JOIN USMadivalappa Totagi, an organic farmer based in Mugad village near Dharwad, is known for his innovative approach and eco-friendly farming methods. This year, his experiment reached a new level with the cultivation of 20 heritage jowar varieties.
The seeds of variety conservation were sown in his mind when he met seed saviour Shankar Langti from Khanapur in Belagavi district. Shankar, has formed a farmers’ group in his village, Gundenatti, and has been conserving several traditional crops.
Shankar informed Madivalappa about the necessity of growing different heritage varieties with an aim to conserve and propagate them. Motivated by his words and work, Madivalappa decided to grow 20 different varieties in Rabi season instead of a single native variety.
Others in the village were apprehensive about the success of the experiment due to the scarcity of water and tried to discourage him. But nothing could stop Madivalappa. He sowed the seeds of 20 varieties in two acres area in December 2016. Fortunately, it rained well once after a month of sowing, and surprisingly, that was enough for the crop to sustain and nurture. In three months, the crop was ready for harvest.
While the farm looked picturesque with earheads of different colours and shapes, the names of the varieties also intrigued people who visited the farm. While names like dose jola, aralu jola, kadubu jola and sakkare jola indicate their culinary use, tags like handi mooti, kagi mooti, bili muttina jola, kempu tene, kodumuruka and gatti tene signify their shapes and features. Maldandi, Nandyala and red, black and white types of kannumucchuga are other unique varieties grown here.
Madivalappa is happy that the crops came out well in spite of scarce rainfall and that he didn’t have to use chemical inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides. Madivalappa has harvested the crops carefully and preserved the seeds meticulously.
“When agriculture is facing crisis due to extreme weather events, heritage varieties like these that can be grown with less water and minimum external inputs bring hope to the farming community,” says agriculture expert Shivaraj Hunagund, who has been supporting Madivalappa’s efforts.
Interestingly, now other farmers in Mugad and neighbouring villages have shown interest to grow and conserve these varieties.
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