Month: July 2021

** In Karnataka, a silent revolution with bananas

Farming communities in Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka are demonstrating that much more than banana bread — the flavour of the first year of lockdown — can be made with the fruit.

In rain-rich Karnataka, banana cultivation is common but farmers have no control over prices. “Merchants categorise the fruit into first and second quality. It was being bought at ₹4 and ₹5 per kg during the lockdown. The farmers were forced to take back the seconds. When there is a glut, distress sales are common in this region,” says farm educator Shree Padre.

Now, homemakers are helping these farmers by experimenting with banana flour, which can be used for everything from dosas to gulab jamun.

** Unique tamarind tree to fetch ₹9 lakh over next one year

A 40-year-old tamarind tree in Tumakuru district in Karnataka has brought sweet tidings for its grower, though its speciality is very high sour content. The tree, with distinct properties, is set to fetch a revenue of over ₹9 lakh in the course of the next one year, as the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) has identified it for further propagation under revenue sharing model of Tamarind Improvement Project.

The institute has named the tamarind variety after the 66-year-old farmer Lakshmana, who has grown this tree in his farm in Nandihalli of Tumakuru district. The initiative by the institute comes close on the heels of massive response to two such earlier efforts with jackfruit, including a special variety of ‘Siddu jackfruit’.

** Restoration of 105-year-old Doddajala heritage railway station in Bengaluru gets underway

Four railway stations are to be restored for the Bengaluru Division by the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a non-profit associated with the Archeological Survey of India

** Yakshagana artiste Sampaje Sheenappa Rai passes away

Noted Yakshagana artiste Sampaje Sheenappa Rai passed away at a private hospital in Mangaluru on July 13.

He was 78. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. Mr. Rai was a professional artiste for more than six decades having started his Yakshagana journey at the age of 13. He dropped out of school in class IV. He had mastered the nuisances of Tenku Thittu School of Yakshagana over the years.

Bantwal: First-of-a-kind ‘Suraksha-ICU’ KSRTC bus arrives at BC Road depot

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has designed Suraksha-ICU bus for the treatment of Covid patients. First bus of this kind arrived at the B C Road depot of KSRTC in order to provide health service to public of Bantwal taluk.

Under the limits of Puttur KSRTC division, which includes Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu, the first bus has arrived to Bantwal. MLA of the taluk Rajesh Naik Ullippadyguthu had met deputy chief minister and transport Laxman Savadi and requested him to provide an ICU bus.

** Karnataka’s first Vistadome coach service begins maiden journey

Enthusiasm was seen all around, among passengers, Railway staff, security personnel and even the media personnel, when the first service of Vistadome coaches aimed at promoting Rail Tourism, was being flagged off at Mangaluru Junction Railway Station on Sunday.