PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL PADDY SEEDS URGED Monday, 11 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL PADDY SEEDS URGED

Monday, 11 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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To popularise cultivation of traditional varieties of paddy seed and steps for its preservation, Desi Bihan Parab 2017 was held at village Kharamal in Bargarh district on December 7.

“We have been organising the Desi Bihan Parab every year to promote cultivation of traditional varieties of paddy and their preservation since last 10 years,” said Sibaprasad Sahu of the Ahinsha Club.

Earlier, village women went in a rally with Kalashes (pots) containing Desi Bihan (traditional seeds) on their heads after worshipping them.

Later, a meeting was held where in Bargarh MP Prabhas Singh, farmer leaders Lingraj and Saroj Mohanty, poet Padmashree Haldhar Nag and Balangir Zilla Parishad President Bharati Mahanand stressed the need for preservation of traditional varieties paddy seed, which are becoming extinct with every passing day, and their promotion and popularisation among farmers.

They said farmers would have to use less pesticides and insecticides once they goes for cultivation of Desi varieties of seed; and by consuming such crops, one can lead a disease-free life. In such a situation, farmers would not have to depend on commercial firms for paddy seeds.

An exhibition of more than 100 varieties of traditional paddy seed and several varieties minor millet was held at the festival site.