Group of farmers working to promote heritage seeds

Panaji: A small movement by a group of farmers to ensure heritage seeds don’t get extinct is encouraging farming in urban areas and small spaces.
The farmers are promoting farming in pots, terrace gardens, urban farming and backyard farming for those who have small areas around their homes.
As part of their movement, the group will conduct a session on the influence of exotic organic seeds of fruits and vegetables that are becoming popular among consumers in Goa.
“Goa is fast losing its indigenous seeds to hybrid and in some cases genetically manipulated seeds that are widely being used. We need to collectively ensure that we promote local heritage seeds that will also ensure that a part of our vegetable and fruit requirements come from these small spaces of farming,” said convener of Goa Green Brigade, Avertino Miranda.
“These hybrid and genetically manipulated seeds, without being classified for general public information, necessitates the use of toxic chemical fertilisers and pesticides for high yield in short term while destroying the natural biodiversity of the soil and giving diminishing returns in the long term,” he added.
The group is also selling seeds in tiny packs of Rs 20 each.
“In the long run, we need to scale-up organic farming in Goa to ensure that every village grows its own food requirements that will reduce our dependence on much of toxic fruits and vegetables that come from the neighbouring states and reduce our carbon footprint,” he said.
“This movement was started by farmers to ensure our heritage seeds don’t get extinct like in the case of Moira watermelons and some paddy rice seeds,” he said.