Visitors at the fruit festival in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, May 20: A model displaying organic farming is among the main attractions at the second edition of the state-level fruit festival that began here on Sunday.

While more than 1,700 entries of mangoes of more than 70 varieties have been able to attract a number of visitors to Adivasi Ground, the venue of the four-day festival, most of the visitors are making a beeline for the organic farming model.

Designed by Pradeep Kumar Dhal from Banki, the model involves production of vegetables by using kitchen and garden waste. One has to make a cylinder from materials such as plastic, bamboo and steel. The cylinder needs to have a bottom so that the soil does not escape. “One does not need to have a plot of land to cultivate vegetables. It can easily be done without fertilisers. I have even grown cauliflowers through this method,” said Dhal.

A kiosk set up by Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd to sell juice out of cashew apples is also attracting a number of visitors. The juice is available in ready-to-serve plastic packs, carbonated bottles and squash bottles. Visitors are also buying hybrid saplings of banana, mango and other fruits.

However, the main attraction of the festival remains the varieties of mangoes including langra, chausa, himsagar, Bombay green, latsinduri, suvarnarekha, amrapalli, mallika, ratna, neelam, keshar, mul goa, banganapalli, totapuri, gulabkhus and cherukurasam on display at the fair.

Officials of the state directorate of horticulture said more than 10,000 visitors visited the festival on the first day.

“We are expecting a turnout of more than 5,000 on the remaining days,” said a senior official.

A fruit-eating competition will be held on Wednesday.

Both adults and children can take part in the competition. Participants need to register before 3pm on Wednesday. The registration fee is Rs 50 for adults and Rs 20 for children.

A drawing contest will also be held tomorrow.

Other major fruits on display are six varieties of banana, five types of citrus fruits, two types of jackfruit, stone apple, pineapple, pomegranate, guava, sapota, coconut, dates, palm, kandu and star apple.

This year, there have been 2,932 entries to the festival, as compared to last year’s 2,305.

“It’s a great experience to see so many varieties of fruits at a single place. Visitors can also buy vegetables and fruit saplings,” said Sabuja Behera, a resident of Saheed Nagar.

The directorate of horticulture and the Odisha Horticulture Development Society are organising the fruit festival.