The three-day jackfruit festival, Samruddhi, organised in memory of krishi rishi at Moodbidri witness huge success

The three-day jackfruit and other fruits fair and food festival, Samruddhi, organised in memory of krishi rishi (agriculture saint) the late L.C. Soans, was a huge success, said Alvas' Education Foundation chairman M. Mohan Alva on Sunday, with a daily footfall of over 15,000 leading to nearly 50 lakh turnover per day. He was addressing at the Mundredagutthu K. Amarnatha Shetty auditorium on Alva's campus in Moodbidri during the valedictory celebration.

He stated that the celebration was conducted in honour of the late Soans by the Alvas, the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, the Forest Department, agriculture science centres, other Moodbidri groups, the district government, and others. With a focus on cleanliness, the event drew passionate participation from all segments of society, as well as those from nearby districts, according to Dr. Alva. He stated that the late Soans was a trailblazer who brought international fame to Moodbidri, a tiny town in Dakshina Kannada district, by his continual innovation in horticulture and agriculture. 

Many of the fruit types seen along the coast are the result of his ongoing attempts to import innovative species from throughout the world. Dr. Alva stated that fruits, such as jackfruit, are also necessary for survival, and that the younger population may be unaware of the various sorts of fruits. "As a result, the festival was organised to introduce them to the new generation as well as to assist people in enjoying a variety of fruits and other food items." We must recognise and strive hard to maintain the diversity that exists among us."

Moodbidri MLA Umanath A. Kotian remarked in his valedictory address that the endeavour to introduce several species of jackfruit that were on the decline was commendable. People's eating habits are shifting away from conventional ones as time passes. The MLA stated that reintroducing them to the younger generation was an urgent requirement.