Mysore :  National Award winning seed curator Sayyed Ghani Khan has stressed the need to promote organic farming by increasing the production of indigenous seed varieties .

He was speaking at a two-day  Seeds Fair organised at the  Kalananjaraja Bahaddur Chatra  here on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Sahaja Samridha Savayava Krishi Balaga and Honneru Balaga.

Expressing his concern over the reducing area under organic farming, Khan said we are  consuming more and more  food with toxic substances.  With indigenous seed varieties having high nutrients, there is a need to conserve the same by opting for organic farming, he said.

He also informed that over 50 seed conservation groups are participating in the fair and have exhibited 1500 varieties of seeds  for sale.

G Krishnaprasad, of Savayava Krishikara Balaga released Beeja Bangara book on the occasion. GS Jayadeva of Deena Bandhu Trust, M Mahanteshappa, Joint Agricultural Director, HM Nagaraju, Deputy Director,  Siddaraju, ZP CEO and several others were present.