The festival will showcase over 300 varieties of rice

A festival that will celebrate over 300 indigenous varieties of rice from the region is a case in point. To be organised next Sunday, it is the initiative of OOO Farms, started by Shailesh Sakharam Awate, Abhay Bhatia, Pranav Khandelwal and Karan Khandelwal. In 2017, the four friends from Mumbai set out in search of farmland untouched by chemical fertilisers in Maharashtra, and found that it’s only pockets of mountainous regions inhabited by tribals that remain pristine. They tied up with 50 farmers in the region by promising them a market for their traditional produce. And in this mission, they were helped by Sanjay Patil of Pune’s BAIF Development Research Foundation.

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Rahibai Popere

"Our biggest hurdle was to convince Mumbaikars, used to having basmati and kolam rice, that varieties such as Sahyadri black, aajra ghansal and ambe mohar were far more nutritious. The Wild Food Festival we hosted last year helped spread the word," says Awate, referring to the venture’s first such festival held in the city in September, which mid-day had featured. With chefs and food mall owners dropping by, they received queries for supply tie-ups, but that’s when they hit another roadblock.

Shailesh S Awate

"We couldn’t assure them a constant supply because for bulk production, you need seeds in bulk. And the seeds for these indigenous crops had been lost over the years," shares Awate. That’s when Patil put the four friends in touch with Rahibai Popere, now known as the seed mother of Maharashtra. The elderly farmer had preserved seeds of various grains, vegetables and millets over the years, and Patil helped categorise them. The friends then came up with the idea of expanding and formalising the seed bank, which now boasts of 250 varieties. It will be inaugurated in early February.

Sanjay Patil

"The bank involves no money. All farmers do is take the required quantity of seeds, and once they yield a harvest, they pay back with double the amount of seeds," explains Awate. "Monetary transactions have wreaked havoc on farmers. Here, it is all about paying back to Mother Earth."

ON January 27, 10 am
AT Rotary Club Of Bombay, Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz West 
CALL 7208002008
COST Rs 850

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