Seed Conservation
A variety of seeds conserved and pulses (beans)
The intervention started as an initiative to increase the production and spreading of local seeds for a variety of crops. The seed conservation activity includes identifying farmers in villages who are producing seeds and was initiated to enhance the diversity of drought-tolerant, healthy and pest-resistant crops available at local communities level. Currently, around 100 seed producers, mostly women, are included in this activity. The seeds mainly conserved by the farmers include: millets, 10-15 traditional paddy (rice) varieties, different types of pulses, oil seeds and vegetable seeds. In correlation to the activity an annual seed festival is also organized. An additional motive to initiate the intervention was to strengthen farmers` right to save seeds. Kudumbam has been involved in seed conservation for the past 10 years.