Seed festival highlighting agricultural heritage and crop diversity under way in Mysuru

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A range of fruit, vegetable, and pulse seeds on display at the seed festival in Mysuru on Saturday.

A range of fruit, vegetable, and pulse seeds on display at the seed festival in Mysuru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM

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.

Published - July 05, 2025 08:18 pm IST

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