their houses and want to grow gardens."
10-11 am – Inauguration
11-11.30 am – ‘Urban wastes, waste management, composting and utilisation’: Talk by Vani Murthy of MSI
11.30 am-12 noon – ‘Need for urban farming – Grow what you eat and Eat what you grow’: Talk by Dr K R Jayaram of GCF
12 noon-1 pm – ‘Garden components, General Terrace Garden Designs, Kitchen Gardens, Basic principles, Plant Care’: Talk by Dr Rajendra Hegde of Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation
1 pm to 4.30 pm – Lunch, discussions/interactions
MSI has been active in promoting waste segregation, composting etc. "Gardening is promoted to take these initiatives to the next level. Residents should have productive ways of using compost," he says.
About 20 stalls are expected to participate in the exhibition-sale. Green Foundation, Foundation for Revival of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Karnataka State Coir Development Corporation Ltd, Varsha Enterprises, Kadamba Marketing Society, Green Path, Vruksha, Simply Organics, Urvi Friends of Nature and Purna Organics are some of them.
Venkateshwar Rao of Varsha Enterprises says, "The event brings together plant enthusiasts, experts and the people who produce seeds, manure, gadgets etc. We benefit from the event, as many people who visit our stalls also call us later for more material and details." Varsha Enterprises has participated in all previous editions of OfyT.
Date: March 25, 10 am – 5 pm
Venue: "Bhumika Hall", #37, 17th Cross, Between 4th and 6th Main, Malleswaram, Bangalore 560055
⊕