A multi-stakeholder convention on "Reviving Agro-Biodiversity in Rainfed Areas through Traditional Varieties for Climate-Resilient Agriculture" was held in New Delhi, where Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, emphasized the importance of promoting traditional agricultural and horticultural varieties. He stated that the ministry is committed to advancing these varieties through initiatives like NMNF, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Seed Development Programs, and NFSM.
Dr. Chaturvedi highlighted the unique qualities of traditional varieties, such as superior taste, aroma, color, nutritional richness, and cooking quality. He suggested cultivating these varieties in clusters to achieve better market value, as there is demand for products with such distinctive traits. He also shared successful examples in this regard.
Need for Investment in Rainfed Areas: Dr. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, CEO of the National Rainfed Areas Authority (NRAA), stressed the need for increased state investment in rainfed regions, given their high vulnerability and unmet requirements.
Dr. Gyanendra Singh, Director of ICAR-NBPGR, and Dr. K.S. Varaprasad, Former Director of ICAR-IIOR, advocated for the conservation and utilization of traditional varieties. They pointed out that 50% of India’s agricultural land is rainfed, with 60% of seed requirements being met through informal, farmer-managed systems. The experts called for formalizing these community-managed seed systems and sought greater government support for conservation efforts.
Showcasing of Indigenous Seeds and Experiences: Farmers, seed saviors, and state representatives from Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and eight other states displayed indigenous seeds and shared their experiences in conserving traditional varieties. Panel discussions underlined the importance of infrastructure support, Minimum Support Price (MSP) for these varieties, and the role of grassroots organizations in seed conservation initiatives.
Role and Action Plan for Traditional Varieties: The workshop deliberated on the critical role of traditional varieties in addressing challenges posed by climate change. Experts proposed linking these varieties with natural farming schemes and expanding their market reach. They also suggested developing a detailed action plan to be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The strategies adopted for millet promotion by the Government of India were highlighted as a model to replicate for traditional varieties.
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