Tribal hamlet Killoguda in Andhra Pradesh's Araku region to host 2 day seed festival

VISAKHAPATNAM: Araku region in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district is set to celebrate the traditional and unique two-day old seed festival (Patha Vithanala Pandaga or Eastern Ghats Biodiversity Festival) on 26 and 27. Killoguda tribal hamlet of Dumbriguda mandal in ASR district will host the 16th indigenous seed festival
Many tribal farmers will join in the seed festivals to display the rare and unique seeds. The fest celebrates biodiversity through the practices of exchanging of seeds among different villages.
Speaking to TOI, P Devullu, organizer of the seed festival and secretary of the environment protection society “Sanjeevini” said the two-day fest will bring together tribal communities from parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to showcase their rich seed diversity, wild tubers, and roots. The festival provides a unique opportunity for seed savers to share and exchange of their germplasm, he added.
Hundreds of varieties of seeds (millets, paddy, pulses, cereals, turmeric, medicinal herbs, forest produces) will be showcased in earthen vessels or leaf containers during the two-day seed festival.
“The core objective of the seed festival is to conservation of native seed verities its usage sharing among themselves, protecting our rich indigenous biodiversity of native crops, safeguarding the heritage and biodiversity of native crops, protection of germplasm and rebuild and replenish ancient holistic tribal agriculture practice,” said P Devullu.
This year, hundreds of farmers from two states will be setting up stalls for display of the variety of seeds. The two-day event will feature interactions with farmers, seed savers, indigenous people and activists. The festival is also a great opportunity for seed exchange and sharing, presentation and talks about traditional farming practices.
Lahari Bai, a tribal woman from Madhya Pradesh and brand ambassador of millets (she has preserved more than 150 varieties of millet seeds), Raimati Ghiuria, a tribal farmer from Odisha and affectionately known as Queen of Millets and AST district’s woman farmer Pangi Vinitha, who is master in natural farming will attend as distinguished guests for the two-day festival. EOM