In an attempt to ensure that the local indigenous seed varieties of the state do not go extinct, the Gujarat Bio-diversity Board will soon be setting up a seed bank to preserve the same. “With farmers turning to hybrid varieties of seed it is very important that the local varieties are preserved. These varieties can be of use both to the farmers as well as for other commercial purposes,” said AP Singh, member secretary of the Gujarat Biodiversity Board.
According to Singh, at present many farmers continue to use indigenous varieties that are unique to the state but this is restricted to a few areas and farmers. “Moreover, the Biodiversity Act mandates that the bio-diversity of a state is preserved. Seeds are part of the bio-diversity of a region,” said Singh.
Another official abreast with the development said that the idea was to encourage farmers to protect the varieties. “We are planning to encourage farmers to sow indigenous varieties of crops in a small part of their land and even bank some for future use. We are also mulling providing monetary compensation so as to encourage this practice,” said the official who wished to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
“Take for example the turmeric and ginger sown in Panchmahals. They are of far superior quality than what is available in the rest of Gujarat. There will be a day when these varieties go extinct if we don’t make efforts to protect them as farmers are turning to hybrid varieties,” said the official. He said the motive was to provide monetary compensation to farmers who planted indigenous varieties and encourage them to save a part of it for the next season.
The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) of the respective villages will also be provided aid in marketing these varieties so that more and more farmers are encouraged to sow indigenous varieties.
“At present a handful of farmers sow indigenous varieties and that too in a small patch of their land. If we don’t take action now, there will come a day when we would only be reading about these varieties in books,” said the official.
