Farmers urged to preserve traditional seed varieties at Dharwad fair

Farmers have been urged to conserve traditional crop varieties and increase participation in seed production at the annual Krishi Mela in Dharwad. R.R. Hanchinal, former vice-chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, made the call while inaugurating the Seed Mela on Friday.

He said traditional varieties had survived because previous generations had preserved and cultivated them. According to Hanchinal, some of these varieties can grow by absorbing salinity from the soil and do not require chemical fertilisers. He said greater public awareness of seeds was needed and noted that more than two lakh rice varieties existed.

He said quality seeds sown in fertile soil could produce good yields, while traditional varieties could raise yields by 18% to 20%. Further gains, he said, could be achieved through chemical and farmyard manure. Hanchinal also said seed production involving farmers would benefit all participants.

Seeds produced through the university’s activities had been sent to Rajasthan, Assam and Indonesia, he said, adding that patents had been secured for some farmers’ varieties. He urged farmers to give greater importance to crop-variety research and adopt organic farming practices. University vice-chancellor N.B.

Prakash said the seed unit had completed 25 years and that future seed production would be undertaken with farmers. Prakash also listed national and international awards received by the seed unit. The opening programme included the Seed Mela, a fruit and flower exhibition and an exhibition on insects.

The university said about 292,420 farmers, extension workers and department officials attended the first day. It reported the sale of about 165 quintals of rabi seeds and 27 kilogrammes of vegetable seeds, with a combined value of ₹16,28,200.