Over the years, traditional crop varieties fully replaced by High Yielding Varieties(HYVs), Hybrids and genetically modified crops. In India, the first maize hybrid was released in 1961 for general cultivation, followed by hybrid varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, and non-hybrid, high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat. Since, traditional varieties are highly recommended because they have a relatively high nutritional value compared to the introduced varieties, their consumption gives diversity to daily food intake, adding flavor, special aroma and taste to the diet. These are fully lacking in HYVs. Mainly traditional vegetable varieties are rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, dietary fiber and proteins.
According to rice scientists Richharia and Govindasamy states that in India more than 2 lakhs rice varieties had been identified with the evidence of Vedic and present day literature. But gradually all the local varieties are disappeared. The main reason is steady replacement with the high-yielding varieties (HYVs). And also ‘modern’ varieties continue to be aggressively promoted at the expense and exclusion of traditional varieties. For example, the success of HYVs in farms has often prompted state agricultural scientists and extension staff to promote these crops by exaggerating that their yields, claiming them to be higher than
those of indigenous varieties. But this was not true for many varieties. Many local varieties yields more than HYVs.(Eg., Kurangu samba, Kitchili samba, etc.). Several native varieties are good resistant to pests and diseases. And those can be cultivated in any adverse conditions like drought, water logging etc.
According to rice scientists Richharia and Govindasamy states that in India more than 2 lakhs rice varieties had been identified with the evidence of Vedic and present day literature. But gradually all the local varieties are disappeared. The main reason is steady replacement with the high-yielding varieties (HYVs). And also ‘modern’ varieties continue to be aggressively promoted at the expense and exclusion of traditional varieties. For example, the success of HYVs in farms has often prompted state agricultural scientists and extension staff to promote these crops by exaggerating that their yields, claiming them to be higher than
those of indigenous varieties. But this was not true for many varieties. Many local varieties yields more than HYVs.(Eg., Kurangu samba, Kitchili samba, etc.). Several native varieties are good resistant to pests and diseases. And those can be cultivated in any adverse conditions like drought, water logging etc.
