Heavy downpour has left vast tracts of paddy fields at villages in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district inundated, but the farmers in the villages of Saidur, Kanale and Hirenallur gram panchayats grow a flood-resistant traditional variety called Nereguli, which has stood them in good stead. Though the yield is less compared to other varieties of paddy, this variety has higher rate of tolerance to flood.
For generations
“We have witnessed floods in our region for decades. Our forefathers found Nereguli paddy the best variety to cultivate in our area. The paddy did not lose its quality even when the field was inundated for 40 days,” said Jayanth, a resident of Tadagalale in Saidur panchayat. Nowadays, he argued, with the extensive use of chemical fertilizers, this variety of paddy too could withstand flood only for 25 days. “Even then, it is a better variety for our climate condition,” he added.
