Rice conservator Deva Rao asks farmers to take up paddy cultivation as sub-profession to save as many varieties
Speaking at the Mangaluru Press Club Guest of Honour programme Mr. Rao, 81, said that the government's support to paddy cultivation is not enough.
He said that paddy fields acted as rainwater harvesting systems and helped to re-charge water bodies and groundwater. 'They kept streams, rivers and rivulets alive,' he said.
'Local rice varieties have rich nutritional values. In addition, some varieties like 'atikaya' and 'atikaraya' have medicinal values,' said Mr. Rao, who has been saving the varieties by cultivating them every year on his about five acre plot organically, said.
Mr. Rao said that the number of local varieties of rice in the country has come down from about two lakh to 25,000.
He, who is also the conservator of 80 local mango and 50 jackfruit varieties, said that the government should ensure that paddy growers got good price for their produce. If the price is very encouraging it will prompt more farmers to take up paddy cultivation, he said.
Mr. Rao stressed on the need to go for organic method of cultivation to retain the nutritional values of rice.
He said that area under paddy around his Mittabagilu village, near Ujire, in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada has come down from 200 acres to about 10 acres now.
His son B.K. Parameshwar Rao, an electrical engineer-turned-farmer, who has been helping father in saving the varieties said: 'The cost of cultivation varied from ₹120 to ₹150 a kg, yet we are selling rice below the cultivation cost.'
'Retaining the top soil is very important in paddy cultivation,' Mr. Parameshwar Rao said.
Mr. Parameshwar Rao said that the Forest Department should cultivate wild fruits, tubers and other crops within forest area to prevent wild animals from attacking the crops of farmers.
Press Club president P.B. Harish Rai and others felicitated Mr. Rao on the occasion.
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