Heard of elephant tusk ladies finger, clove beans?

Chennai: It is not just tigers and elephants that are facing extinction. Vegetables endemic to southern states, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, are also under threat.  According to field studies by  biologists, many indigenous varieties,  including Vellore ‘Mullu Kathiri’ and Virudhunagar ‘Thambata Avara’ are on the verge of extinction, courtesy non diversification of seeds.

The phenomenon also applies to several millet varieties, experts from M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) say. “People from Kolli hills and Yelagiri hills, which were a haven for a large number of millet varieties, now barely remember two or three varieties,” said Oliver King, principal scientist, Biodiversity, MSSRF.

According to the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, over 98 per cent of  seeds have been lost in the past 80 years worldwide; although an estimate of 60,000 to 100,000 plant species are in danger of extinction.

“Lack of documentation is a reason for non-availability of  statistics though many millet varieties are expected to have been  lost. Currently, the foundation, which started documenting the varieties since 1996, has been conserving 21 land raises of millets in Tamil Nadu.” Oliver King mentioned.

Biologists and seed development organisations said vital native species of ladies finger, potato and beans pertaining to Tamil Nadu are now no more. “Elephant tusk ladies finger and clove beans which were in Kerala-Tamil Nadu regions are sparely seen in Kerala while it is extinct in Tamil Nadu. Vegetables with anti diabetic properties - Adhalaka and Thambata Avare -  which were famous in Virudhunagar remains oblivious, even to the natives,” said Subashree Vijay, director, Atri health products.

Other vegetables, including air potato and vethalavalli kizhangu belonging to Madurai have been taken over by other varieties of potato, which have a better taste. Air potato has less starch and anti-rheumatic properties, she said.
Reasoning the decline in vegetable and millet varieties, Oliver King said, “Problems at both farming and consuming levels play a major role. Normal farmers are not aware of technical origin of the seed. A mechanism to preserve and commercialise seeds to different range of consumers is must.”