18th National Paddy Festival at Ramanathapuram
CREATE (Consumer Research Education Action Training Empowerment), in association with Syed Ammal Arts and Science College, Ramanathapuram, the National Service Scheme, the Citizen’s Consumers Association of Ramanathapuram, and the Keelakkarai Consumer Welfare Association, jointly organized the 18th National Paddy Festival on August 28, 2024, at the college campus. Around 150 farmers from Ramanathapuram, along with 150 college students, took part in the festival.
Prof. Dr. P. Duraisingam, Chairman of CREATE, spoke about the objectives of the seed festival. He explained how his organization transformed from a consumer protection organization to focusing on providing safe and nutritious food to consumers through the influence of the late Nammalvar. He emphasized that every consumer should become a co-producer, leading to mutual learning and understanding about the issues in food production and the challenges faced by consumers.
He highlighted that the Paddy Seed Festivals over the last 18 years have transformed more than 100,000 paddy farmers by promoting traditional paddy cultivation through agro-ecological methods. He also appealed to the college administration to introduce organic options at their college canteen, which he claimed would enhance the students’ IQ levels.
Earlier in the day, the traditional food festival was inaugurated by Mr. S. Kannaiya, Joint Director of Agriculture, Ramanathapuram, and Mr. A. Chelladurai Abdullah, Correspondent of the College. Students from various colleges prepared and displayed a variety of traditional food recipes.
During his keynote address, the Joint Director of Agriculture spoke about the initiatives of the agriculture department in promoting traditional paddy varieties through the Nel Jayaraman Traditional Paddy Conservation Center over the last 3 years, benefiting each farmer with 20 kg of traditional paddy seeds. He also explained the department’s scheme to encourage traditional paddy cultivation each year, which includes a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh. Last year, a farmer from Ramnad won the award for achieving the highest yield in traditional paddy cultivation.
He highlighted the multiple benefits of cultivating traditional paddy, including its effectiveness in controlling weeds, pests, and diseases, its nutritional and medicinal properties, its low glycemic index, and, most importantly, its positive impact on soil health and agroecology. He also urged farmers to take advantage of the department’s initiatives, which provide financial support of Rs. 50,000 per farmer over 3 years to promote organic farming. This support includes training, awareness creation, and the supply of bio-inputs, tools, and equipment.
Each of the 140 farmers who participated in the festival was given 2 kg of seeds from 12 traditional paddy varieties, namely Athur Kitchali Samba, Kaala Bhath, Kuthiraival Samba, Poongkaar, Seeraga Samba, Karung Kuruvai, Sorna Masuri, Raththasali, Arupatham Kuruvai, and White Kouni.
