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Farmer group engages in preserving native seeds
“From past 10-12 years we are conserving traditional seeds,” says Mr. Anjaneya A N, President, Sharana Muddanna Savayava Krushigalabalaga. The farmer group started to conserve seed varietites to safeguard the legacy of the state. There are 30-40 farmers actively working in the group.
In 2001, there was an act enforced about the protection of plant varieties and farmer’s rights. “In 2013, Tharalabalu KVK and Shimoga University of Agriculture started training. At that time there were no farmers excluding us,” he narrates. The group has conserved seeds of approximately about 150 varieties of paddy, 50 varieties of millets and 25-30 vegetable varieties. They are located at HariharaTaluk, DavangereDist, Karnataka.
“In 2013, we had applied for the certificate through Tharalabaalu KVK. We received Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward 2013 for the paddy variety ‘DoddaBaththa’ (big paddy).” The award amount was Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
Dodda Baththa variety is sown on dry land and grows up-to 5-6ft high. “This organic variety has medicinal properties. Puffed rice made from this rice is stomach filling that hunger subsides for a long time,” he claims. Other varieties protected are SindhuraMadhusaale, good for diabetic patients. “First seeds preserved were Gouri and Malgudisanna procured from Mandya based Mr. Bore Gowda,” Mr. Anjaneya recalls.
During 2001-2004, faced with drought and chemical sprays used on farm, due to heavy pest infestation, aggravating his ‘breathing problem’, he opted for organic farming and since 2005 he is doing cultivation only through chemical free farming inputs. Prior to that he was using hybrid seeds and after the shift he started using gourisanna and malgudisanna. “I got good yield,” he remarks contentedly. “I was inspired to conserve the seeds.”
Seeing how other farmer groups got awards for conserving seeds he started a farmer group too. “I started with two varieties later ended up with 35 varieties in 2007. At this time, the BJP government official visited my field and held two days training. Even foreigners visited our farm,” he shares. The group expanded the variety conserved, adding varieties like mysoresanna, and dhanusanna during the process.
In earthen pots ‘mudi’ is made using paddy straw. “We interlock the paddy straw and make storage for the seeds. This will keep the seeds intact,” Mr. Anjaneya explains. “We dry the seeds and store. We keep it in the shade. We have seed bank in our house. We do not clean the paddy seeds from the husk to avoid spoilage.”
“We sell seeds only when someone needs from out of station at Rs.40/kg,” he asserts. Rice is sold at Rs.60/kg. Millet seeds are sold at Rs.50-60/kg. All seeds are kept in the seed bank. “We expect the farmers to give the double quantity to the seed band of whatever is taken. For example, if farmer takes 1kg, he has to return 2kgs to the seed bank,” he elaborates on the working of seed bank. “Many PhD students visit our farms. We do not give the seeds to these students without the MOU.”
Mr. Anjaneya shares the key to resume soil fertility, “First I grow legumes like grams, cowpeas, pigeon peas etc. We allow it to grow till 15-16ft height. Then we till the soil with tractor and start sowing the seeds.” Paddy is intercropped with black gram. Legumes are harvested during summer and during rainy the legume plants are used as manure. “Our land is so fertile that the crops get 80% of the natural fertilizers. For the other 20% we add vermicompost, gober gas slurry etc. We do mulching for horticulture crops where we grow vegetables like kattikaayi and chembekaayi. Surrounding these vegetables, we have teak, mango, coconut trees that gives us additional income.”
“We want to make our seed bank as hi tech bank. I want to make a traditional market for our organic produce to attract customers. I also want to convert whole village into organic farming of paddy like legumes,” Mr. Anjaneya reveals his future plans and aspirations.
Contact details:
Sharana Muddanna Savayava Krushigalabalaga
Mr. Anjaneya A N
S/o Nagappa, Kumbaluru, HariharaTaluk, Davangere District, Karnataka – 577 530
Phone: 09972088929
“From past 10-12 years we are conserving traditional seeds,” says Mr. Anjaneya A N, President, Sharana Muddanna Savayava Krushigalabalaga. The farmer group started to conserve seed varietites to safeguard the legacy of the state. There are 30-40 farmers actively working in the group.
In 2001, there was an act enforced about the protection of plant varieties and farmer’s rights. “In 2013, Tharalabalu KVK and Shimoga University of Agriculture started training. At that time there were no farmers excluding us,” he narrates. The group has conserved seeds of approximately about 150 varieties of paddy, 50 varieties of millets and 25-30 vegetable varieties. They are located at HariharaTaluk, DavangereDist, Karnataka.
“In 2013, we had applied for the certificate through Tharalabaalu KVK. We received Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward 2013 for the paddy variety ‘DoddaBaththa’ (big paddy).” The award amount was Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
Dodda Baththa variety is sown on dry land and grows up-to 5-6ft high. “This organic variety has medicinal properties. Puffed rice made from this rice is stomach filling that hunger subsides for a long time,” he claims. Other varieties protected are SindhuraMadhusaale, good for diabetic patients. “First seeds preserved were Gouri and Malgudisanna procured from Mandya based Mr. Bore Gowda,” Mr. Anjaneya recalls.
During 2001-2004, faced with drought and chemical sprays used on farm, due to heavy pest infestation, aggravating his ‘breathing problem’, he opted for organic farming and since 2005 he is doing cultivation only through chemical free farming inputs. Prior to that he was using hybrid seeds and after the shift he started using gourisanna and malgudisanna. “I got good yield,” he remarks contentedly. “I was inspired to conserve the seeds.”
Seeing how other farmer groups got awards for conserving seeds he started a farmer group too. “I started with two varieties later ended up with 35 varieties in 2007. At this time, the BJP government official visited my field and held two days training. Even foreigners visited our farm,” he shares. The group expanded the variety conserved, adding varieties like mysoresanna, and dhanusanna during the process.
In earthen pots ‘mudi’ is made using paddy straw. “We interlock the paddy straw and make storage for the seeds. This will keep the seeds intact,” Mr. Anjaneya explains. “We dry the seeds and store. We keep it in the shade. We have seed bank in our house. We do not clean the paddy seeds from the husk to avoid spoilage.”
“We sell seeds only when someone needs from out of station at Rs.40/kg,” he asserts. Rice is sold at Rs.60/kg. Millet seeds are sold at Rs.50-60/kg. All seeds are kept in the seed bank. “We expect the farmers to give the double quantity to the seed band of whatever is taken. For example, if farmer takes 1kg, he has to return 2kgs to the seed bank,” he elaborates on the working of seed bank. “Many PhD students visit our farms. We do not give the seeds to these students without the MOU.”
Mr. Anjaneya shares the key to resume soil fertility, “First I grow legumes like grams, cowpeas, pigeon peas etc. We allow it to grow till 15-16ft height. Then we till the soil with tractor and start sowing the seeds.” Paddy is intercropped with black gram. Legumes are harvested during summer and during rainy the legume plants are used as manure. “Our land is so fertile that the crops get 80% of the natural fertilizers. For the other 20% we add vermicompost, gober gas slurry etc. We do mulching for horticulture crops where we grow vegetables like kattikaayi and chembekaayi. Surrounding these vegetables, we have teak, mango, coconut trees that gives us additional income.”
“We want to make our seed bank as hi tech bank. I want to make a traditional market for our organic produce to attract customers. I also want to convert whole village into organic farming of paddy like legumes,” Mr. Anjaneya reveals his future plans and aspirations.
Contact details:
Sharana Muddanna Savayava Krushigalabalaga
Mr. Anjaneya A N
S/o Nagappa, Kumbaluru, HariharaTaluk, Davangere District, Karnataka – 577 530
Phone: 09972088929