Seed Diversity Revival

Diversity is the basis of agro-ecology. Seed Diversity is also an excellent manifestation of the scientific knowledge and skills of our ancestral farmers. Seed Diversity is key to soil health, as also plant health and human health. ASHA believes that physical revival of on-farm seed diversity is the most important approach to resource regeneration, restoration of healthy farm ecosystems, towards establishing nutrition security for communities and also to thwart any corporatised monopolisation of seed resources. Popularising traditional landraces amongst consumers is one way of supporting farmers who are re-adopting such varieties. This creates markets for farmers, whether local or distant. ASHA has organised numerous seed diversity festivals around the country, as part of this effort. ASHA also has been instrumental in forming Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch, a pan-Indian platform of seed conserving farmers, seed breeder-farmers and NGOs into reviving such diversity.