Community #SeedBanks revive diversity in #India’s Kolli Hills
By Tamilarasi Krishnan on 24 September 2024
"Many farmers are now struggling with the high costs of seeds, as the traditional practice of saving a portion of the harvest specifically for seed has largely vanished with the growth of open seed markets. Here, commercially produced varieties offer huge yields but high licensing restrictions, meaning that farmers often cannot save seed as they might have done in the past, because they do not own it.
"Numerous activists, such as the renowned Vandana Shiva, have voiced concerns over the proliferation of private seed banks in India. Shiva argues that seed monopolies could lead to a loss of diversity, increased seed costs, and a rise in chemical use in seed production. Her advocacy emphasizes the importance of community seed banks in preserving agricultural diversity and supporting local farmers.
"Despite the dominance of private seed companies, numerous community-based seed banks are now thriving across India, helping farmers to get access to lost varieties without paying high charges. One notable example is the seed bank initiative in Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, which demonstrates the potential of local solutions using native seeds to prevent private firms from dominating the local market.
"The Kolli Hills region is home to the Mayalali tribes, who have been cultivating traditional millet varieties with the support of community seed banks. The initiative began in 2009 with the establishment of a single seed bank. Today, there are seven such banks operating across the region. These seed banks have successfully conserved over 20 varieties of millet that had not been previously cultivated for nearly a decade."
Read more:
https://rapidtransition.org/commentaries/community-seed-banks-revive-diversity-in-indias-kolli-hills/