DDS launches 25th mobile bio-diversity festival to educate farmers

The 25th edition of the 'Mobile Biodiversity Festival' kicked off in Vaddi village, promoting traditional crops and millets with a tour across 26 villages in Zaheerabad

Sangareddy: The Deccan Development Society (DDS) kickstarted its 25th edition of the ‘Mobile Biodiversity Festival’, called Patha Pantala Jathara in Telugu, at Vaddi village, Nyalkal Mandal on the occasion of Sankranthi on January 14.

As part of Jathara, the decorated bullock carts carrying the seeds of a variety of millets and other traditional crops will tour 26 villages in the Zaheerabad division until February 11.

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The women of DDS and experts would educate the farmers on the importance of cultivating these crops for a healthy life besides underlining the importance of protecting the seeds for future generations.

The festival kickstarted with a ritual installation of seeds by women farmers amidst traditional dances, rituals and songs.

In her welcome address, Parmangari Narsamma, senior sangham representative, said that the DDS has been conducting the festival for the last 25 years to celebrate the control of farmers over cultivation practices. Joint Director of DDS, A Giridhar said the festival is a one-of-its-kind in the country that celebrates biodiversity with the same value that gods and myths have.

“This is a great celebration of local knowledge and culture. This festival has inspired similar celebrations in at least 11 other states in the past two decades”, he said.

Biodiversity-conserving farmers N Shobhamma, E Narsamma, K Lacchamma, M Anishamma, and K Ratnamma were felicitated by the guests for their efforts in the cultivation of traditional crops.

A special publication titled ‘Harvest Haven – Seeds of Diversity’ was released by chief guests on this occasion.

The publication catalogs traditional knowledge on 30 local food crops and around 70 landraces, detailing their characteristics, cultivation processes and preservation. Director of ICAR ATRAI Zone ‘X’ Sheikh NMeera, said there is a need for scientists to learn from farmers whom he termed as the biggest experimenters.