2 DECCAN HERALD Tuesday, August 4, 2009 Spectrum statescan BAHAMANI RULE Gulbarga was the capital of the Bahamani King Hasan Gangu, in the 14th century. (Between 1347 & 1358) the government continues to supply hy- BRAVING THE FLOOD The paddy brid varieties that do not survive, further strains that are grown in the Vara- adding to farmers’ woes,”says G Krishna da river basin are flood-resistant Prasad, Director, Sahaja Samrudha. He Paddy that Below right: Devendrappa in his further adds that the agriculture depart- Nereguli paddy field. PHOTOS: G KR- ment does not possess any native seeds ISHNA PRASAD that are useful to farmers in the region. According to Shantha Kumar of ‘Save our Rice Campaign’, Nereguli is a significant variety because it remains submerged for long. survives There are other varieties in Bangladesh and Andhra Pradesh that can withstand floods and grow tall, but will collapse once the water recedes, but Nereguli is quite the opposite. It is rooted and grows fast once the water recedes. Floods and the river have become a part the flood of the lives of farmers here. It is unfortunate that the government continues to supply only hybrid varieties through Raitha Sam- parka Kendras, but they don’t survive here. AGRICULTURE In an era when yield Motivated by a concern for conserva- tion of these nearly-extinct varieties, Sa- haja Samrudha has developed farmer- performance of crops is the only factor breeding practices for multiplication of the varieties. Documentation of existing prac- taken into consideration, Varada basin tices and the culture associated with them has also been undertaken. farmers are struggling to conserve strains On-farm participatory trials to charac- terise and evaluate rice varieties have been that they have inherited and retained carried out in Yelkundli, Sagar taluk and Mogalli in Sirsi taluk. over four decades, writes Anitha Reddy Threat to deepwater rice In the name of progress, new types of seeds, the HYVs (high yielding varieties) have been introduced. Cultivation practices have changed with the introduction of these, armers in the Varada river belt Remarkable diversity whilst they have not solved the problems of have adapted to the fury of the riv- Over centuries, farmers in the region have crop losses and famine. A new threat looms er that flows in Sagar, Soraba and carefully developed and preserved vari- with the International Rice Research Insti- Sirsi taluks. The rivulet, which eties that can survive when their lifeline, the tute (IRRI) developing a deepwater variety Ftakes birth at Sagar, flows through river Varada, invades their fields. These by introducing a gene called SUB1 through Sirsi and Soraba for about 11 kms before flood-resistant varieties hold a significant marker assisted selection (MAS) into some joining the Tungabhadra. During its short place in the biodiversity of the area. of the varieties already in use. journey, the Varada wreaks havoc and de- The Varada basin is home to deepwater Karnataka has its own deep water rice stroys thousands of acres of paddy fields rice varieties like Nereguli, Karibatha, San- varieties that have stood the test of time and when continuous rain swells the water- navaalya, Karijaddu, Kani Somasale, Jenu- survived for decades. The fury of the mon- ways. This puts at risk at least 30,000 peo- goodu, Nettibatha, Kari kantaka, Edi kuni, soons and the flooding of the fields on the ple in 25 villages depending on it. and Karekal Dadiga. THE SEEDS DIS- tions prevalent here. The hybrid paddy va- departments have failed to design pro- banks of the rivers have not been able to de- Flooding is an annual phenomenon The most popular among these varieties rieties being supplied by the government grammes to support the indigenous rice va- stroy these varieties. But, in the face of here. However, it does not mean that farm- is Nereguli, which has proved to be the best TRIBUTED BY are of little use to the large number of farm- rieties growing in this belt. mounting pressure from corporates, how ers do not grow anything during the flood. deepwater variety for years. It is liked for its ers whose fields lie alongside the Varada riv- Government agencies continue to pro- long will farmers hold on to their heritage? They possess a unique wealth that enables vigour, taste and health quotient. This vari- THE GOVERNMENT er. High-yielding varieties have never been mote modern high-yielding varieties with them to grow paddy even in flooded condi- ety is organically grown using traditional grown in these flooded fields. subsidies; not only are these varieties un- What can be done tions, and the varieties of rice can subsist methods and is highly nutritious and in HAVE FAILED TO SUR- Devendrappa, a farmer of Yelkundli says, suitable for the region, they also destroy na- Steps which could be taken to conserve deep standing water for a long period. great demand, in Kerala and Goa. “The seeds distributed by the government tive biodiversity. the deepwater diversity of Varada basin: Now, while scientists are pondering over Manjunath M H, a young researcher VIVE, BUT FARMERS have failed to survive, but farmers culti- Hardly any research and development ■Declare the paddy fields along the Vara- developing submergence-tolerant varieties says, “These crops are rare as they remain vating these rare varieties are harvesting has been done in the field of deepwater va- da as ‘Seed Heritage Zone’ of paddy, farmers around Sirsi, Sagar and submerged in water for over a month. As CULTIVATING THESE seven to nine quintals per acre. The surpris- rieties of rice. ■Document agricultural practices asso- Soraba taluks are much ahead of them part of my study on paddy varieties, I have ing factor is that this year, there were three The scientists cannot claim to possess ciated with it when it comes to cultivating flood-resistant collected over 11 unique varieties, and they RARE VARIETIES ARE- spells of floods and because the duration even a single deepwater rice variety suitable ■Set up community seed banks at the ru- varieties. have amazing characteristics.”He added was long, we thought the crops would fail, to the region. ral Panchayat level and encourage seed ex- “Flooding is a common phenomenon that these are the only varieties that can HARVESTING SEVEN but we had a record yield and these paddy “Deepwater varieties were extracted change among farmers here. Every year, there is flooding and farm- stay submerged in water for weeks and TO NINE QUINTALS varieties saved us.” from nature and nurtured over genera- ■Ensure Raitha Samparka Kendras pos- ers have adapted to it. At a time when agri- probably months. The grass blades rot and tions in flooded conditions only through the sess good quality flood resistant varieties culture by itself is considered a tough occu- what remains are the stalks, which sprout PER ACRE Extinction of indigenous varieties efforts of farmers. These flood-resistant ■Provide value addition and market fa- pation, farmers have found a way out by once the water level recedes, he said. Most of the germplasm that existed in this varieties have a significant place in the bio- cilities for deepwater rice varieties cultivating some of these rare varieties,” All these varieties are still being grown in area has been lost and the collection of the diversity of the area. Research has not been ■Undertake reforestation programmes says Raghunandana Bhat, a resident of Ba- this area, because the much hyped hybrid unique flood-resistant rice varieties are de- conducted on such varieties in Karnataka ■Plant native trees along the Varada to navasi. varieties do not survive the climatic condi- clining. Yet the government and agriculture and despite the demand for local strains, check soil erosion MISCELLANY Beauty and bliss in Karwar... TRAVEL Karwar, the town that inspired poet Rabindranath Tagore to pen the Bengali play Prakritir Pratishoota, is full of several attractions, from the beach to INS Chapal to Sadashivgad Fort, writes Shalini Satish he sylvan Western Ghats, the viva- Located at the confluence of the river Kali cious Kali river and the undulating and the Arabian Sea, Devbag is enveloped APATHY The Amanikere, one of the largest irrigation tanks in Tumkur district, has T Arabian Sea are some of nature’s by water. Zebrafish, starfish, butterflyfish now become a dumpyard. PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR bounties for Karwar. “Karwar is certainly a and bottlenose dolphins thrive in this habi- fit place in which to realise that the beauty tat. Dolphin sighting tours, snorkelling, Amanikere: A lifeline preventing contamination of Amanikere, of nature is not a mirage of imagination, but parasailing, kayaking, banana boat rides wonder residents of Tumkur. reflects the joy of the infinite and thus draws and canoeing are some activities for the ad- no more S V Upendra Charya us to lose ourselves into it,”said Ra- venturous. The Kali flows into the Arabian bindranath Tagore who was inspired by Sea near Karwar. A bridge has been con- Occupying about 500 acres, Amanikere is Celebrating the the blissful beauty of Karwar to pen the structed over the river at the mouth of the one of the largest irrigation tanks in Bengali play Prakritir Pratishoota (Na- sea. The drive across the bridge that links Tumkur district. Situated in the backdrop tender coconut ture’s Revenge). two land fragments Sadashivgad and of hillocks, Amanikere attracts passersby Karwar was an important port for sea Kodibag is spectacular. The Kali bridge on Tumkur-Sira road. An Eleneer Mela (tender coconut mela) trade and has beckoned visitors for cen- which is part of NH17 (Mumbai-Cochin For rain-dependent farmers in the re- was held in Tiptur taluk’s Biligere a couple turies.