Now Reading: Mysuru farmers urged to adopt drought-tolerant indigenous seeds
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Mysuru farmers urged to adopt drought-tolerant indigenous seeds
Joint Director of Horticulture, Mysuru, Manjunath Angadi has urged farmers to prioritise drought-tolerant indigenous crop varieties as El Nino threatens horticultural yields. Speaking at the 12th Annual General Meeting of the Desi…
The Story in Brief
Joint Director of Horticulture, Mysuru, Manjunath Angadi has urged farmers to prioritise drought-tolerant indigenous crop varieties as El Nino threatens horticultural yields. Speaking at the 12th Annual General Meeting of the Desi Seed Producers Company, he warned that deficient rainfall could slow growth and increase pests, reducing output. Seed conservator Shivalli Boregowda said farmers should produce and market traditional varieties adapted to changing climate. The company, founded by G. Krishna Prasad and branded Sahaja Seeds, reported a turnover of ₹1.1 crore for 2025-26 and distributed ₹75,000 in profit shares. Governments of Meghalaya, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are procuring seeds from the company, which also runs a Kisan Mall organic outlet in Mysuru.
The Indian Opinion
Two narratives collide here. One says traditional seeds are backward and low-yield, and the other paints them as a magic bullet against climate change. The truth is more nuanced. Indigenous varieties do show drought tolerance, but their yields per acre often lag behind hybrids. The Desi Seed Company's ₹1.1 crore turnover is promising but tiny. The real test is whether enough farmers will shift acreage to make a dent in food security, and whether yields can improve without losing resilience. Watch for area sown data next kharif season.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
