Bengaluru, Mar 16 (KNN) To showcase developments in the field of agriculture and agro industry which have great potential, Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) is organizing the Agro-Tech Expo 2016 at Mysore.

Scheduled to be held from April 22-24, the fair is a part of the series of agri trade fairs being organized by KASSIA, the previous fair held in Belgaum last year, a KASSIA release said today.

Agriculture plays a big role in shaping the economic growth in the country and the State of Karnataka.  Agriculture accounts for the livelihood of 50 per cent of the country’s population and around 13 per cent of GDP.   In spite of the great progress made in this area, the country remains agriculturally backward in terms of cultivation practices, storage, transportation and distribution of agri produce, as a result of which a large portion of the food grains and horticultural produce goes waste, it added.

There is need for optimizing the use of inputs as well as employing machinery wherever required.

KASSIA is convinced that agriculture can only progress and farmers can transform themselves only with the development of agro food processing industry, which is still in the preliminary mode of development.

Needless to say, food processing offers great potential not only for value addition but also for creating jobs for the teaming millions in the rural areas and development of those areas.

It is with a view to showcase the current scenario in agriculture and agro industries as well as to expose the opportunities available in the field for immense development, this particular exhibition is being organized.

The Fair will provide exposure to the varied sectors of agriculture/ agro industries and the related fields including engineering and manufacturing. Focus will be given to agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy and poultry, fisheries, food processing, horticulture/ floriculture and machinery related to industries, including the storage and transportation industries as well as the input industries coupled with advances made in recent times in distribution.

The 3 day exhibition is expected to see 250 exhibitors and is expected to be visited by hundreds of business visitors and thousands of members of the public. The exhibition will be combined with workshops and seminars on topics of general and specific interest to the participants.

The event is organized by KASSIA in partnership with Govt. of Karnataka, KSSIDC, NSIC and Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and KSDA, among others.  (KNN Bureau)