Mysuru/Mysore: “Tubers are precious gift to our life given by nature and they represent our unique culture. Unless we preserve that knowledge, there is no future for us,” opined senior Folk Scholar Prof. Kalegowda Nagawara.

Speaking after inaugurating the two-day ‘Roots and Tuber Mela’ which began at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry in city this morning, he said “tribal and rural people used to identify and collect wild tubers and consume them as food. Combination of tubers and meat provided their daily requirement of carbohydrate and protein. Even harvesting of tubers was in tune with nature as they used to harvest only a part of available tuber from forest and leave the rest to let them grow for future use, but now, that knowledge and culture is being lost as a result of the spread of modern technologies in rural and tribal areas.”

Speaking after releasing the book ‘Gedde Genasina Adbhuta Loka,’ APMC Vice-President J. Chikkajavarappa said that APMC is ready to promote and sell roots and tubers which are powerhouses of nutrients.

Recipient of Kittur Rani Chennamma award Janakamma presided over the inaugural event. Dr. Arun Kumar, a scientist working at Zonal Horticulture Research & Extension centre, Dharwad, was the chief guest.

The Mela is being organised by Sahaja Samrudha, in collaboration with the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, to sensitise the urban community towards the benefits of tuber consumption and explore more value addition and include them into the cultivation.

Around 500-plus types of tubers are being displayed and sold at the Mela by more than 25 farmers’ associations at the two-day ‘Roots and Tuber Mela’ which is receiving good response with people thronging the venue. Large variety of tubers and roots, most of them unheard and unseen by city folks including Magali genasu, Soravina gende, Kadu arishina, Sebu soppu, Noore Murudi, Basambu, different types of ginger, Nagali genasu and gedde, Sambar gedde and Kempu nogali are on display.

A huge tuber called Mudre Genasu, weighing 88 kg, which has been cultivated by farmer P.V. Tammanna from Chowdikatte of Hunsur taluk is one of the main attractions here.

The Mela is also featuring numerous rice varieties including Kempu kucchalakki, Padmarekha, Ratnachudi, Jeerige sanna, Gowri Sanna, Gandhasali and Belgaum basmati. Also, rare varieties of grains and pulses including bili kadale, kari uddu, madaki kalu, bili ellu, kari hesaru are being showcased.

Kanana Krishika Mahila Sangha, a women’s farmer association from Piriyapatna, is displaying many variety of tubers and roots including kesavina gedde, unne genasu, nore genasu and suvarnagedde. Marike’s of Putturu taluk are selling multi-natural ice cream at the venue.

The exhibition-cum-sale of tubers and roots along with different varieties of rice, pulses and grains will be open today and tomorrow from 10.30 am to 8 pm at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry.

Cooking contest

Meanwhile, a cooking contest using Roots and Tubers has also been organised tomorrow (Jan.12) to introduce its nutri-tional value to the younger generation who have a fad for fast/junk foods. Those interested may cook dishes at home and participate in the contest organised by Mysuru Caterers on Jan. 12 at 12 noon at the Mela venue. For details, call Mob: 94814-38887.