A farmer who preserves more than 250 traditional paddy seeds held at Erode

03:50 PM Oct 18, 2024 | Afternoon News

Sanjay Perumal, 60,  a farmer from Kangaravalli village, Papireddypatti circle, Dharmapuri district, is having more than 250 traditional paddy seeds. He exhibited his paddy seeds at the Erode Tamil Ancient Culture Exhibition today. He then said: He has collected more than 250 traditional paddy seeds in the past 15 years after touring various districts of Tamil Nadu. For this I have received awards from various organizations including Tamil Nadu Government. Even recently I received the best agriculture award from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He has many rare varieties of paddy seeds - including Sivan Samba, Athur Kichadi, Arkadu Samba, Ney Samba, Mappillai Samba, Kattuyanam, Sembalai etc. He continuously cultivates these paddy seeds in a seven-acre land at his SBS traditional paddy research farm.
He sells about 40 tons of traditional paddy seeds every year to other farmers. Through this, he helps others to protect the traditional seeds.  He cultivates three acres of the total seven acre farm and gives the rest to other farmers to produce these paddy seeds. He also buys paddy seeds from them and distributes them to others. 40 bags of paddy can be produced per acre with these paddy seeds. As it is grown without any chemical fertilizers, the food cooked in it is very good to health. Currently developed Deluxe Ponny ,  IR 8, 20 Samba varieties require chemical fertilizers. This will cause many harms to the body. But these paddy seeds are made from natural fertilizer. Its rice can prevent many diseases. This is what I have been eating consistently for years. Both my legs were broken in an accident. I was able to get up and walk after the bandage was applied. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has done some research on this traditional rice variety. A new variety of rice has been developed. But it has no immunity. And the cost of using compound fertilizer to grow those varieties is high. If you use those varieties, you will get 50 bags of paddy per acre. But you can get 40 bundles of paddy free of cost if you use the traditional variety. I am also conducting many trainings for students in this regard. Farmers of Tamil Nadu should continue to cultivate these traditional varieties and protect them. Thus, quality immune-boosting food for the public will be available, he said.