PJTSAU, Hyderabad has organised Seed Mela on 24th May 2022 at university sports complex, Hyderabad. On invitation from the Director of Research, PJTSAU, ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station participated in the Seed Mela by organsing an exhibition stall at the venue. Diversity in native seeds in different agri-horticultural crops for inculcating awareness on importance and indispensability of crop genetic resources showcased. Around 600 farmers’ visited the stall. The dignitaries who have visited the ICAR-NBPGR stall included the Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor,PJTSAU, Shri Sri Kondabala Koteswara Rao, Chairman, Telangana State Seeds Development Corporation Limited, Sri Hanumant K.Zendage, Special Commissioner, Agriculture and Cooperation, Dr. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU and others.
As the Telangana farmers are taking up cultivation of non-traditional crops and improved varieties the accumulated diversity in traditional crops is also getting eroded. In order to promote local traditional cultivars, ICAR-NBPGR distributed Erramachcha kandi, a traditional pigeon pea cultivar (very tall plant habit, medium maturing, heavy bearing, long pods, seed cream with reddish-brown mottles having high seed weight) has been distributed to the farmers. University authorities thanked the efforts taken by ICAR-NBPGR for the distribution of traditional farmer’s variety. Drs. Anitha Kodaru, P. Pranusha, S. Nivedhitha and L. Saravanan made arrangements for the successful participation of NBPGR in the Seed Mela.

(Source:  Dr Anitha Kodaru, RS Hyderabad