Bhagwati Uniyal
Mehrwar, Vandana; Bhatt, Vinod K
Abstract/Description
Indigenous seeds are the fundamental source for human sustenance and a significant tool to curb global hunger. They act as a repository of the genetic pool of different food crops ensuing from continuous improvement and selection over time. Improvement of crop varieties and the delivery of resultant high-quality seeds and planting materials to the farmers are crucial for the sustainable mountain agricultural practices. Thus, food security is indirectly dependent on the seed security of the farming communities. The subsistence form of agriculture is prevalent in the western Himalaya, due to which conservation of local seed of native crop varieties becomes important for their perpetual crop production. This study divulges different indigenous methods endorsed by the farming communities of the region for storing and preserving the seeds for the future cultivation of crops. Findings indicated that seeds prior to storage are undergone a number of traditional methods from solarization to application of oils or smoking in the storage room for their better preservation. Seed quality and losses were often checked every three to six months of storage with parameters such as grain moisture content, insect damage, seed germination, and their vigor. The present study documented the indigenous seed conservation practices of the rural farming folks as well as the community seed bank maintained by the community. In the context of a developing country like India, there is a lack of reliable data that gives a clear picture of the annual seed losses incurred due to improper storage facilities and therefore, requires proper research and computational studies. The investigation was carried out periodically in the study sites of Mandakini valley to acquire comprehensive information on traditional knowledge about native seed diversity, indigenous seed conservation practices, and their management through seed banks and community participation.
