Seed Sovereignty Conference for farmers freedom and food security

To save seed-agriculture and food sovereignty of country

To protect Seed research in public sector and seed public sector institutions

Become a part of 3rd War of Independence, Be a savior of nation’s freedom

Beej Swaraj Conference

Monday, 30^th May 2011, Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana

Organized by

KHETI VIRASAT MISSION

Seed is not a commodity, but the basis for food security and national sovereignty

Seed Sovereignty for farmers freedom and food security

Seed is the most vital component of agriculture and the basis for food security. But seed has become the most controversial topic in the recent years due to various reasons - increasing price, monopoly and control by private companies, unavailability of good quality seeds, introduction of GM seeds, loss of biodiversity, IPR and loss of the commons etc.

India is one of the centres of mega biodiversity and farmers have developed thousands of varieties of different crops over time. Although in some regions farmers continue to grow the traditional varieties, in the highly developed agricultural regions, in the last 40 years, the traditional varieties have been literally wiped out and the farmers have become totally dependent on the market for their seeds. This has been directly caused by specific policy directions such as the promotion for hybrids and HYV's and the “limited generations system” for seed multiplication. Other programmes have given thrust on building the private seed industry to such a scale that it has become a thriving business, with literally no control over prices and quality. Farmers have become victims of this. At the same time, where ever Government agencies produce seeds, there is demand from the farmers, prices of such seeds are also very low and these are also locally suitable comapred to the privately sold ones, but production and supply is insufficient.

Added to this is the fact that the private sector has now moved on from hybrids to GM crops (as in the case of Bt Cotton) where cost escalation happened in an unprecedented manner, and monopoly is being established. They could even get IPR protection (proxy) on their seeds, and literally the seed industry has made the farmer totally dependent on them. This experience in the Bt Cotton case has even emboldened the industry to invest in research to genetically modify all the commercially important seeds in India including grains. This should be perceived as the worst threat on food and national sovereignty ever faced by the country.

Meanwhile in the last 10-15 years, in many villages farmers have started to revive some of the local varieties. Farmers preferences to traditional seeds, open pollinated varieties and locally adaptable seeds have stemmed from the fact that these have evolved over time, have a strong resilience to local conditions, vagaries of climate, pest and disease attacks and even easier and sometimes less intensive management in terms of labour and costs. The seeds developed out of hybridisation have never shown such resilience and has much less scope, as it has no history of having evolved in the locality, adapting to local conditions. Hybrids and other HYVs need more inputs also in terms of fertilizer and water; both are becoming scarce and costly now. Thus the concept of “location specific” seeds and related technology is now getting increasingly significant.

The change in attitude of the farmers from demanding HYVs to traditional seeds has triggered many programmes, spearheaded by various movements across the country, to revive such seeds insitu. A new wave of revival is spreading across, where traditional varieties of seeds are not only being conserved, but also work on farm-level characterisation, purification and improvements are showing good results. In some of these movements, even scientists from the establishments have joined hands with such farmers’ networks.

It is in this changing scenario that one needs to look at the proposed Seed Bill which does not take in to consideration this aspect at all. Any new law related to seeds should consider the enabling of this farmer and civil society effort at the village level to revive and conserve seeds and to recognise farmers as the breeders. Farmers are eventually the vehicles that must carry on this tradition of producing, conserving, multiplying and evolving so that down the generation, farming survives on the strength gained within the system rather that from outside supported by highly intensive seed production industry. Literally, there should be a bottom up approach in seed development.

Another aspect is that many states are now aiming at developing a sustainable agriculture system which is environment and farmer friendly. Experience shows that traditional varieties are more suited to this system of agriculture where the aim is to improve farm productivity along with income of farmers.. One of the main problem faced by the state governments is that they are unable to predict the problems in farming which occur due to seeds since farmers use different kinds of seeds, based on whatever is available in the market and this is leading to economic loss and ultimately loss of food security. This is very important while also considering the unpredictable climatic pattern experienced in the country. State agriculture universities should be encouraged to conduct participatory research with farmers using traditional varieties.

Moreover, there is an expanding safe food movement in the country and a large number of consumers are opting for traditional food. Some of the researches have shown that traditional varieties are nutrient rich and can help develop immunity to many chronic diseases. The organic markets in the country have already started selling such produce, and there is an increasing demand.

Seed is also food, not only for human beings but also other beings as well whose life is also dependent on us unfortunately since most of them live outside protected areas like wild.life sanctuaries . The loss of agro bio diversity will impact their existence also leading to a total imbalance in the agro ecosystem.

The Government has a moral right to ensure adequate quantity of good quality seeds to farmers at regulated prices. For that

1) Government to primarily encourage Farmer level seed production of traditional locally specific seeds instead of subsidizing hybrid seeds

2) Seed is not a commodity, but the basis for food security and national sovereignty

3) Seed development should be location specific, and resilient to local conditions, including pests and diseases.

4) Ensure protection of Seed diversity and heritage.

5) Recognise farmer-breeders and support them rather than the private seed industry.

6) Monopoly and IPR-based restrictions should not be allowed.