Mysuru: Kisan Swaraj Sammelana enlightens people on natural farming

Mysuru: Packed with sessions by experts, seed diversity fest, desi food fest, expo of chemical-free organic food products, value added agricultural products and more, Kisan Swaraj Sammelana enlightened people on the importance of natural farming.

The sixth edition of the three-day national-level sammelana hosted by Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) in collaboration with Prasaranga (the publishing wing of KSOU) at KSOU campus concluded on Sunday.

Seed diversity

People got an opportunity to see hundreds of varieties of traditional seeds of different regions from across the country saved by more than ten seed saver farmers. They even witnessed roots, tubers, and rare vegetables at the fest.

Seed saver-farmer A N Anjaneya from Kambalur of Davanagere displayed country's first five new varieties of farm land bred rice which he developed and registered with plant varieties registry. Those included Giri Sale, Kumbala Sale, Madhu Sale, Sindhura Madhusale, Andanur Sanna. He even displayed about 300 varieties of seeds including different varieties of rice, which he has saved and cultivated at his farm land along with his 73-year-old mother Mallamma.

Padmamma from Kanagalu of Periyapatna taluk of Mysuru district displayed about 100 varieties of seeds she has saved, and over 80 varieties of tubers and vegetables she has nourished. Padmamma said, "Farmers who visited the fest should practice all that they have learnt about organic and natural farming in order to save their land, farming and livelihood. People should also adopt a healthy lifestyle and use these organic food to stay fit."

Agro products

Besides Khadi clothes, one could even see and buy value added agricultural products like palm leaf jewels, millet food products and more at the fest.

Manjula and Chandavaregowda from Mahadevapura of Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district displayed ghee extracted out of coconut milk, liquid extracts of various spices including cinnamon. Shobha Gaydhane from Waigaon of Wardha district from Maharashtra had come up with Geographical Indication tagged Waigaon Turmeric and varieties of turmeric powders with medicinal benefits.

Food fest

At the food fest besides Mirchi Mandakki, Jolada rotti by seed saver award winning farm woman Bibi Jaan from Kundagola of Dharwad district. S Aarush from Coimbatore displayed a few of their 2500 dishes-'no oil no boil foods'.

Urban gardening

Retired horticulture department officer Ramakrishnappa of Belavala foundation created awareness on urban gardening; and about different models of natural farming, tree based farming which can be practiced depending on resources available, based on climate and soil in different regions.

Live demo of sustainable and healthy traditions like traditional bullock-driven Niger (Hucchellu) oil extraction, Doddaswamy and Castrol oil by Gowri, both from Adaganahalli of K R Nagar taluk, pulled the attention of people.

Scientists, policy analysts, agricultural experts discussed about solutions for ecological sustainability and dignified livelihoods of Country's farming communities. Organic/natural farmers and practitioners from across the five states of South India shared their expertise in plenaries and parallel sessions. They passed several resolutions in the sammelana.