Kalaburagi: Mysterious Paddy of Sugur Hillock Grows Without Human Touch

In Sugur (K) village, situated in Kalagi, Kalaburagi, a curious phenomenon has puzzled residents for years — a unique variety of paddy appears to grow naturally on a 200×70 feet hillock without being sown or nurtured. This mysterious rice variety thrives without irrigation or fertilisation, emerging annually in the same patch of land.

The sacred Sugur Swarnagiri temple nearby harvests this naturally sprouting paddy during October and November, using it exclusively for rituals and offerings. According to Sannat Das Maharaj, the temple priest, the villagers have never planted or watered this crop, and it refuses to grow anywhere else. The land benefits from a naturally flowing water source, but remains untouched by agriculture.

Experts remain intrigued. Muniswamy, a researcher at the Kalaburagi Agriculture Research Centre, suggests the growth may be due to wild traits present in some plant species. He notes that several paddy types, especially wild ones, grow in water bodies like shallow lakes or slow-moving streams, often reaching up to 10 feet tall.

Such naturally growing rice could be a landrace — a traditional, region-specific variety shaped by generations of local adaptation. These types often contain beneficial traits like pest resistance and drought tolerance. Senior scientist Mahant Shivayogayya from Gangavati believes the soil’s nutrient richness, including high levels of zinc and iron, could explain the phenomenon.

The Agriculture Department is now analysing seed, soil, and water samples, aiming to understand and conserve this rare crop.

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