Red Rice Mela

Event Info

To showcase the nutritious red rice and the diversity of the red rices of the State, “Red Rice Mela” was held in Bangalore, Mysore, Shimoga and Hubli by Sahaja Samrudha in collaboration with NABARD, Save Our Rice Campaign and other like minded organisational support.

The popularization of red rice and inclusion of them into our daily diet is the focus of the Mela. Red rice being the store houses of nutrients are miles ahead of polished rice but still an ignored food crop. With all the benefits yet, red rice have been marginalized and they have been overlooked and many of the farmers are into cultivation of only hybrid varieties that are high in yield value. Even the government encourages the distribution and cultivation of these hybrid rices that don’t contain any nutrition in them.

The mela addressed some of the issues pertaining to the neglect of the crop diversity. During these mela the exhibition of about 150 traditional rices, earheads, ready to eat foods and value additions out of red rice will be sold, issue of informative leaflets, poster and power point presentations and group discussions that include farmers, consumers, nutritionist, doctors, department persons, scientists and other social network persons share their views about benefits of consuming red rice in our daily life.

Release of few publications and release of rice calendar every year are planned during these mela’s to create better awareness and to sensitise media. Best rice growers will be honored and given recongination by publishing articles.