Two-day seed exhibition showcasing an array of seeds of various crops and cereals got underway in the city on Saturday, June 3, with seed-savers and progressive farmers calling for conserving the agricultural heritage and crop diversity of the country.
Organised by Sahaja Samruddha — Organic Farmers association, Karnataka with Swiss Aid, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, FiBIL and Sahaja Seeds, over 30 farmers’ groups and seed-savers are taking part in the event being held at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry.
Ms. Bibijan known in the farmers’ circle as ‘’Beejamate’’ for her pioneering works in seed conservation, said that women play an important role in the conservation of local seed diversity and their contribution needs to be recognised and respected. Hundreds of indigenous seeds that were on the verge of extinction have survived because of women’s care and their love for indigenous seeds, she said and called for community seed banks to be established under the leadership of women associations.
