Shivaram Pailoor
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Celebrating seed sovereignty
Shivaram Pailoor |
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It was a rare feast for eyes as well-decorated bullock carts were getting ready for a month-long saga in rural areas of Medak District in Andhra Pradesh. It was a learning experience for those who intend to learn more about our native seed varieties. It was a celebration to mark the progress of thousands of women farmers in achieving seed sovereignty.
Every year Sankranthi festival is celebrated with cultural vibrancy in as many as 60 villages in Medak. The celebration reflects upon the transformation, farmers have undergone in these villages.
More than 5,000 farmers most of them Dalits, have been involved in the process. Majority of them own one to two acres of land. They have dared drought through knowledge-based farming. Deccan Development Society (DDS), an organisation working with them is instrumental in enhancing their livelihoods. Here the focus is on knowledge-based farming which underlines the importance of mixed cropping, cultivation of native varieties, soil and water conservation, organic agriculture and afforestation.
As Dr. P.V. Sateesh, Director, DDS says, “Landholdings which were left fallow in the past now produce 20-22 varieties of food crops in one acre. Farmers have achieved this by adopting eco-friendly farming practices. Biodiversity is interwoven in their lives.” Now women here have achieved autonomy over food production, seeds, natural resources and their management, market and community media.
Seed Banks
After achieving biodiversity at the farm, they formed seed banks. In these villages the seed keepers and the farmers have not only re-established a vibrant agro-biodiversity on their farms and homes but also restored women’s control and leadership over the community knowledge of germplasm.
Mobile Biodiversity Festival organised by DDS since 1998 has become a significant cultural event of farmers in the region. It illustrates what the communities can do to reflect the rich native agricultural diversity in a celebratory fashion. These annual festivals have provided a platform for over 50,000 farmers of the region to discuss on ecological agriculture, seed control and organic markets.
The 8th mobile biodiversity festival was inaugurated at Elgoyi village in Jharasangam Mandal on January 14, 2006. The inaugural function witnessed mammoth gathering of sangha members from different villages. Ratnamma Pasthapur, Hanumappa Shamshoddinpur and Kamalamma Malgi were honoured for their dedicated work in conservation of biodiversity. Demonstration of vermiculture was arranged besides exhibition of native seeds and sale of organic produce. Jhola crafters like Jonnala Durgappa, Mamidigi Durgappa and Shankarappa were also felicitated on the occasion.
Café Ethnic
DDS community takes the message of importance of biodiversity and native seed varieties to as many as 60 villages during four weeks. The festival is a caravan of environmental spirituality, marked by 20 specially decorated bullock carts carrying seeds of local crops, especially minor-millets, which go round the villages, performance of folk songs and dances and public meetings. The caravan was split into two teams, comprising 10 carts each; both would cover one village each in a day.
“Rain-fed crops are more nutritious. Minor-millets are good for health. Keeping this in mind, we have documented traditional recipes and are preparing various dishes from ginger millet, pearl millet, little millet and foxtail millet,” explains DDS worker Laxmi, pointing at the all-millet food stall set up at the venue. DDS also runs a minor-millet restaurant i.e., Café Ethnic on the national highway in Zaheerabaad.
“Till recently significance of biodiversity was discussed among scientists and environmentalists. But women in these villages have practiced it. This is the result of knowledge-based farming. If seeds bring fear to others, for our farmers it is a symbol of self-reliance,” feels Dr. Sateesh.
Address
Tel: 08451-282271; 040-27764577; 27764722
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