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The Hindu
09-08-2025
- General
- 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.
The Hindu
08-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Desi rice mela to showcase over 200 traditional varieties in Mysuru
A two-day desi rice mela will be held in the city on August 9 and 10 at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry with the objective of reviving the rich heritage of native paddy varieties, once synonymous with the Old Mysuru region. Organised by Sahaja Samrudha, Save Our Rice Campaign, and CREATE, the mela will highlight the diversity of desi rice, which was once integral to the region's food culture. G. Krishnaprasad of the Sahaja Samrudha said that one of the objectives of the event is to create awareness among the public about the diversity in paddy and how it was going out of vogue due to consumer preferences shifting towards polished white rice. Underlining the diversity of traditional varieties, he said that farmers in Old Mysuru region traditionally cultivated distinctive varieties such as Rajamudi, Ratnachoodi, Rajabhoga, Putta Bhatta, Anekombina Bhatta, Bangara Kaddi, Munduga, Halubalu, etc. Each rice type had a culinary usage apart from having medicinal values, all of which has been displaced by polished white rice, said Mr. Krishnaprasad. 'The festival seeks to raise awareness among both consumers and farmers about the nutritional and cultural value of indigenous rice,' he added. The mela will display over 200 varieties of rice, and visitors can also explore and purchase an array of red, black, golden, and aromatic rice from different parts of the country such as Kala Namak (Uttar Pradesh), Kala Jeera (Odisha), Komal Chawal (Assam), Navara and Mullan Kayama (Kerala), Mapillai Samba (Tamil Nadu), Ambe Mohar (Maharashtra), etc. Also on display will be Karnataka's own rare treasures such as Karigajivili, Rajamudi, Dodyaga, Dodda Baira Nellu, Siddha Sanna, Salem Sanna, Rajabhoga, and Andanuru Sanna. 'High-quality seeds for the upcoming monsoon sowing season will be available alongside organic products, fruits, vegetables, native seeds, and value-added food items,' the organisers said. There will also be a 'desi rice cooking contest' to familiarise the younger generation with traditional food culture. Participants must prepare any dish using desi rice at home and bring it to the venue by 12.30 p.m. on Sunday, August 10. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entries. A drawing contest will also be held on the theme 'The World of Rice I Saw', which is open to children in two age categories: 5 to 10 years and 10 to 15 years. Participants should draw their entries at home and submit them by 11.00 a.m. on Sunday, August 10. Six of the best drawings will receive prizes, the organisers added. For more details, contact Manju at 70900 09944.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Desi Beejotsava: Women urged to lead community seed banks
Mysuru: Seed Mother Padmamma of Kanagalu village in Periyapatna taluk urged all the stakeholders to give the responsibility of managing community seed banks to women. "Women have played a crucial role in preserving and nurturing the diversity of native seeds handed down through generations. So the leadership of the Community Seed Bank scheme, implemented by the govt, should be entrusted to women's groups," she said. She was speaking after inaugurating the two-day 'Desi Beejotsava', organised by Sahaja Samrudha, Rebuild India, Dasara, and Sahaja Seeds on Saturday. "I preserved over 100 native seeds over the past ten years. I grow and multiply them every year and share them with interested people. If you lose gold, you can buy it back; but if native seeds are lost, can you ever retrieve them? Women must protect seed sovereignty," she advised. Appaji, a seed conserver from Unnenahalli in Holenarasipura taluk who conserves Rajamudi and other traditional rice varieties, said, "By cultivating native varieties and selling them directly to consumers, we can earn better profits. I've been selling produce from my orchard this way for the past decade." Chief guest BN Dhananjaya, deputy director of agriculture, said, "Farmer Producer Companies can actively market diverse farm products and earn profits." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Khám phá nhà tiền chế giá rẻ tại Thôn Trại Sơn Nomad's Notebook Nhấp vào đây Undo JSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Suttur, head Gnanesh BN said, local varieties adapt well to climate change. Indigenous crops like Nanjangud Rasabale, Rajamudi, and Ratnachoodi must regain prominence. Ravi K Magal, CEO of Desi Seed Producer Company, and G Krishna Prasad, director of Sahaja Samrudha, were present. At the two-day festival, more than twenty seed conservers from across Karnataka displayed a wide range of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and pulses. Diverse food items made from horse gram, jowar rotti from North Karnataka, beverages made from underutilised fruits, and ragi malt were appreciated by visitors. Artistic items made by Mysuru's Krishi Kala using sorekai (bottle gourd)—including lamps, flower vases, and seed rakhis—attracted the crowd. The Hulikadu Farmer Producer Company from Heggadadevanakote sold jackfruit, vegetables, rare seeds, and various banana varieties. The festival also features organic farm produce, beauty and wellness products, value-added items, eco-friendly household goods, and organic snacks. Various fruit saplings are available for purchase. The Bengaluru-based SOIL organisation has set up a stall to raise awareness about soil health.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Seed festival highlighting agricultural heritage and crop diversity under way in Mysuru
The two-day seed festival 'Desi Beejothsava' got under way in the city on Saturday with the objective of propagating seed and agricultural diversity and underlining the imperatives of their conservation. Organised by Sahaja Samrudha and Rebuild India, the event is being held at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, and over 100 varieties of indigenous seeds of various crops are on display. Value-added products are also being sold at the event, which was inaugurated by farmer Padmamma of Kanagalu village in Periyapatana taluk, who is also a seed conservator. She underlined the role played by women in preserving and nurturing the diversity of native seeds handed down through generations. ''The leadership of the Community Seed Bank scheme, implemented by the government, should be entrusted to women's groups,' she added. 'I have preserved over 100 native seeds over the past 10 years. I grow and multiply them every year, and share them with interested people,' said Padmamma, who expressed concern that seed diversity, once lost, could not be retrieved. B.N. Dhananjaya, Deputy Director of Agriculture, said that Farmer Producer Companies should actively market diverse farm products and earn profits. B.N. Gnanesh, head of the JSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Suttur, said local varieties adapt well to climate change, and that it was important to conserve, nurture, and promote such varieties. 'Indigenous crops like Nanjangud Rasabale, Rajamudi, and Ratnachoodi must regain prominence,' he added. G. Krishna Prasad, Director of Sahaja Samrudha, said farmers have preserved genetic diversity for hundreds of years, and it was imperative to pass it on to posterity. He also called for government support for seed conservators. More than 20 seed savers and conservators from across Karnataka have displayed a range of seeds of fruits, vegetables, and pulses. Diverse food items made from horse gram, jowar rotti from North Karnataka, beverages made from underutilised fruits, and ragi malt with value addition, are among the main draw for visitors. Besides, artistic items made by Mysuru's Krishi Kala using sorekai (bottle gourd) such as lamps, flower vases, and seed rakhis attracted the crowd. On Sunday, there will be a drawing contest for children in the age group of 5 to 12 years to create awareness about seed conservation. Interested children can draw at home and bring their artworks to the venue by 12 p.m., the organisers said.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Desi seed festival to be held in Mysuru to create awareness on crop diversity
Highlighting the alarming erosion of agricultural biodiversity, Sahaja Samrudha, in association with Rebuild India and Sahaja Seeds, is organising a Desi Seed Festival in Mysuru on July 5 and 6 at the Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry. 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.
