Towards Sustainability: Stories from India 38 11 Saving the Seeds Conserving India’s agricultural biodiversity Jardhargaon is a typical Himalayan village in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttaranchal state of North India. The village has been on the forefront of the environmental movement. It was actively involved in the Chipko movement, the famous struggle to save forests in the Himalayan region. The once-degraded and barren slopes are today richly forested with oaks, chestnuts, pines and burans, thanks to this community movement. But forest protection and rejuvenation is not the only conservation movement that this region has seen. It is also home to a people’s movement to revive traditional agricultural practices and conserve indigenous seeds. The movement, known as Beej Bachao Andolan (Save the Seeds Movement) is not only about conserving traditional seeds but also about promoting agricultural biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and local traditions. After the Green Revolution of the 1960s in India, farmers in these hilly regions also started using high input-intensive techniques of farming to increase productivity. New ‘improved’ seeds of high yielding varieties were introduced here, along with a range of pesticides, fertilizers and other external inputs. In the race for modernization, the farmers began to rapidly lose their traditional systems of sustainable agriculture. Ironically, despite increasing investments and inputs, the soil fertility, and hence land productivity, began to  decline gradually. This realization initiated a movement away from the new methods and a return to the traditionally more sustainable ways of farming. This was not easy; several indigenous practices and seeds had already been ‘lost’. One of the key needs was to revive these. This was the basis of the Save the Seeds Movement. A group of villagers, led by farmer and social activist Vijay Jardhari from Jardhargaon, started visiting remote villages in search of varieties of traditional seeds. After Reviving Agricultural Traditions The Twelve Grains In the baranaja (literally meaning twelve grains) system of traditional mixed farming, there is intercropping of twelve, or sometimes more, crops.  A combination of cereals, lentils, vegetables, creepers, and root vegetables is grown.  The twelve crops are such that can grow in harmony with each other. The creepers of legumes use the stems of grain/plants as a natural support, while the grain roots grip the soil firmly, preventing soil erosion. Due to their nitrogen-fixing abilities, legume crops return nutrients which are used by other crops. No external chemical inputs are given and pest control is achieved through use of leaves of the walnut and neem, and the application of ash and cow’s urine. This system of biofarming helps maintain ecological balance, and enables the farmer to get benefit from certain varieties even in case of damage to some crops. In hilly areas, most peasant families have very limited land holdings. Hence it is not possible to plant different staple food crops separately. In this context also, the concept of the twelve grain system is scientific and sustainable. Different crops harvested at different times of the year provide security against food shortage, as well as against drought and crop failure in a small piece of land. Diversity in crops also helps in maintaining soil fertility and replenishing nitrogen. Moreover, due to the diversity of crops, it also provides for nutritional security. Millets are rich in calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins, while legumes are a rich source of proteins.

Unique Adaptations of Technology and Practices 39 Protecting Farmers’ Rights In India, farmers are the largest seed producers, providing about 87 per cent of the country’s annual requirement of over six million tons of seeds. When India joined the WTO, there were apprehensions that farmers might be denied the right to sell seeds. This would not only result in a substantial loss of income for them, but could also displace the farming community as the country’s major seed provider. To address this crucial issue the Plant Variety Protection and Farmers’ Rights Bill was passed in August, 2001. It is perhaps for the first time, anywhere in the world, that the rights of farmers and breeders have been given concurrent recognition. Under the Bill, farmers have the right to save, use, re-sow, exchange,  share or sell their farm produce, including seeds. The Act recognizes the farmer not just as a cultivator, but also as a conserver and a breeder of successful varieties of crops. It makes provisions for such varieties to be registered, with the help of NGOs, so that they are protected against being taken over by commercial breeders. The rights of rural communities, are acknowledged as well. Clause (iv), Section 39 of the Act reads: The farmer “shall be deemed to be entitled to save, use, sow, re- sow, exchange, share or sell his farm produce including seed of a variety protected under this Act, in the same manner as he was entitled before the coming into force of this Act.” This formulation allows the farmer to sell seed in the way he or she has always done, with the restriction that this seed cannot be branded with the Breeder’s registered name. In this way, both farmers’ and breeders’ rights are protected. The breeder is rewarded for his innovation by having control of the commercial market place but without being able to threaten the farmer’s ability to independently engage in his or her livelihood and support the livelihood of other farmers. In addition, breeders wanting to use farmer’s varieties for creating Essentially Derived Varieties (varieties which have one characteristic different from that of the original variety) have to get the permission of the farmers involved in the conservation of such varieties. intensive travelling, the group collected as many as 250 varieties of rice, 170 of  kidney beans and many others, which had been  presumed ‘lost’ in the region. In the course of this search, a wealth of information was documented for the first time. For instance, during their search, the Beej Bachao Andolan (BBA) campaigners found that in the valley of Ramasirain farmers, grew a distinctive variety of red rice called chardhan (four grains). The rice was nutritious and did not require huge external inputs. The farmers also grew other indigenous varieties of rice, locally known as thapchini, jhumkiya, rikhwa and lal basmati. Agriculture was totally free from the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, yet good yields were obtained.   Another remarkable traditional system of cropping which came to light was baranaja, where twelve crops are simultaneously grown in the same field. This not only avoided monoculture, but also helped restore soil fertility and ensure food security (see box). The campaigners of BBA themselves also tried biofarming of various crops including about 130 varieties of rice, 110 varieties of beans, 40 of finger millets, and eight of wheat.   They discussed the traditional cropping systems with local farmers, including youth and women, and effectively communicated the benefits of using traditional farming techniques and seeds. The campaigners also organized foot marches, get-togethers and meetings to create awareness about the long-term impacts of the use of fertilizers, pesticides and hybrid seeds. The farmers were encouraged to preserve seeds and to share them with the community. Initially there was some resistance, since farmers using high yielding varieties were not confident that traditional varieties would provide them with similar outputs. However, gradually the farmers were convinced that investments in pesticides and fertilizers were going up all the time. They also became conscious of the ecological and health implications of using chemicals. They started opting for traditional biofarming methods. The yields dipped in the first few years, but they began to increase when soil fertility began to be restored. They also started to save indigenous seeds from the onslaught of new hybrid varieties in the region. The farmers involved with the BBA are able to sustain the movement without any regular financial support from outside. In Jardhargaon village itself, most farmers have gradually switched to organic farming. Even economically, they expect to perform as well as they were doing earlier, as they do not have to use costly chemicals. Indigenous varieties, besides giving good yields, are tastier and more nutritious. They also provide more fodder material, leading to better livestock health and produce.

Towards Sustainability: Stories from India 40 Livestock Wealth In the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, tribal women contribute significantly to household income by poultry rearing. The Aseel breed was a local breed which they raised.  This was at one point threatened by diseases and scarcity of local feed, jeopardizing livelihood security of the tribals. Anthra, an NGO, along with a community-based organization and a resource group came together to revitalize and sustain this activity. Training sessions were organized for the women as well as men of the community. These equipped them with knowledge of preventive measures to ward off diseases, and steps to enhance the productivity of local crops which are the staple diet of this breed. The women groups have also organized an Aseel Poultry Bank. Anthra was started by a team of women veterinarians in 1992 but now includes a wide range of professionals. Its main goal is overall improvement of livestock health and productivity, in the wider context of sustainable development and natural resource management. Some of the important areas of Anthra’s work include documentation of traditional livestock rearing practices, training of Animal Health Workers, village outreach and educational programmes and pilot programmes for conservation of biodiversity. Through its research projects on traditional livestock rearing practices, Anthra has documented over 700 different traditional remedies for treating more than 80 diseases of domestic farm animals and poultry. Extensive directories and herbaria of medicinal plants used for the purpose have been prepared. This information is disseminated through newsletters, books etc. Animal health workers, many of them women from local communities, have also been trained. Preserving Agro-biodiversity Documenting the Tradition Supporting Food Security These activities are also contributing to the restoration of agro-biodiversity of the Himalayan region. This biodiversity includes crop varieties that can survive well in the harsh climatic conditions of the area. Several varieties of rice like Jhailda paddy have special characteristics which help them to tolerate hailstorms. The thorns on these plants provide protection from wild animals. Similarly, the Jarakhya variety has the characteristic of holding firm in windstorms and tolerating hailstorms. The Mishri variety of wheat, apart from being very tasty, has the special capacity to withstand heavy snowfall and to grow in those areas which have little rainfall. Thus such varieties are ideally suited for cultivation in these mountainous regions. Besides, many of these varieties are not very susceptible to pests and diseases. Farmers know and understand these local seeds well. Kalpavriksh, an NGO, in collaboration with the villagers of the region, has since 1995 been documenting the information coming out of this effort. A register is maintained which records the different varieties of seeds. By mutual agreement between Kalpavriksh and the villagers, it has been decided that a copy of the register would be kept in the village and another with Kalpvriksh, and that all information in the register would be used with the consent and knowledge of the villagers. This arrangement helps in collecting the knowledge in one place. This can then be shared, and also ensures that this valuable resource is not lost with time. The Agriculture Policy of the Government of India has recognized the crucial importance of conserving plant and animal genetic resources. Particular attention has been given to survey and evaluation of

Unique Adaptations of Technology and Practices 41 genetic resources and conservation of both indigenous and exogenously introduced genetic variability in crop plants and their wild relatives. The policy also seeks to promote sustainable agriculture through use of technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading, and socially acceptable use of the country’s natural resources. Conserving India’s Traditional Medicine Systems The use of traditional medicine systems cuts across classes in India. Millions of households possess knowledge of local foods and nutrition, and practise home remedies. This highly decentralized knowledge of health care is community-based and region-specific. Systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Tibetan represent the scientific traditions of this knowledge. In recent times, however, this heritage of medicine is being eroded gradually in India, as in other parts of the world. The erosion is alarming, as it does not appear to be on account of medical inefficiency but due to economic, cultural and political reasons. The Government of India has taken steps not only to prevent the erosion of, but also to encourage training of qualified practitioners adept in, these sciences. There has been a thrust on developing Ayurvedic medical science through graduate and postgraduate courses in Universities all over India. Presently there are 16 branches of ayurvedic science being covered at the postgraduate level in 33 colleges and at undergraduate level in 154 colleges across India. Herbal medicinal preparations have also become very popular. This has created a demand for qualified persons to undertake R&D for such preparations. Looking at this need, the Gujarat Ayurvedic University, Jamnagar has started a postgraduate course dealing with medicinal plants. It has also started a Greenhouse Project to conserve endangered species of medicinal plants, which is also used for teaching and training purposes. GAU has, in addition been conducting training programmes for farmers to make them aware of medicinal plants useful for animal health care. The training programmes guide farmers and plant collectors in identification, cultivation, preservation and storage of medicinal plants. I bow to  thee, Mother Earth, richly watered, richly fruited. Cool with the winds of the south, Filled  with the crops of the harvest. from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s ‘Vande Mataram’, India’s National Song.