Mysuru: Expressing concern over sad state of affairs in the field of agriculture in the country, Science writer Nagesh Hegde on Sunday said that Punjab, land of five rivers, which was once known as ‘Granary of India’ and ‘India’s Bread-Basket’ is now making news because of its cancer patients.

Hegde was speaking at a book release function organised by Abhiruchi Prakashana in association with Chintana Chittara Prakashana at Kalamandira’s Mini Theatre where two books written by Chinnaswamy Vaddagere, ‘Bangarada Manushyaru’ and ‘Krishi Samskruti Kathana’ were released.

Delivering a special lecture on ‘Belakina Besaya’, Hegde said, “the train from Bathinda to Bikaner has become infamous as the ‘Cancer Train’ today, since it carries hundreds of cancer patients. Agricultural scientists are to blame for this current situation. Almost an entire district in Punjab has become a hub of cancer patients. Rampant usage of fertilisers while abandoning traditional farming practices is the main reason for this scenario. In Punjab, 98 per cent of net sown area is under irrigation, but still agricultural sector is in a very bad state.”

Lobby from multinationals: “In one of its Arctic Island, Norway has built a seed vault where about 30 lakh wide variety of plant seeds are preserved in the name of conservation, but scientists are questioning the very safety of the vault itself. What if the vault itself is destroyed due to some nuclear warfare or a natural calamity? So that multinationals can market their own variety of seeds? I feel there is a conspiracy here,” he said.

Products of Mysuru getting GI tag: “GI tag refers to Geographical Indication. About 380 Indian products have been GI tagged. Especially, a number of natural products from Mysuru region have got GI tag including Mysuru sandal, Mysuru silk, Nanjangud Rasabale etc., and we should feel proud about this achievement,” Hegde opined.

“As more and more malls are coming up in Bengaluru, products of local variety now are either spurned or considered as of ‘low quality.’ The word ‘local’ itself has now become synonymous to ‘low in quality.’ Naturally grown fruits and vegetables cultivated locally are always available fresh, but one cannot expect the same for those which are imported from far away countries or places. Somehow, just because of our ignorance, we feel otherwise,” he added.

“In pre-independence India, farming community used to conserve and preserve their own seeds, but now are dependent on Government for everything. There is much neglect in our populace about traditional methods of conserving seed varieties,” he said.

Earlier, five organic farmers released the books. Water expert Mallikarjuna Hosapalya, President of Sugarcane Growers’ Association Kuruburu Shanthakumar, journalist Rashmi Kaujalagi, President of Chamarajanagar District Raitha Sangha Honnuru Prakash, Abhiruchi Ganesh of Abhiruch Publications, Ningaraju Cittannanavar of Chintana Chittara Publications, writer Chinnaswamy Vaddagere and others were present.