Towards the end of year, Desi BihanParab is held in a village of Gaisillet block of Padamour Subdivision of Barhargh district to popularize the cultivation of traditional seeds and its preservation. This year it was held in Kandhu Munda village.
Siba Prasad Sahu of Ahinsha Club of Bhtibahal informed, “Since 2008 we have been organising Desibhan Parab to preserve, promote and popularise the cultivation of traditional paddy seed in our area.” Farmers have every right to choose which seed they should use. The traditional varieties of paddy which are tasty and nutritious should be promoted and consumed to lead a healthy life, h suggested.
Desi Bihan which our forefathers used to cultivate and we consumed that food and remained healthy is on the decline thanks to the introduction of hybrid and high yielding varieties of paddy which increased our production and at the same time pushed the traditional seed to oblivion. To lead a healthy life, we need to preserve, protect and promote cultivation of traditional paddy seed in our area, observed speakers at the festival.
The Government is not taking proper steps to promote the Desi Bihan seed and its cultivation, lamented Saroj Mahanty of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanya Samiti. He said that the popularisation of the seed would help check farmer suicide as the paddy varieties are drought-resistant.
“I have raised the issue to hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy in Parliament several times but the Central Government is not taking any steps in this regard,” said Bargarh MP Dr Prabahas Singh. He assured to provide necessary help to construct a house for research and storage of traditional seed from his MPlAD fund. He also assured to raise the issue of GM mustard seed issue in the Parliament.
Noted Kosali poet Haldhar Nag expressed concern over gradual depletion of traditional seed varieties. He urged people to go for cultivation of Desi Bihan seed.
Organised by Ahinsha Club with support from Millet Network of India and Deccan Development Society, in the one-day festival, several varieties of traditional paddy seed and minor millets were displayed.
