: Seed savers display Indias rich agricultural diversity #IndiaNEWS #News Mysore/Mysuru: Over 150 seed conservationists from across the country are showcasing India’s rich agricultural diversity at

Seed savers display Indias rich agricultural diversity #IndiaNEWS #News
Mysore/Mysuru: Over 150 seed conservationists from across the country are showcasing India’s rich agricultural diversity at the Fifth All-India Kisan Swaraj Sammelan of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) at the Convocation Hall of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in Muktagangothri campus along Hunsur Road here. The three-day Mela concludes today.

It is for the first time such a meet is being held in Mysuru and the earlier Sammelans were held at Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Over 300 to 400 varieties of paddy including the famed “Mysuru Mallige�? paddy variety are on display. The lion’s share of paddy collection is from Tamil Nadu where conservationists are showcasing over 30 rare varieties.

These are organically grown paddy and are less-prone to diseases. Farmers and seed savers from 17 States are participating in the Sammelan and the event is a platform for sharing ideas and also a place to exchange rare varieties of seeds so that their varieties can be multiplied and preserved.

Sahaja Samrudha, Janapada Seva Trust, ICAR-JSS KVK (Suttur), SOIL, Allama Research and Cultural Foundation, Desi Seed Producer Company Ltd. and Belavala Foundation are among the Sammelan organisers.

Conservationists told Star of Mysore that they usually buy one or two kg seeds at such exhibitions and cultivate them in their land for the seeds to multiply. Later, they are stored and disbursed among fellow seed savers. Apart from paddy, huge varieties of pulses, millets, fruits like banana, custard apple and soursop are on display.

Vazha Chettan from Kerala

Vinod Sahadevan Nair, a banana-grower from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, has brought over 60 varieties of banana and most of the fruits have big seeds. “These are the original varieties and over the years, the banana seeds became minute,�? he said.

Vinod sells all his harvest from the farm in wholesale market and earns up to Rs. 1 lakh a month. Popular as Vazha Chettan (Banana brother), Vinod has over 500 varieties of banana in his collection and the names of bananas he cultivates roll off his tongue — Matti, Pisang Muttapoovan, Karinkadali, Ottamungali, Jaribuyam, Ayiramka Poovan, Pidimonthan, Jahanji, Ney vazha, Lambi, Beeji kela, Gothya, ladies finger, Zanzibar, Pagher, Icecream Banana, etc.

The main attraction at his stall in the exhibition is the 1,000 fingers — one bunch containing a thousand bananas.

Beeja Maate Papamma from Kolar

Beeja Maate’ Papamma, from Kolar is reckoned to be a star among Karnataka farmers as she cultivates a variety of seeds ranging from millets to paddy on her 3-acre plot of land.