Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)

Mangalore, Aug 23: Jatropha Field Day will be organized at Kateel, Mangalore on the September 2 at 11 am by Labland Biotech Pvt Ltd, a Mysore-based agri-biotech company. Dr V S Acharya, honourable minister for medical education will participate in the programme as chief guest as per their press release.

Kateel Sri Durga Parameshwari temple chief priest Sri Lakshminarayana Asranna will be the guest of honour. The function will be presided over by prof G R Rai, a renowned engineering consultant and retired principal of Nitte Engineering College.

Sunanda Shetty of Kateel has grown Jatropha in the field under the technical guidance of Labland Biotech, Mysore. The company is also purchasing the seeds back from the grower with a long term contract made with Sunanda Shetty. The plantation is now two year old and has started yielding this year.

Several exhibitions are being planned for the occasion which includes exhibitions on plant science of Jatropha and its cultivation, plantation and management including the agronomic practices, disease management and pre- and post- harvest management of seeds. Moreover a demonstration on extraction of oil from Jatropha seeds and its use will also be organized on the day.

The purpose of the function will be to develop Kateel as an energy independent village and as a model village of the state.

Those who are interested in participating in the event are requested to call on 0821 4288828 or 0821 2582 682 or 0821 4262726 to register their names before August 25. Conveyance has been arranged to visit the field from Kateel, as per the press release.