VISAKHAPATNAM: If we lose our indigenous seeds, we lose more than crops; we lose our resilience, our knowledge, and our connection to the land that sustains us,” says P Devullu, founder-secretary of the Sanjeevini Environment Protection Society, capturing the essence of a community-led effort taking shape in the tribal village of Killoguda.
In the hills of Dumbriguda mandal in ASR district, the Sanjeevani’s Soil and Seed Information Centre stands as a repository of indigenous crop diversity. What began as a modest collection of around 45 seed varieties has grown into a seed bank housing over 360 types of millets and vegetables. Carefully preserved and catalogued, these seeds reflect generations of farming knowledge rooted in local ecological conditions.
The initiative, led by Sanjeevini, traces its origins to the early 2000s, when hybrid seeds had begun to dominate agricultural practices in the region. Devullu recalls that the idea of conserving traditional seeds was initially met with scepticism. “When I spoke about discontinuing hybrids and preserving traditional seeds, many thought I was talking without reason,” he said. Over time, he added, farmers began to see changes in soil health, input costs and crop resilience.
The seed bank operates through a participatory system. A committee of experienced farmers oversees the selection and distribution of seeds collected from different regions, ensuring that indigenous varieties are retained.
Around 74 identified seed savers contribute to maintaining this diversity. Farmers regularly visit the centre to exchange seeds and share experiences, making it a space for both conservation and knowledge exchange.
Beyond preservation, the initiative also supports livelihoods. Produce grown from these seeds is transported to nearby districts. ”This model not only sustains traditional agriculture but offers a steady source of income to farming communities” he adds.
Sanjeevini’s work now spans 90 tribal villages across Dumbriguda, Paderu and Anandapuram areas, reaching more than 12,00 farmers. Its activities extend beyond seed conservation to include biodiversity protection, sustainable agriculture and community development, with an emphasis on participatory approaches.
Each year, the effort finds wider expression during the Old Seed Festival, or Paatha Vithanala Pandaga, held in Killoguda. Farmers from different regions gather, carrying seeds in cloth bundles and leaf bowls, exchanging both varieties and knowledge. “The event is a celebration of the hard work done by farmers in carefully saving indigenous seeds over the years, and an opportunity to recognise those who have made exceptional contributions to the cause,” Devullu states.
Recognition for this work came in 2011-12, when Sanjeevini received the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award from the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority under the Union Ministry of Agriculture. Even so, the initiative continues to remain rooted in community participation and local knowledge systems.
“Hybrid seeds may promise high yields, but indigenous seeds can deliver higher yields while sustaining the soil, the farmer and the future,” concludes P Devullu, reflecting a quiet shift underway in the tribal belt of Araku Valley.