KALPETTA: Tribal families at Cherukara, near Vellamunda, in Wayanad district have been conserving and propagating indigenous paddy seeds, which they consider a gift of divine providence. In the process, they have set a model for farming communities across the country.
The Peruvadi Kurichiya Tharavadu, one such joint family, is a treasure trove of indigenous paddy seeds, with a rare collection of 29 varieties. Other farmers can get the seeds for cultivation in a kind of a barter arrangement — for every “pothi” (approximately 60 litres), the buyer should return 70 litres post-harvest.
The family has been following a traditional method, called “Moodkettal,” to preserve the seeds.
“A few generations ago, our ancestors used to cultivate more than 150 varieties of paddy seeds, but most of them had been lost in the tide of time,” Achappan, chief of the family, says. “Hence, we have set up a gene bank of traditional paddy seeds to preserve the remaining seeds for our future generations with the technical advice of Voice.”
Voice is a non-governmental organisation based in Sultan Bathery. Under its initiative, a booklet has been published on traditional rice cultivation.
Mr. Achappan says the tribes believe that paddy seeds have a divine property and preserving and propagating them are obligations to the future generations.
In the collection are seeds of Gandhakasala, Kayama and Jeerakasala aromatic varieties; Thonnuramthondy and Palthondy, which can be harvested fast; Navara and Chennellu medicinal varieties; and drought-resistant Chenthadi and Chenthondi.
“Nowadays, many farmers in the district have been showing interest in traditional rice cultivation, as various afflictions affect hybrid varieties. We are providing them seeds from our gene bank,” Mr. Achappan said.
For the tribes, every stage of paddy cultivation is a divine activity and ritual. Sowing, transplanting and harvest are all celebrated with religious fervour. Following an organic method of cultivation, the tribal farmers abjure chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides.
“As we follow the organic method, the yield may be a little less than that given by high-yielding varieties. But we can ensure the authenticity of the seeds. We are satisfied with the yield as paddy cultivation is not a business for us,” Mr. Achappan says.
Source: The Hindu, 28-11-2010
The Peruvadi Kurichiya Tharavadu, one such joint family, is a treasure trove of indigenous paddy seeds, with a rare collection of 29 varieties. Other farmers can get the seeds for cultivation in a kind of a barter arrangement — for every “pothi” (approximately 60 litres), the buyer should return 70 litres post-harvest.
The family has been following a traditional method, called “Moodkettal,” to preserve the seeds.
“A few generations ago, our ancestors used to cultivate more than 150 varieties of paddy seeds, but most of them had been lost in the tide of time,” Achappan, chief of the family, says. “Hence, we have set up a gene bank of traditional paddy seeds to preserve the remaining seeds for our future generations with the technical advice of Voice.”
Voice is a non-governmental organisation based in Sultan Bathery. Under its initiative, a booklet has been published on traditional rice cultivation.
Mr. Achappan says the tribes believe that paddy seeds have a divine property and preserving and propagating them are obligations to the future generations.
In the collection are seeds of Gandhakasala, Kayama and Jeerakasala aromatic varieties; Thonnuramthondy and Palthondy, which can be harvested fast; Navara and Chennellu medicinal varieties; and drought-resistant Chenthadi and Chenthondi.
“Nowadays, many farmers in the district have been showing interest in traditional rice cultivation, as various afflictions affect hybrid varieties. We are providing them seeds from our gene bank,” Mr. Achappan said.
For the tribes, every stage of paddy cultivation is a divine activity and ritual. Sowing, transplanting and harvest are all celebrated with religious fervour. Following an organic method of cultivation, the tribal farmers abjure chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides.
“As we follow the organic method, the yield may be a little less than that given by high-yielding varieties. But we can ensure the authenticity of the seeds. We are satisfied with the yield as paddy cultivation is not a business for us,” Mr. Achappan says.
Source: The Hindu, 28-11-2010
No comments:
Post a Comment