Desi Rice Mela highlights agro-diversity of the State 

Desi Rice Mela highlights endangered rice varieties, promotes conservation, and encourages consumption of indigenous rice for nutrition.

The two-day Desi Rice Mela showcasing a slew of rice varieties and paddy variants some of which are tottering on the brink of extinction, was inaugurated in the city on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner K.V. Rajendra who attended the inaugural event said that the district administration would support any initiative in the conservation of desi rice. Concerning establishing a rice mill or processing unit at the community level, the district administration will extend all possible assistance, he added.

Mr. Rajendra said a community-oriented rice processing unit would be supported by the district administration to prevent the possible contamination of the agricultural produce cultivated by organic farmers when taken to conventional mills or processing units for processing.   

Pointing out that India was rich in agricultural diversity Mr. Rajendra said that it was not the responsibility of the farmers alone to conserve the indigenous and rare varieties of rice. Even the consumers have a role to play by generating demand for it, he added.

Farmers have conserved the agricultural heritage and diversity of the country for millennia by cultivating them and it was the collective responsibility of all to ensure that they are preserved and propagated for posterity, said Mr. Rajendra.

Two farmers Geetha and Srinivasmurthy from Siddanahundi in T. Narsipur taluk, launched the mela by pounding the paddy.

Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute released Sidda Sanna variety of rice developed by seed saver Bore Gowda of Mandya. Dr. Singh said that the nutritional value of traditional and indigenous varieties of rice was high. She said the CFTRI was prepared to carry out a nutritional analysis of some of the rare varieties of rice for the benefit of the farmers and the consumers.