Kisan Swaraj Sammelan 2026 to be held in Mysuru from February 27 to March 1

The 6th Kisan Swaraj Sammelan for Southern India will be held in Mysuru from February 27 to March 1, 2026.

The three-day national-level gathering to be held at Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has been organised by the Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA-Kisan Swaraj), in collaboration with Prasaranga, the University’s publication wing. 

The Sammelan will bring together farmers, farm workers, other agricultural experts, researchers, civil society organisations, consumers and policy analysts from across the region, according to a statement here.

The Kisan Swaraj Sammelans are designed as confluences of India’s agroecology and farmers’ movements, enabling dialogue, learning and collective strategising. Participants will deliberate on key issues confronting agriculture and rural livelihoods today, and share experiences of sustainable, equitable and farmer-centred alternatives.

The Mysuru Sammelan will focus on advancing farmer livelihoods in ways that uphold diversity, sovereignty, sustainability and peaceful coexistence.

“Key thematic discussions during the Sammelan will include seed sovereignty and emerging policy challenges, particularly those related to proposed legislative changes affecting farmers’ rights over seeds; the impact of herbicide-tolerant crops and weed management practices on ecological and organic farming; labour issues in agriculture, including challenges facing both farmers and agricultural workers; and strategies to address rising human-animal conflicts affecting farm communities”, the statement said.

The Sammelan is expected to be attended by pioneering natural farmers like Subhash Sharma, a Padma Shri recipient, and policy-makers like T. Vijay Kumar, a retired bureaucrat from Andhra Pradesh.

Apart from expected 750 delegates, several citizens of Mysuru will also participate in the public events organised as part of the Sammelan.

“The event will host educational exhibitions for the general public as well as farmers, and will have stalls by natural and organic farmers and farmer collectives selling their chemical-free produce. Food stalls are expected to sell a diverse cuisine of organic foods to tickle the tastebuds of Mysureans”, the statement said.

A ‘Chitrotsava’ consisting of films centred around farming and environment would be part of the Sammelan, and is open for the public. 

Special workshops will also be organised for enthusiastic citizens, who wish to develop green fingers for urban and kitchen gardens.

“A unique attraction in this Sammelan would be the famous Patnulu spinning live demonstration of women from Ponduru in Andhra Pradesh. Dipping into sustainable and healthy traditions, the Sammelan will also showcase traditional bullock-driven oil extraction, urging consumers in Mysuru to shift to better consumption practices”, the statement said. 

Hundreds of traditional seed varieties of the region will be showcased by around 30 seed saver-farmers at the Sammelan. “Schools and colleges of Mysuru are encouraged to visit this Seed Diversity Festival, which will bring home to the students the richness of India’s agro-heritage”, the statement said.

The other attractions for the farmers will be the workshop with Go-Kripamrita creator Gopalbhai Sutaria of Bansi Gir Gowshala, Gujarat and discussion with Dr G. V. Ramanjaneyulu, an award-winning agriculture scientist from Hyderabad. 

Participation in the 3-day Sammelan is through prior registration using the following link: https://sammelan.kisanswaraj.in/south-india. Online registration for the workshop by Gopalbhai Sutaria (a public event) is at: https://tinyurl.com/GopalbhaiSutaria. 

The statement said the public events are free and for any queries, citizens can contact 8105579839. For further information, interested individuals may contact the organisers through kisanswarajsammelan2026@gmail.com, the statement added.