Using diversity research awards program : a study on local seed security through community seed bank at different villages of Bara and Rautahat Districts, Nepal; final technical report (July 2004 to April 2006)

Abstract

During the project period of 'strengthening the scientific basis of in situ conservation' implemented by LI-BIRD, NARC and IPGRI, various methods, models and tools of in situ conservation were developed and farming community of Kachorwa, Bara were empowered for on farm conservation. This encouraged farmers to establish a community seed bank for sustainable on farm conservation and utilization of agricultural biodiversity through creating easy access on seed and information to the farmers. However, there was a lot of scope of work on local seed security and strengthen the capacity of community seed bank. Therefore, through the LI-BIRD's initiatives ADCS approached to SANFEC for Using Diversity Research Award (UDA) program and able to got it ADCS conducted various activities through this project for sustainable local seed security and on farm conservation of rice, finger millet, pigeon pea and sponge gourd. Based on the experience of in situ conservation project, ADCS organized a diversity fair in Routahat district and created awareness and collected 10 endangered rice landraces to conserve at community seed bank. Case studies conducted to analyze the economics of rice landraces production have shown the high ratio of gross return of landraces as compared to modern varieties. Diversity blocks of rice, finger millet, pigeon pea and sponge gourd were maintained by ADCS to create awareness and regenerate the local seeds collected and conserved at community seed bank. Training on seed selection and exposure visit to community seed bank for Routahat farmers encouraged them to maintain local seed continue on their farm. Local network between ADCS and farmers groups of Routahat have been established through community seed bank.