Cultivation of traditional crop varieties is decreasing day by day, due to the competition of high yielding varieties in the market.  High yielding varieties are highly fertilizser, climate responsive and many of the crops are exotic.  Continuous aberration of monsoon leads to crop failure in the conventional agricultural practices.

Conserving and promoting traditional crop variety cultivation is the only alternate source to mitigate the changing scenario, because it thrives well in various climate conditions.  Tranditional varieties are highly nutitious compared to recent varieties.  In this concern our Krishi Vigyan Kendra took initiatives on identifying and documenting the local land races / traditional varieties of Erode district.  The following varieties are documented.

Crop: Ragi

Local Name : Karikatta Ragi

Features:

• 110 – 120 days duration.
• Resistant to pest infestation.Drought tolerant.
• Grown even in calcareous soils.
• Seeds are not shredded even after 15 days of harvesting of the plants.
• Very good flavor and taste compared to other varieties

Crop: Paddy

Local Name : Puzhuthikar Nel

Features:

• 125 – 130 days duration.
• Suitable for direct sown crop.
• Tolerance to drought.
• Suitable for rainfed and garden land conditions.
• Rice are bold and red seeded

Crop:  Winged Bean

Local Name : Masal Avarai

Features:

• Perennial in nature growing upto 2mt.
• Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress

Crop: Sword Bean

Local Name: Thambattai Avarai

Features:

• Perennial in nature growing upto 2mt.
• Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress

Crop: Indian Balm

Local Name: Mulkiluvai

Features:

• Drought tolerance.
• The bark possesses an aromatin, gum-resin.
• The plant is deciduous and the branchlets end in sharp spines.
• Used for fencing in Korangadu system of grazing