Together for tomorrow:Paddy seeds being sown at Kenichira in Wayanad under a project of the Kudumbasree Mission.  

After empowering rural women folk in the State, the Kudumbasree Mission is gearing up to script another success story by conserving traditional rice seeds of Wayanad.

“The project envisages to conserve and propagate seven vanishing indigenous rice seeds, including aromatic rice varieties such as Gandhakasala and Jeerakasala; short-term rice seed Palthondi; medicinal rice varieties such as Chenellu and Rakthashali; and long-term term rice seeds such as Veliyan and Adukkan in the district,” P. Sajitha, coordinator, Kudumbasree Mission, Wayanad, told The Hindu .

The project has been executed through joint liability groups (JLGs) of the mission. The pilot project has been executed by the mission through the Kairaly JLG and five acres of fallow land at Kenichira under the Poothadi grama panchayat has been utilised for the purpose this season.

“We are following the organic method of cultivation, applying the bioslurry pellet method to sow seeds to reduce the input cost,” Ms. Sajitha said.

Bioslurry pellet method

“Bioslurry pellet method is an innovative method of rice cultivation developed by Aji Kunnel, a progressive farmer at Ambalavayal in the district, and it will save both time and money as there is no need to prepare a nursery for paddy plants,” said K.P. Jayachandran, assistant coordinator, Kudumbasree Mission, Wayanad.

Expansion on the cards

The mission is planning to expand the project on 300 acres next year. “We will buy the seeds after harvest from the JLG group at a premium price and disburse it to 300 JLGs in the district next season to promote the seeds,” Mr. Jayachandran said.

The Kudumbasree State Mission has allotted Rs. 1 lakh for the project and the Agriculture Department would provide an incentive of Rs. 50,000 for the JLG under the Haritha Keralam Mission, he said.