Rajamudi, black rice emerge crowd favourites at Desi Rice Mela in Mysuru
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram
The two-day Desi Rice Mela concluded in Mysuru on Sunday (July 19), with traditional rice varieties attracting an enthusiastic response from consumers, particularly young families. Organised by Sahaja Samruddha, Sahaja Seeds and Save Rice Campaign, the event highlighted the nutritional and cultural value of indigenous rice varieties.Speaking after distributing prizes to winners of the traditional rice cooking competition, paddy farmer Syed Ghanikhan of Kirugavalu urged consumers to adopt native rice varieties for better health. He said these nutrient-rich varieties, cultivated by earlier generations, had sustained local food culture and promoted well-being.The cooking contest featured dishes such as Mapillai Samba Idiyappam, Kichadi Samba Khichdi, Kappakki Payasa, Kempu Akki Shavige, Kempu Akki Payasa, Avalakki Payasa and Parimala Akki Pulao. Bharati won the first prize, while Nagamani Virupaksha secured the second prize.A children’s painting competition on the theme ‘The World of Paddy – As I See It’ was also held. Kushal R., Rishika and Moulya S. emerged winners in the 5–9 years category, while Tanish Kumar, Gokul Aryan and Lalitya M.N. won the top three prizes in the 10–12 years category.Visitors were fascinated by the colourful red and black rice varieties, many seeing them for the first time. Rajamudi rice witnessed high demand, while Kala Bhat black rice sold out quickly. Producers sold around 25 quintals of traditional rice during the mela, according to the organisers.However, sales of paddy seeds remained subdued as farmers were reluctant to purchase them due to delayed reservoir water releases following poor monsoon rainfall. “Despite this, the mela succeeded in creating awareness about the importance of conserving and consuming traditional rice varieties,” the organisers added. Published - July 19, 2026 07:29 pm IST
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