Desi seed festival to be held in Mysuru to create awareness on crop diversity
The two-day event - scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days - aims to revive awareness and promote the conservation of indigenous seed varieties, bringing together seed conservators, farmer scientists, enthusiasts, and consumers.
The seed expo will feature over 100 varieties of native crops, including rice, millets, tubers, pulses, greens, and vegetables. In addition, traditional groundnut types, rare pigeon pea varieties, black and green chickpeas, and value-added products from neglected crops will also be exhibited. Juices made from underutilised fruits will be served, introducing the visitors to forgotten flavours.
Krishnaprasad of Sahaja Samruddha, an organisation working to promote agricultural diversity and document indigenous crop varieties, said that traditional seeds and crops are vanishing from the fields, and with it, a slice of Karnataka's farming heritage is also disappearing.
This is happening due to farmers now preferring high-yielding hybrid and commercial varieties of crops, he said.
Mr. Krishnaprasad said that indigenous seeds — preserved for centuries by farming communities — are now at risk of extinction, replaced by crops driven by market demand, changing climate, and consumer preference.
He pointed out that regions such as Kollegal and Periyapatna were once bastions of millet cultivation, but they have been edged out by tobacco cultivation since the last few decades; and barely a few varieties exist in the tribal belt of H.D. Kote.
Similarly, in Malavalli and surrounding taluks, maize has muscled its way into farmlands that once nurtured a diverse mix of native crops, he added.
He said that dryland paddy farming is almost extinct, though it was quite common in drought-prone areas of Nanjangud and Gundlupet. Apart from tobacco and maize, cotton cultivation, too, has hastened the demise of some traditional crop varieties, Mr. Krishnaprasad added.
Among the traditional rice varieties, Yellandur was known for Ratnachoodi, while the border areas of Chamarajanagar cultivated Salem Sanna. Similarly, Periyapatana in Mysuru and Arkalgud in Hassan were bastions of Rajabhog. But today, they rarely cultivated, according to Sahaja Samruddha. The net result, as per the conservators, is the loss of genetic and crop diversity, and erosion of ecological balance.
Hence, the Seed Festival will bring alive a slice of agricultural heritage of the region, promoting the sale of desi varieties like Rajamudi, Ratnachoodi, Sindhoor Madhusale, Gandha Sale, Dodda Baira, Burma Black, Chinnaponni, and HMT rice, alongside Jagalur ragi and native vegetable seeds.
Recognising the role of younger generations in safeguarding agricultural diversity, a drawing competition titled 'Desi Seeds for the Future' has been planned for children aged 5 to 12.
The competition encourages children to explore seed culture, rituals, and the dangers of hybrid dependency. Drawings are to be submitted by 12.30 p.m. on Sunday. In addition, seed identification contests for both children and adults will add an interactive element to the festival, fostering curiosity and knowledge sharing, according to the organisers.
For further details, call 70900 09944.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Desi rice mela reinforces call to preserve paddy diversity
The two-day desi rice mela which concluded on Sunday drew attention to the imperatives of turning attention on indigenous variety of rice and reviving paddy diversity of the region. The mela was conducted by Sahaja Samrudha and Save Our Rice Campaign and flagged the growing threat to traditional paddy strains that were losing ground to high-yielding commercial hybrids. Over 200 paddy strains from across the region and also different part of the country were on display and sale and the public response was overwhelming on the last day. In a bid to combine advocacy with cultural engagement, the organisers had organised a cooking competition and children's drawing contest which evoked good response. Gurulingaswamy, a farmer and seed conservator from Haveri, distributed the prizes to the winners. He said that indigenous variety of rice was cultivated for hundreds of years in the country and is part of the local food culture. ''These nutrient-rich varieties are being supplanted by polished white rice devoid of any health benefits and hence the consumers should make a switch to traditional rice varieties so as to kindle demand for them,' he added. Ms. Leela Shivakumar who was the judge, called for kitchens to become 'treasure troves' of indigenous rice, noting that dietary diversity was essential for long-term health. Artist S. Vishnukumar, who awarded prizes for the children's drawing contest on the topic 'The World of Rice – As I See It', said such activities foster awareness among youth about agricultural heritage. Winners were Kusuma Krishnamurthy (first), Mani Virupaksha (second), and Sunitha Kumari (third), with Chandraben K. receiving a consolation prize. In the under-10 drawing category, Punaradatta secured first place, followed by Khushitashvi and Khushi, with Rajdeep receiving a consolation prize. In the 11 to 15 years category, Aadya won the first prize, N. Manvi bagged the second prize and Hoysala received the third prize, according to the organisers.
The Hindu
09-08-2025
- The Hindu
Paddy diversity, agricultural heritage highlighted in Mysuru desi rice mela
The two-day desi rice mela commenced in Mysuru on Saturday, with seed conservators expressing concern that commercial crops were pushing the traditional paddy varieties to the brink. The objective of the mela is to highlight the paddy diversity that existed in the Old Mysuru region, and how scores of indigenous paddy varieties are going out of vogue due to the proliferation of hybrid varieties and shifting consumer preference to white polished rice. With over 200 paddy varieties on display, the mela is being held at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, and has been organised under the aegis of Sahaja Samrudha and the Save Our Rice Campaign. Also on display are traditional rice varieties from different States, including rare types such as red rice, aromatic rice, black rice, medicinal rice, and bold-grained rice, along with value-added rice products. Paddy conservators from across the State are selling their own desi rice directly. Seeds of popular varieties like Rajamudi, Burma Black, Sidda Sanna, Ratnachudi, Navara, Govind Bhog, HMT, and Sindhoor Madhusale are also on display and for sale. The mela was inaugurated by B.P. Ravishankar, a seed conservator from Hudoor in Ponnampet, Kodagu. He has preserved as many as 57 desi rice varieties. 'Paddy cultivation is becoming increasingly expensive. With the arrival of commercial crops, traditional paddy varieties are being pushed to the margins and the government must provide necessary support to bring these desi rice varieties back into farmers' fields', said Mr. Ravishankar. Unveiling medicinal rice varieties, Shridevi Annapurna Singh, former Director of the Central Food Research Institute, said that traditional varieties are rich in nutrients, while the black and red rice varieties have medicinal properties, and called for their inclusion in people's diets. Presiding over the event, G. Krishna Prasad, Director of Sahaja Samrudha and the Organic Farmers' Collective, said that farmer-breeders in Karnataka have developed excellent paddy varieties like Sidda Sanna, Sindhoor Madhusale, Andanoor Sanna, and NMS-2. 'The government must take steps to release these varieties, which are popular among farmers,' he said. Mr. Prasad also cautioned against any attempts by the government to introduce transgenic paddy varieties that pose risks to the environment and consumer health. Farmers and consumers must remain vigilant to prevent transgenic paddy from entering farmers' fields, he added. C. Shanthakumar, the coordinator of Save Our Rice Campaign, said that Karnataka was the home of paddy diversity, but hundreds of varieties have been lost due to lack of demand. ''The desi rice mela has been organised to create awareness among farmers and consumers about nutrient-rich, traditional paddy varieties suited to local food habits,' he added. The mela also offers millets, vegetable seeds, tubers, organic products, and fruit saplings that are for sale.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Time of India
Hubballi SHG wins UN award
Hubballi: The Bibi Fatima Self-Help Group (SHG) from Teertha village in Kundgol taluk, Dharwad district, was honoured with the Equator Initiative Award given by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), an award often referred to as the Nobel Prize for biodiversity conservation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sahaja Samruddha, a mentoring organisation for the SHG, said in a press release that this year's award selection was based on the theme 'Women and Youth Leadership for Nature-Based Climate Action'. Around 700 competitors from 103 countries participated in the selection process. Representing India, the Bibi Fatima SHG was chosen for this prestigious recognition alongside organisations from Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, and Ecuador. The award includes a cash prize of USD 10,000, approximately Rs 8.5 lakh, the release said. Part of the Sahaja Samrudha network, this women's group has made remarkable achievements in areas like implementing eco-friendly farming practices in rainfed lands, managing community seed banks, ensuring food and nutrition security, promoting millet cultivation, and running a millet processing unit, to value addition and marketing. Notably, in about 30 villages, the group successfully revived millet-based mixed cropping systems through natural farming methods. Formed in 2018 in Teertha village by just 15 women, the Bibi Fatima SHG began its journey with the aim of improving the livelihoods of small and marginal farming families through sustainable agriculture. They introduced millet-based mixed cropping on rainfed farms, empowered women, promoted climate-resilient farming systems, practised livestock rearing and horticulture, and popularised millets at the village level. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This work simultaneously ensured both nutritional security and income stability. When challenges arose in millet processing, under the guidance of Sahaja Samrudha and with support from the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, and CROPS4HD, they set up a millet processing unit, entirely managed by women. Selco Foundation provided a solar-powered electricity system for the unit. The Bibi Fatima SHG prioritised the conservation of indigenous crop varieties that can withstand climate extremes, safeguarding hundreds of millet varieties. They also established a community seed bank to distribute these seeds free of cost to interested farmers. During both kharif and rabi seasons, the group participates in seed fairs organised annually by Sahaja Samrudha in surrounding villages, distributing quintals of indigenous seeds to organic farmers. Additionally, using solar-powered machinery, the group produces value-added millet products such as rotis and vermicelli, which are supplied to consumers. Members also actively participate in awareness campaigns in urban and semi-urban areas to promote chemical-free food products, winning consumer appreciation with their traditional recipes and snacks. Through initiatives such as on-farm biodiversity conservation in dryland areas, farmers' markets, and sustainable agriculture practices, the Bibi Fatima SHG has improved the economic status of women from small and marginal farming households. It is also promoting rural, agriculture-based enterprises in collaboration with Devadhanya Farmer Producer Company.
