Thirunelly’s seed festival celebrates traditional climate-resilient seeds and farm produce

Thirunelly’s seed festival celebrates traditional climate-resilient seeds and farm produce

Subject :Environment

Section: Agriculture

Context: Cheruvayal Raman, in his early 70s, is a winner of a 2023 Padma Shri, one of India’s top civilian honours. He narrated how he conserved 55 native rice varieties, lining up mementos and medals on the porch of his 150-year-old mud house.

More on the News:

• The 1960s saw the Green Revolution as a remedy to widespread food shortage. This ambitious effort to feed the hungry had unintended consequences, including cuts in the cultivation of indigenous grains and millets.
• The market-based agri-ecosystem is energy and carbon intensive, responsible for over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. Farm and cattle production, land-use change such as deforestation, pre- and post-production processes, consumption, and food disposal — all these activities emit carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. However, local, hardy varieties use less resources and are tolerant to the vagaries of weather.
• Farmers and indigenous peoples have sown, saved, and shared rich, diverse crops, which are a central part of their lives, livelihoods, and celebrations.
• Events such as the Thirunelly Seed Festival bring together farmers, environmental activists, agriculture scientists, conservationists, and support organisations to conserve local seed varieties.

Thirunelly Seed Festival

• Thirunelly Seed Festival was initiated in 2013-14 by the conservation NGO Thannal along with the Save our Rice Campaign and a few other seed-saving groups and individuals, with the support of the panchayat and Kudumbasree, a government-run network of local women’s self-help groups.
• The Thirunelly Seed Festival is an annual festival held in the Thirunelly temple in Wayanad district, Kerala, India. It is a unique festival that celebrates the planting of seeds and the start of the agricultural season in the region.
• The festival is celebrated in the month of Kumbham (February-March) and lasts for three days.
• The festival is centered around the Thirunelly temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• The festival begins with the planting of seeds in the temple courtyard by the priests and devotees.
• The festival also includes a cattle fair, where farmers come to buy and sell livestock.
• The festival is a celebration of the importance of agriculture in the region and the traditional knowledge and practices associated with it.
• The Thirunelly Seed Festival is a reminder of the need to preserve and promote traditional agricultural practices and biodiversity.

Reason for disappearing of Indigenous seeds:

• The introduction of modern agriculture, hybrid and genetically modified crops has led to a decline in the cultivation of indigenous seeds and crops.
• The promotion of monoculture and high-yielding varieties has resulted in the displacement of indigenous seeds and crops.
• Urbanization and industrialization have also contributed to the disappearance of indigenous seeds and crops, as traditional farming practices are being replaced by industrial agriculture.
• Climate change is also affecting the cultivation of indigenous seeds and crops, as changes in temperature and rainfall patterns are making it difficult to grow these varieties.

Need for Traditional Climate-Resilient seeds:

• Traditional climate-resilient seeds are plant varieties that have been developed and cultivated by farmers over generations, which are adapted to local environmental conditions and are more resilient to climate change impacts.
• Traditional climate-resilient seeds are an important component of sustainable agriculture, as they are adapted to local weather patterns and soil conditions.
• These seeds are often more resilient to climate change impacts such as drought, flooding, and pest infestations, which makes them more reliable in times of climatic variability.
• The cultivation of traditional climate-resilient seeds promotes food security, as these varieties are often more resistant to crop failures due to weather-related events.
• Traditional climate-resilient seeds are often cultivated using traditional agricultural practices, such as intercropping and crop rotation, which help to maintain soil fertility and enhance biodiversity.
• The preservation and promotion of traditional climate-resilient seeds is important for maintaining plant genetic diversity, as these varieties are often replaced by modern, high-yielding varieties.
• Traditional climate-resilient seeds can provide economic benefits to small-scale farmers, who may not have access to modern agricultural technologies.

Steps to promote indigenous seeds:

• Preserve seed banks: Seed banks can be established to preserve indigenous seeds and crops. This helps to maintain their genetic diversity and prevent their extinction.
• Provide financial incentives: Governments and other organizations can provide financial incentives to farmers who cultivate indigenous seeds and crops. This can include subsidies, tax breaks, and other incentives.
• Encourage research: Research can be conducted to identify the potential benefits and uses of indigenous seeds and crops. This can help to increase their value and promote their cultivation.
• Develop markets: Developing markets for indigenous seeds and crops can help to increase their demand and encourage their cultivation. This can include promoting them in local markets, developing value-added products, and creating export opportunities.
• Collaborate with indigenous communities: Collaboration with indigenous communities is important in promoting indigenous seeds and crops. This includes working with them to identify and protect their traditional knowledge and practices related to seed and crop cultivation.