Protecting Old Seed Types Can Boost Crop Yields, Experts Say at Dharwad Krishi Mela

Traditional crop varieties must be protected because previous generations worked hard to preserve and grow them, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad, R.R. Hanchinal, said on Friday.

Seed Mela Launch

Inaugurating a Seed Mela during the annual Krishi Mela at UAS Dharwad, Prof. Hanchinal noted that these older crop types can grow in salty soil without needing chemical fertilizers. He pointed out that there are more than two lakh varieties of rice. Sowing traditional seeds can raise crop yields by 18 percent to 20 percent, and farmers can get even more produce by using chemical and farmyard manure.

Seeds Exported Abroad

Prof. Hanchinal added that seed production involving farmers helps everyone. Seeds grown locally have been sent to Rajasthan, Assam, and Indonesia, and patents have been secured for certain farmer varieties. He asked farmers to practice organic farming and called for more research into crop varieties.

Day One Sales

UAS Dharwad Vice-Chancellor N.B. Prakash said the university seed unit has finished 25 years and won multiple national and one international award. He also opened a Fruit and Flower Exhibition and an insect exhibition. On the first day of the event, about 2.9242 lakh farmers, extension workers, and department officials attended. The university reported selling roughly 165 quintals of rabi seeds and 27 kg of vegetable seeds, making a total of ₹16,28,200.