Boost for farmers as traditional seed barter system set to be revived in Goa

Panaji: Long before there was an agriculture department to distribute seeds to farmers and horticulturists, Goan farmers followed a traditional method of seed barter. The method ensured not only access to seeds for farmers, but also the preservation and passing of indigenous seeds from generation to generation.
Now, the Goa state biodiversity board (GSBB) is set to revive this system.
Last month, the board established its first community seed bank at Curtorim, and is looking at setting up a centralised seed bank for the state. A seed bank helps preserve food’s genetic diversity for the future, and in the case of Goa, it will mainly be for rice and vegetable varieties.
“Earlier, a farmer would ask another if he had pumpkin seeds, for instance. He would then barter it for perhaps some cucumber seeds. This system helped the farmer procure the seeds he required and also preserved indigenous varieties. We have established such a community seed bank at Curtorim, and now we are going to set up a central community seed bank as well,” said member secretary of GSBB, Pradeep Sarmokadam.
The seed banks will restore the traditional seed-sharing system by allowing farmers to both deposit and access seeds of their choice.
The GSBB has already started the process of issuing bheej mitra cards to villagers in Curtorim, Canacona, etc, who will act as verified seed banks for others to collect seeds from.
“We identify what type of seeds are available and register them, and accordingly issue the bheej mitra card to them. We will soon put up the list of such seeds and bheej mitras on our website, and farmers will be able to check the list and contact the bheej mitra of their choice,” said Sarmokadam.
The Indian council of agricultural research (ICAR) has also been asked by the biodiversity board to deposit seeds available with it at the community seed bank, for the seeds to be passed on through the traditional system.