SOS: Save Our Seeds!

A small village in Tehri-Garhwal pioneers a unique movement to conserve and promote indigenous seeds and agricultural practices. Jardhargaon, a village in the Tehri-Garhwal district of Uttaranchal, is home to a people?s movement to revive traditional agricultural practices and conserve indigenous seeds. The movement, known as the Beej Bachao Andolan (BBA), has its roots in the Chipko movement. A farmer and social activist from Jardhargaon, Vijay Jardhari, realised that modern agriculture was destroying traditional farming. Crop yields of the ?high-yielding varieties? in modern agriculture were actually low; soil fertility was declining, leading to an increasing dependence on toxic chemicals. Along with other activists of the Chipko movement, Jardhari formed the BBA to promote traditional agriculture and crop varieties. The first step was to discontinue the cultivation of chemical-dependent seeds. Jardhari and his colleagues started visiting villages in the region to learn more about traditional varieties of seeds. In the valley of Ramasirain, Uttarkashi district, farmers were growing a distinctive variety of red rice called chardhan. The rice was nutritious and suited to local requirements and conditions. Farmers also grew indigenous varieties like thapchini, jhumkiya, rikhwa and lal basmati. Agriculture here was untouched by modern practices and good yields were obtained without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. To a casual onlooker the method of cultivation seemed like a maddening range of crops grown on a small piece of land. But what the farmers here were doing was avoiding monocultures. The method is called baranaja (12 grains), where a number of cereals and legumes were intercropped. The diversif! ication is security against drought and crop failure. Different crops are harvested at different times of the year and ensure year-round supply of food. This also maintains soil fertility and replenishes nitrogen. To protect traditional varieties of seeds the BBA organises food marches as well as get-togethers and meetings to create awareness about the importance of protecting traditional seeds. Jardhari tries out different varieties and combinations of seeds, and takes back to the farmers the varieties that are particularly useful. BBA also actively promotes the use of traditional farming methods such as baranaja. Today BBA has about 150 varieties of paddy from which 100 different varieties can still be grown. Of these, tapachini and jhamcha yield about 72 quintals per hectare. BBA has also collected 170 varieties of rajma. Effective pest control is accomplished by using the leaves of the waln! ut and neem, and the application of ash and cow?s urine. The use of traditional farming methods and seeds has resulted in higher yields. Health has improved as people have a balanced diet. Livestock health has improved too, because more fodder is available. At the same time soil fertility and agro-biodiversity have been conserved. Contact: Vijay Jardhari Beej Bachao Andolan

PO Nagni, Tehri Garhwal Uttaranchal, India

Today BBA has about 150 varieties of paddy from which 100 different varieties can still be grown. BBA has also collected 170 varieties of rajma. Effective pest control is accomplished by using the leaves of the walnut and neem, and the application of the ash and cows urine. The use of traditional farming methods and seeds has resulted higher yields, improved health of humans and increased conservation of soil fertility and agro-biodiversity.
The 'Beej Bachao Andolan' (BBA), begun here in the late 1980s, is fifteen years old. Led by farmer and social activist Vijay Jardhari, the 'Andolan' has made village Jardhargaon of district Tehri famous for its unique movement to save the traditional seeds of the hills. The 'Beej Bachao Andolan' (Save the Seeds Movement) is not only a crusade to conserve traditional seeds but also to promote agricultural biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and local traditions. The hallmark of the BBA is that it is a people's campaign and flourishing without any government financial assistance or help. On starting the Beej Bachao Andolan, 52-year-old Vijay Jardhari says, "After the Green Revolution of the 1960s, farmers in the hills also adopted high-yielding varieties of seeds. After initial success, the Green Revolution fizzled out as the yields began to decline. This made the villagers realize that so called modern agriculture was unsustainable. Low production despite increased investments on pesticides and fertilizers, as well as decline in soil fertility, forced us to think of corrective measures." "Village elders advised us to focus on traditional farming. We started the 'Beej Bachao Andolan' as an awareness campaign in 1989 for farmers to discontinue growing cash crops like peas, potatoes and soybean, and promote indigenous practices like the 'Baranaja'," Jardhari adds. The Baranaja (meaning twelve grains) is a traditional system of mixed farming, intercropping of twelve species. With this, the movement to save traditional seeds got off the ground. Vijay Jardhari and his friends travelled from village to village to collect traditional seeds. To date, they have collected some 200 varieties of kidney beans, 100 of paddy, seven of wheat - to mention just a few. The huge collection of local seeds clearly indicates the toil put in by the BBA activists. The green revolution had an adverse affect on indigenous agriculture practices of the hills and many seeds were lost. Kunwar Prasoon, connected with the Andolan, says, "There were over 3000 varieties of wheat in Garhwal before the Green Revolution. Now these are down to 320. Incidentally, many of our indigenous seeds yield more in fewer days than the high yield variety of seeds. Like the Gorakhpuri Paddy of Tehri takes 95 days to harvest and yields 35-40 quintals per hectare. "

The Beej Bachao Andolan has prepared a comparison chart of high-yielding varieties of seeds and traditional seeds to clear the confusion among farmers. Though Vijay had to face resistance in the beginning, now more and more villagers are joining the Beej Bachao Andolan. On his future plans, Jardhari says, "We want to do village wise documentation of seeds. The seed should remain with the farmers so we have made a small start to setting up seed banks in villages. So far, we have established such banks in six villages." He avers that the growing popularity of organic foodgrain will provide more strength to the BBA. The BBA has brought fame to Uttarakhand for this unique concept but the State Government is yet to acknowledge these committed activists for their noble deeds. Even three year after receiving Rs 1.5 lakhs as a token of appreciation from Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, the Beej Bachao Andolan is yet to utilise the fund. With the unique Beej Bachao Andolan (Save the Seeds Movement) this little village in district Tehri made headlines worldwide. The noble concept started by farmer and social activist Vijay Jardhari to conserve traditional agriculture practices of the hills attracted acclaim from far and near. Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy was much impressed by the movement of the villagers to conserve traditional seeds. As a gesture of appreciation, she donated Rs 1.5 lakh to BBA, in 2002. Providing the reason behind non-utilisation of the fund, Jardhari says, "We are yet to utilise the donation made by Arundhati. Our plan is to establish a farm here. At this farm, we will grow traditional crops." He asserted that buying land and setting up a farm is an expensive project and they have few resources. The donation made by Roy is safe in the BBA account. Incidentally, Beej Bachao Andolan is a non-registered organisation. It does not operate on government and World Bank grants. The movement aims at promoting agricultural biodiversity and sustainable agriculture through old agriculture practices. This fact indicates the commitment of the BBA activists who continue this movement with their own resources. The BBA is now fifteen years old. Vijay Jardhari and his friends travelled from village to village to collect traditional seeds. To date, they have collected some 200 varieties of kidney beans, 100 of paddy, seven of wheat - to mention just a few. The huge collection of local seeds clearly indicates the toil put in by the BBA activists. Commenting on the change in public attitude, Jardhari says, "Baranaja (literally meaning twelve grains) system of traditional mixed farming, has made a comeback in the agriculture fields in the hills. This traditional practice of growing a combination of cereals, lentils, vegetables, creepers, and root vegetables (Baranaja) suffered a major jolt after the Green Revolution. But, now farmers have realised the hazards of chemical fertilisers." Asserting that the demand for organic food grains is increasing with each passing day he said, "Some ten years back when we used to participate in fairs in New Delhi, selling organic food grains, our maximum sale

used to be around Rs 10,000. But now the turnover is over two lakhs. This clearly indicates the rising awareness about organic food grains among consumers." Uttarakhand is promoting itself as an organic state. The state could learn a lot in this regard from the unique 'Beej Bachao Andolan'.

Navdanya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Navdanya is an Indian-based non-governmental organization which promotes biodiversity conservation, biodiversity, organic farming, the rights of farmers, and the process of seed saving. One of Navdanya's founders, and outspoken members, is Vandana Shiva, an environmental activist, physicist, and author. Navdanya began in 1984 as a program of the Research Foundation for science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE), a participatory research initiative founded by world-renowned scientist and environmentalist Dr. Vandana Shiva, to provide direction and support to environmental activism.[1] "Navdanya" means "nine crops" that represent India's collective source of food security.[1]

Navdanya is a member of the Terra Madre slow food movement. Navdanya is a network of seed keepers and organic producers spread across 16 states in India. Navdanya has helped set up 54 community seed banks across the country, trained over 500,000 farmers in seed sovereignty, food sovereignty andsustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped set up the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country. Navdanya has also set up a learning center, Bija Vidyapeeth (School of the Seed) on its biodiversity conservation and organic farm in Doon Valley,Uttranchal, north India. Navdanya is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation and climate change. Navdanya is a women centred movement for the protection of biological and cultural diversity.

ave a Seed
Chemical farming is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions which are causing climate change. Saving seeds of climate resilient crops is a vital safe guard in times of climate change.Millets use only 200 to 300 mls of water but give 40 times more nutrition than industrially and chemically farmed rice which required 2500 mm of water and loses all nutrients when it is industrially processed. You can source your open pollinated organic seeds from Navdanyas Seeds of Freedom campaign. [edit]GMO

Free Campaign

Navdanya has led the national and international movement for biosafety and against the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in agriculture. Working with citizens' movements,grassroot organizations, NGOs and governments, they have made significant contributions to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Biosafety Protocol.

Navdanya's research and campaigns have highlighted the deepening crisis of hunger and starvation, debt and farmers suicides caused by high cost but unreliable GM and hybrid seeds. In the field of food and agriculture, Navdanya has raised serious concerns about the ecological and health impacts of GMOs. Since 1991 they have been campaigning against the commercialization of GM crops and food in India and have highlighted the dangerous effects of these crops and foods on our biodiversity, environment and health. One of Navdanya's goals is to educate the public at large on the harmful effects of biopiracy. Since 1997, Navdanya is actively monitoring the GM related activities and development in India Freedom from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and conducted field surveys on the performance of Bt. cotton every year during the field trials as well as after its commercialization and proved companies and governments claims deceitful and fallacious. Through The Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE), they have also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court in 1999 against US seed giant Monsanto and Indian authorities for the illegal and unauthorized introduction of GMOs in India through field trials of these crops, bypassing and violating environmental laws, without involving and informing the local authorities and the local public. Navdanya has also been involved in and leading campaigns against GMOs on an international level. During the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial, Navdanya joined 740 other organizations in presenting their opposition to WTO's attempt to undermine the right of individual countries to take appropriate steps to protect their farmland, environment and consumers from the risks posed by GM foods and crops. In India RFSTE and other concerned groups have demanded that the Government fulfill their obligation towards the Indian farmers, Indian consumers, the environment, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture by imposing a 10 year moratorium on the impending release of GMOs in India. [edit]Biopiracy RFSTE/ Navdanya started the campaign against biopiracy with the Neem Campaign in 1994 and mobilized 1,00,000 signatures against neem patents and filed a legal opposition against the USDA and WR Grace patent on the fungicidal properties of neem (no. 436257 B1) in the European Patent Office (EPO) at Munich, Germany. Along with RFSTE, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) of Germany and Ms. Magda Alvoet, former Green Member of the European Parliament were party to the challenge. The patent on Neem was revoked in May 2000 and it was reconfirmed on 8 March 2005 when the EPO revoked in entirety the controversial patent, and adjudged t hat there was no inventive step involved in the fungicide patent, thus confirming the prior art of the use of Neem. In 1998, Navdanya started a campaign against Basmati biopiracy (Patent No. 5663484) of a US company RiceTec. On Aug 14th 2001 Navdanya achieved another victory against biopiracy and patent on life when the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) revoked a large section of the patent on Indian Basmati rice by the US corporations RiceTec Inc. These included: The generic title of the RiceTec patent No. 5663484, which earlier referred to Basmati rice lines; The sweeping and false claims of RiceTec havin g invented, traits of rice seeds and plants including plant height, grain length, aroma which are characteristics found in our traditional Basmati varieties Claims to general methods of breeding which was also piracy of traditional breeding done by farmers [2] and our scientists (of the 20 original claims only three narrow ones survived).

[edit]Navdanya

vs. Monsanto

The next major victory against biopiracy for Navdanya came in October 2004 when the European Patent Office in Munich revoked Monsantos patent on the Indian variety of wheat Nap Hal. This was the third consecutive victory on the IPR front after Neem and Basmati, making it the third consecutive victory. This was made possible under the Campaign against Patent on Life as well as against Biopiracy respectively. MONSANTO, the biggest seed corporation, was assigned a patent (EP 0445929 B1) on wheat on 21 May 2003 by the European Patent Office in Munich under the simple title plants. On January 27, 2004 Research Foundation for Science Technology and Ecology (RFSTE) along with Greenpeace and Bharat Krishak Samaj BKS) filed a petition at the European Patent Office (EPO), Munich, challenging the patent rights given to Monsanto on Indian Landrace of wheat, Nap Hal. The patent was revoked in October 2004 and it once again established the fact that the patents on biodiversity, indigenous knowledge and resources are based on biopiracy and there is an urgent need to ban all patents on life and living organisms including biodiversity, genes and cell lines. Through the citizens actions, Navdanya has won three biopiracy battles and have thus contributed to the defense of farmers rights, indigenous knowledge and biodiversity. Navdanyas focus on collective, cumulative innovation embodies in indigenous knowledge has created a worldwide movement for the defense of the intellectual rights of communities
(Navdanya) , ,

Navdanya is an impressive organization. It has done important research on the political, economic and environmental impacts of GMOs, and impressive campaign work against Monsanto and other ruthless, self-serving corporations. It has been a wonderful proponent of organic agriculture, teaching sustainable practises and supporting farmers transition, as well as saving seed maintaining seed diversity and keeping seed rights in the hands of farmers. For these reasons my great admiration of Navdanya and Vandana Shiva remain. However, as a (intended long-term) volunteer the farm was not the abundant learning environment Id hoped for.

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=DOZsrAhnAAYC&pg=PA258&lpg=PA258&dq=Why+do+the+selfpollinated+crops+not+show+the+illeffects+of+inbreeding+depression?&source=bl&ots=S1bvmqrg2d&sig=5hVAsf5GP3caDJEAIn8UOwBzHY&hl=hi&sa=X&ei=7D_vT6PmI5GurAeM3LG9DQ&ved=0CGAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q =Why%20do%20the%20self-pollinated%20crops%20not%20show%20the%20illeffects%20of%20inbreeding%20depression%3F&f=false