Villages in Uttara Kannada moving towards self-sustenance

Mangaluru: The lockdown has forced Umbalamane and Bidramane villages in Siddapur taluk of Uttara Kannada district to develop a self-sustenance model. With vegetables being in short supply, ecologist Balachandra Hegde Sayimane has taken the lead to encourage farmers to sell their produce to fellow villagers through a weekly market.
The initiative has been well received by the villagers, thanks to support by Balachandra Hegde Hoodlumane, presidnet of Analebail panchayat, and progressive farmer Mahesh Hegde Mukramane.
Nearly 20 farmers from both the villages are selling their produce to around 200 buyers. This has encouraged people to take a re-look at the traditional vegetables grown in villages. Some of the traditional vegetables grown here include tubers, mogekai (native cucumber), leafy vegetables (locally called ‘Vitamin Soppu’) and brahmi.
Ecologist Balachandra told TOI: “The weekly market — for villagers and by villagers — is held at the premises of a government school in Hoodlumane between 4.30-5.30pm on Thursdays, and with complete adherence to social distancing norms. It has been two weeks since the market is being organised. At least 30 varieties of home-grown traditional vegetables are sold there. Since the dependence of vegetables from other districts and cities has increased, people had forgotten traditional vegetables. This is the time to encourage them to grow and consume them. Interestingly, most of the growers participating in this market are women,” he said.
Shree Padre, editor of a Kannada agricultural magazine, said: “This is an opportunity to create a win-win situation of producers and buyers. There have been several campaigns like ‘buy local, eat local’ the world over with success here and there,” he said.
Stating that Kerala has initiated similar practices and many villages across India are experimenting with similar self-sustenance models, Padre said: “Health consciousness should not be overlooked. This should not be a stop-gap experiment — it should be practised even after the corona crisis. People facilitating such markets should implement rules and minimum discipline practices, including hygiene, to be followed. If strengthened, the system benefits the country. Local farmers too must grow vegetables based on local taste and demand,” he said, adding that ensuring a market sans middlemen has its own advantages.