NAGPUR: The promoters of organic cultivation, mostly farmers, across Vidarbha are also trying hard to conserve the traditional varieties of crops . They are in their own way contributing towards conservation of these indigenous and straight varieties for future generations in a well-planned and systematic manner.

Many of these attending the three-day seed festival here feel they were doing the government’s job. “It is basically the job of the government to preserve the indigenous varieties, be they in crops or fauna of the country. As farmers, we feel it as our duty not to let these varieties die with time. Already, we have lost a number of them,” said Vasant Futane from village Rawala in Warud Tehsil in Amravati district.

In fact, Futane is working towards multiplication of these seeds among farmers so they are not lost and the farmers continue to grow them. He doesn’t want the hybrid or the genetically modified varieties to take over the indigenous varieties, be they food crops, commercial crops like cotton, or even fruits. “I want that the government should take the issue up at policy level and conserve all the local varieties,” he said.

Tanmay Joshi, a young graduate turned farmer from near Pune, has now joined a group of organic farmers at Gopuri near Wardha and is growing local varieties of rice and other crops. He feels it was a misconception among general public that the educated persons from cities were guiding the farmers towards conservation of local varieties. He said it was the other way round. “Farmers are much more knowledgeable and informed about the local varieties than the universities and the government institutions. They understand their value more than anyone else. Hence, it is not difficult to convince them, if needed,” said Joshi. He wants the government to give incentives to these farmers. He wants that the government should name varieties in the name of farmers who had preserved it.

Satish Gogulwar of Amhi Amchya Arogyasathi said the farmers even knew the right and scientific method of conservation of traditional seeds or varieties. A recent research had shown that the farmers were 80% correct in following the scientific technology for germ-plasm conservation. He said he believed that organic farming was the only method of sustainable agriculture as it maintained the soil quality and gave enough earnings to farmers to continue farming. On the other hand, those who grew commercial crops like cotton and soyabean ended up committing suicides, he pointed out.

Tejal Vishweshwar from Mumbai, who is also a promoter of organic farming and the seed/variety conservation movement, said he believed that the change always should begin at home. Hence she supports farmers who are putting in sincere efforts in conserving the dwindling local varieties.

