Seeds to Bank On

To keep the cycle moving, Indian farmers have, for many centuries, been breeding, collecting, and storing seeds for future sowing.

Legacy lost

As an age-old practice, Indian farmers used to devote a small patch of their farmland for growing seeds and store them in a cold-dry place for future usage and sharing. With the advent of new technology, seed distributors stepped in and took over the farmer’s side job. Corporate houses, along with government’s agricultural research and development organizations, started selling seeds tagged as high quality and expected to produce manifold harvest as compared to the traditional seeds.

The village-centric production and distribution of seeds shifted one level up into the private and public arena of seed producers. Farmers started relying on these external sources for cultivation. This sort of distribution led to third party control over the supply quality and quantity of seeds and resultantly on the crop.

Seeds of hope

To overcome this dilemma and to revive the age-old procedure of cultivating sufficient seeds, seed villages or village seed banks saw a revival. Such operations not only provide a reliable platform for seed producing farmers as a whole but also help them develop a feeling of mutual social responsibility. The practice brings along transparency by functioning under the supervision of experienced farmers for better outcomes.

After much research, case studies, and exploring the gaps in seed production and distribution, the Society for Education Welfare and Economic Development or SEED was formed in 2006. The society created SEED banks that cater to farmers by providing them with good quality seeds and at the same time educating them in the importance of organic farming and agricultural biodiversity.

The SEED bank is managed entirely by self-help groups (SHGs) in villages, and comprises both men and women in groups of 9-15. Their main role is to maintain the quality of seeds by ensuring that they don’t use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

SEED is also empowering and educating women farmers in the development and maintenance of seed production, distribution, along with giving them leadership roles. Until recently, women farmers were not allowed to venture outside their houses, take part in such activities or converse with any male outside their family. But today, SEED has completely changed the mindset of the people by providing work to women. Nowadays, women farmers not only take care of the seeds but also actively participate in distribution activities.

Bankable bank

Through these village seed banks, farmers at least got an option to avoid the use of genetically modified seeds that are of late seen decking the market shelves. Now they have natural seeds less the genetic implications brought in with the hybrid technology which is yet to prove itself worth mass inclusion in practice. The importance of seed production, storing and distributing a surplus of good quality of seeds to the farmers from the village seed banks is proving beneficial, especially for Indian agriculture in the long run.

Encouraged by the immense response, government is implementing a Central Sector Scheme titled “Development and Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilities for Production and Distribution of Quality Seeds”. Under this scheme, there is a separate component “Establishment and Maintenance of Seed Bank” for meeting the requirement of seeds during natural calamities like flood, drought and other unforeseen conditions, and also to meet the shortage of seeds, if any, in the country. 

Seed banks maintain seed stock of foundation and certified seeds of short and medium duration varieties which are locally suited to the area and are able to withstand stress of heat, submergence, etc.

The information released by Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha disclosed that only with the help of such seed banks has the country been able to meet its seed requirements.

The requirement and availability of seeds in the last three years has been as follows:

Year 2009-2010:    Requirement: 249.12 Lakh Quintals

                               Availability: 279.72 Lakh Quintals

Year 2010-2011:    Requirement: 290.76 Lakh Quintals

                               Availability: 321.36 Lakh Quintals

Year 2011-2012:    Requirement: 330.41 Lakh Quintals

                               Availability: 353.62 Lakh Quintals