<p>In Sugur (K) village in Kalagi, Kalaburagi, there is a unique paddy variety that has been sprouting up. This paddy has been growing naturally, without cultivation. An unsolved mystery among locals, it has been a source of amazement for several years now. The paddy grows on its own in a compact plot of 200x70 feet of land on a hillock. The adjacent Sugur Swarnagiri temple has been using the paddy produce for religious offerings during auspicious occasions.</p>.<p>The temple priests and villagers claim that no one has ever sown a seed or has irrigated the land where this paddy variety is grown. They also claim that it does not germinate or grow in any other areas.</p>.<p>“We undertake harvesting of the paddy from the hillock in October or November every year. We get a yield of around one to two quintals, which is offered at the temple. We have neither sown the seeds nor used fertilisers and manure on the land where this paddy is growing. The hillock has a natural flow of water,” says the temple priest, Sannat Das Maharaj. </p>.<p><strong>Wild characteristics</strong></p>.<p>There are many wild characteristics in plant species which grow without human intervention in forest and hillock regions, says Muniswamy, a scientist at Kalaburagi Agriculture Research Centre. He adds that the growth of paddy in the village needs further study before coming to a final conclusion. However, paddy is generally diverse, and several varieties display wild characteristics specific to their natural habitat. </p>.<p>Wild paddy plants grow in shallow water in small lakes and slow-flowing streams. These plants are typically aquatic and can grow up to 10 feet tall. Agricultural scientists say it is important to protect and conserve wild variety plants because they may contain valuable traits – tolerance to drought or disease, which can help ensure crop resilience and food security. </p>.<p>“Domesticated plants will not grow without human intervention. But there are many wild species in paddy which grow without cultivation, as they might have adapted to the soil conditions. There is a similar land in Malliabad village near Raichur, where paddy is growing naturally. We have already collected seed samples from the area. But we need to conduct more studies about the paddy variety, soil and water samples to arrive at a conclusion. This requires time,” says Muniswamy.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, paddy breeder and senior scientist at the Agricultural Research Station in Gangavati, Mahant Shivayogayya, has attributed the growth of paddy without cultivation to the soil, and its high zinc, iron and protein content. Some paddy varieties are landraces — naturally occurring, locally adopted varieties of cultivated plants typically developed over generations by farmers. Therefore, the natural growth of these paddy crops is not a wonder, he adds. </p>.<p>Agriculture Department Joint Director Samad Patel says that study is being undertaken on landraces, which are also known as ‘forgotten varieties’. They are commonly underutilised or face threats of extinction. “We have given the scientists a few samples of naturally grown paddy, which have not germinated. We will collect the seeds again for research purposes at the hillock after the start of the monsoon. I feel that it is an old variety which possesses resistance to pests, diseases and environmental stresses,” he adds.</p>.<p>“Domesticated plants will not grow without human intervention. But there are many wild species in paddy which grow without cultivation as they might have adapted to the soil conditions," Muniswamy Scientist, Kalaburagi Agriculture Research Centre</p>
<p>In Sugur (K) village in Kalagi, Kalaburagi, there is a unique paddy variety that has been sprouting up. This paddy has been growing naturally, without cultivation. An unsolved mystery among locals, it has been a source of amazement for several years now. The paddy grows on its own in a compact plot of 200x70 feet of land on a hillock. The adjacent Sugur Swarnagiri temple has been using the paddy produce for religious offerings during auspicious occasions.</p>.<p>The temple priests and villagers claim that no one has ever sown a seed or has irrigated the land where this paddy variety is grown. They also claim that it does not germinate or grow in any other areas.</p>.<p>“We undertake harvesting of the paddy from the hillock in October or November every year. We get a yield of around one to two quintals, which is offered at the temple. We have neither sown the seeds nor used fertilisers and manure on the land where this paddy is growing. The hillock has a natural flow of water,” says the temple priest, Sannat Das Maharaj. </p>.<p><strong>Wild characteristics</strong></p>.<p>There are many wild characteristics in plant species which grow without human intervention in forest and hillock regions, says Muniswamy, a scientist at Kalaburagi Agriculture Research Centre. He adds that the growth of paddy in the village needs further study before coming to a final conclusion. However, paddy is generally diverse, and several varieties display wild characteristics specific to their natural habitat. </p>.<p>Wild paddy plants grow in shallow water in small lakes and slow-flowing streams. These plants are typically aquatic and can grow up to 10 feet tall. Agricultural scientists say it is important to protect and conserve wild variety plants because they may contain valuable traits – tolerance to drought or disease, which can help ensure crop resilience and food security. </p>.<p>“Domesticated plants will not grow without human intervention. But there are many wild species in paddy which grow without cultivation, as they might have adapted to the soil conditions. There is a similar land in Malliabad village near Raichur, where paddy is growing naturally. We have already collected seed samples from the area. But we need to conduct more studies about the paddy variety, soil and water samples to arrive at a conclusion. This requires time,” says Muniswamy.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, paddy breeder and senior scientist at the Agricultural Research Station in Gangavati, Mahant Shivayogayya, has attributed the growth of paddy without cultivation to the soil, and its high zinc, iron and protein content. Some paddy varieties are landraces — naturally occurring, locally adopted varieties of cultivated plants typically developed over generations by farmers. Therefore, the natural growth of these paddy crops is not a wonder, he adds. </p>.<p>Agriculture Department Joint Director Samad Patel says that study is being undertaken on landraces, which are also known as ‘forgotten varieties’. They are commonly underutilised or face threats of extinction. “We have given the scientists a few samples of naturally grown paddy, which have not germinated. We will collect the seeds again for research purposes at the hillock after the start of the monsoon. I feel that it is an old variety which possesses resistance to pests, diseases and environmental stresses,” he adds.</p>.<p>“Domesticated plants will not grow without human intervention. But there are many wild species in paddy which grow without cultivation as they might have adapted to the soil conditions," Muniswamy Scientist, Kalaburagi Agriculture Research Centre</p>