Kisan Mela jointly organized by ICAR- CRIDA and IFFCO on 06.02.2024 at Pudur mandal Raithu Vedhika, district Vikarabad, Telangana under Farmer FIRST Programme to create the awareness to farmers on adoption of the new proven Rainfed Technologies for sustainable productivity in rainfed ecosystem. About 250 farmers from FFP program adopted villages viz., Gangupally, Deveinoniguda, Rakhamcherla, Pudugurthy, Medikonda and Bhakapur of district Vikarabad, Telangana have participated. Honourable Dr T. Ram Mohan Reddy, Member of Legislative Assembly, Parigi Constituency was the Chief Guest of the program. Other district officials participated were Shri Chakrapani, District Horticulture and Sericulture Officer, Dr P. Anil Kumar, District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer and District Agriculture Officer, Asst Director of Agriculture, Agril officer, Pudur, Shri Satish Reddy, Chairman Primary Agril Co-op Society(PACS), Pudur, Smt Rama Devi, Mandal Revenue Officer, Smt Sudha Rani, Spl officer Pudur village and Chairman, District Minority Welfare Association, Ex village Pradhans, Smt Khaza Azma, ZPTC member and Progressive farmers from the Pudur mandal and Shri M. Chandranna, state level officer IFFCO, Hyderabad branch. The organizing team of FFP Scientists from CRIDA were Drs G.Nirmala, PI, Boini Narsimlu, B. Sanjeeva Reddy, A. Gopal Reddy, Jagriti Rohit, Ashish Dhimate and Anshidha Biwi and from other ICAR institutes Dr Venkataramana, Prinicipal scientist, IIOR, Hyderabad including local district press reporters were also participated in this Mela. Stalls were set up representing activities of District Veterinary Department, Horticulture, Sericulture, Agriculture and Millets value addition products from PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad including ICAR-CRIDA stall depicting FFP interventions and NICRA activities on climate resilient Agriculture. .

In this Kisan Mela, the Chief Guest, Dr T. Ram Mohan Reddy, Hon MLA emphasized on to adopt the new technologies developed that were suitable under climate variable conditions for a profitable agriculture. He also envisaged the district is renowned for horticulture specially mango and vegetable, modern technological interventions in this farming will enhance the income level of the farmers. FFP team explained about the interventions being implemented under NRM based development activities: Farm pond technology for climate resilient agriculture livestock, improved varities, MIS for horticulture etc., Line department official suggested to avail different schemes available for farmers under subsidies in farming to get a profitable production. The IFFCO company representative Sri Chandranna who explained about the cooperative systems and their advantage in marketing of products being produced by farmers and explained the products of the company and services. Farmers had visited different stalls and seen the demonstration of Drone applications in agriculture. The overall Kisan Mela was coordinated by scientists of Farmer FIRST Program under the able guidance of Dr. V K Singh Director, CRIDA. .