Mysore/Mysuru: Mysureans really went deep into roots this morning with a variety of roots and tubers which are on sale and display at the century-old Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry this morning.

From ball size to small stone size, lanky to dwarf sizes of tubers and roots welcomed the enthusiastic crowd to two-day Tubers and Roots Sale-cum-Exhibition being organised by Sahaja Samrudha, a Bengaluru-based Organic Producer Company and Rotary Club of Mysore West.

The aim of this exhibition was to tell people about health benefits of tubers and roots which have been the traditional food of people for ages. Since the people have only a small variety of these ‘underground vegetables’, it was an occasion to see large varieties and relish its products on the spot.

Farmers from many districts not only from Karnataka but also from neighbouring States have brought with them some of the rare varieties of the roots and tubers for display as well as for the sale. 

One such as has been ‘Naagarakona’, a rare variety of tuber weighing 98 kg and 25 feet tall grown by Panduranga Gawada, a farmer from Uttara Kannada district. Besides, there are ‘black vermilion’, ‘black carrot’, ‘white tuber’, varieties of ginger, pickles made from rare roots, original honey, paddy, pure coconut oil, tamarind, traditionally extracted oil, nine varieties of millets (siridhanya) and others. It was really a feast for the citizens to see such variety under one roof.

Apart from seeing the rare varieties, the people can also enjoy the chips and eatables prepared out of roots and tubers on the spot. Some of them were used in preparation of ayurvedic medicine. Tribals from various forests were participating in the Tuber Mela with their large and diverse tuber collection.

The focus of this Mela was to sensitise the urban community on the benefits of tuber consumption and explore value addition and include them in diet. Tubers have the potential to overcome adverse soil and weather conditions, global warming and climate change. 

The Tuber Mela will not only be an exhibition-cum-sale of tubers and roots, but will also help consumers with recipes to include tubers in the diet.

The Tuber Mela, which was inaugurated by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar this morning, is open to public from 10.30 am to 8 pm today and tomorrow. Also, a Roots and Tubers Cooking Contest has been organised tomorrow (Feb. 7) to introduce its nutritional value to the younger generation.