The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, will inaugurate the 5-day national Agri Horti festival – Haritholsavam – which would commence at the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market at Maradu on September 3.

Banana will be the focus fruit of the festival and several varieties of banana will be on display at the event. Elaborating on the highlights of the festival, Mr K. Babu, Minister for Excise and Chairman of the event, said that 60 varieties of bananas will be on display at the 100-feet long banana theme display area.

The vegetables and fruits area will have various fruits and vegetables displayed by the Kerala Agricultural Department and Vegetables and Fruits Promotion Council, Kerala. The Ernakulam Agri-Horti Society will come up with a 100-feet long flower display area.

A 4,000-sq-ft theme village will also be an attraction of Haritholsavam.

He said nearly 60 exhibitors from across the country will set up about 100 stalls spread across 50,000 sq ft at the venue.

The participating agencies include National Horticulture Board, State Horticulture Mission Kerala, Agriculture Department, Department of Horticulture, Chhattisgarh Bamboo Mission, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies.

Commodity boards that have confirmed participation include Spices Board, Coconut Development Board, Coir Board and Coffee Board.

The Central Government institutions participating in the event include the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology, Thanjavur, Directorate of Cocoa and Cashewnut, Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Central Warehousing Corporation, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority of India, Bureau of Indian Standards, National Test House, Central Plantation Crop Research Institute, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, National Dairy Development Board, Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium, MPEDA and Multi-Commodities Exchange of India.

Lakshadweep Fisheries will set up a stall that will display exotic fish varieties from the region.

Mr Harish Rawat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing, will inaugurate a farmer's meet on September 4. Experts will participate in the discussions and technical sessions.

Prof K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs, will inaugurate a workshop on consumer awareness and food security on September 7.

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