ARPAN

Women farmer collectives from 15 villages of District Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand have minimised the impact of constantly changing climate by preserving their local seeds of both grains and local vegetables.

Their farming knowledge states that the local traditional seeds can resist extremes of climate. The seed banks formed at the village level has sufficient seeds for those women farmers who cannot buy seeds from outside. The seeds are also exchanged amongst the different seed banks. Women have also started preserving the local seeds, which were disappearing due to in flow of hybrid seeds. Two hundred women farmers are engaged in this local business.

To disseminate information regarding the importance of local traditional seeds the women organise seed exchange fairs, sell organic vegetables and collect raw spices like red chillies, ginger and turmeric for grinding in their spice unit.