Community seed bank initiative traces & restores heritage rice varieties in Tamil Nadu

Source: The post is based on the article “Community seed bank initiative traces & restores heritage rice varieties in Tamil Nadu” published in PIB on 24th September 2022

What is the News?

Around 20 heritage rice varieties of Tamil Nadu are being traced, collected, redeemed and restored through the Community seed bank Initiative.

Background

The majority of small & medium farmers of Tamil Nadu have lost their heritage seeds, once owned traditionally by their community forefathers, due to the monocropping of hybrids. 

These varieties had been identified for their unique nutritional, medicinal, and ecological qualities and, above all, their climate resilience. 

The genetic erosion of heritage and indigenous gene pool of paddy varieties and loss of knowledge on them poses a challenge for the sustenance and future of agriculture and human health in Tamil Nadu.

To overcome this challenge, a Community seed bank Initiative has been launched.

What is a Community seed bank Initiative?

Launched by: SASTRA Deemed to be a University with support from the Science and Heritage Research Initiative(SHRI) programme of the Department of Science and Technology(DST).

Under the initiative, the lead farmer cultivates one to many traditional varieties on his farm, a part of which when harvested is shared and distributed to other interested farmers in the neighbouring localities and districts with or without payment. This is an informal structure with voluntary participation.

– A seed bank capital of Rs.2000 was distributed to each beneficiary farmer to strengthen the heritage rice community seed banks.

Significance: The initiative to collect & conserve the traditional landraces of rice varieties can help share and exchange knowledge about the varieties with inherent capacities to withstand climate uncertainties, drought and flood resistance, and medicinal and nutritional properties.