The concept of a seed bank is rooted in the need to protect plant species from extinction. India has both national and community seed banks to conserve plant genetic resources. The Indian Seed Vault, located in Ladakh, is a prominent example of a national seed bank, while organizations like Navdanya and Sahaja Samrudha have established community seed banks. These banks play a crucial role in preserving traditional seed varieties and promoting climate-resilient agriculture. The Navdanya movement, founded by Dr. Vandana Shiva in India three decades ago, champions Seed and Food sovereignty and advocates for small farmers globally. The Indian seed industry has transformed significantly, evolving from a public-sector dominated landscape to a multi-branched industry with substantial private involvement and a strong focus on research and development.
This is not just about seeds. It’s about sovereignty, survival, and sustainability.
What Are Seed Banks?
A seed bank is a facility designed to store seeds, primarily to preserve genetic diversity for future generations. In an era grappling with climate change, environmental degradation, and rapid biodiversity loss, seed banks have become indispensable tools for safeguarding plant species globally.
These seeds are:
- Open-pollinated
- Often more resilient to pests and extreme weather
- Free from corporate control
- Passed down generations through local knowledge
India is experiencing a significant transformation in its approach to seed banking, driven by a growing awareness of how crucial genetic diversity is for food security and agricultural resilience, especially in the face of climate change. This shift is not just happening at a national level with large-scale initiatives but also through a powerful grassroots movement led by local communities and women.
Community Seed Banks
Today, India’s “revolution” in seed banking is marked by a notable shift towards Community Seed Banks (CSBs). These CSBs represent arguably the most dynamic aspect of this transformation, operating on a straightforward yet powerful principle: farmers can borrow seeds and, after harvest, return a larger quantity, which ensures the continuous availability of traditional, climate-resilient crop varieties. Hundreds of organizations and thousands of farmers, often led by women, are actively promoting CSBs across India, giving more structured forms to the informal networks that have historically met most of India’s seed needs through farmer-to-farmer exchanges. These CSBs are vital for preserving indigenous landraces, which are exceptionally well-adapted to specific local conditions like drought, pests, and varied rainfall patterns, making this diversity essential for building resilience against climate shocks. Beyond conservation, CSBs empower farmers, particularly smallholder and marginalized ones, by providing access to diverse and affordable seeds, thereby lessening their reliance on expensive commercial options and enabling them to cultivate crops suited to their unique environments. Moreover, these banks serve as custodians of the traditional knowledge associated with these varieties and indigenous farming practices, ensuring this invaluable wisdom is passed down through generations; for instance, the Sangham Seed Bank in Telangana, managed by women, preserves 80 types of traditional food crops. Some CSBs are even exploring models where selling surplus traditional seeds can generate revenue, helping to sustain the bank and offer economic benefits to farmers.
Navadanya Seed Bank Movement
As disasters have become more frequent, Navdanya began conserving climate-resilient seeds and motivating farmers to cultivate and multiply native varieties that can withstand extreme weather. This effort took shape as the “Seeds of Hope” program, aimed at supporting farmers impacted by floods, droughts, and other climate shocks. Since 1998, this initiative has helped disaster-affected farmers adapt by providing them with flood-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and drought-tolerant seed varieties preserved through Navdanya’s seed-saving network.
Navdanya continues to expand its seed conservation efforts, maintaining seed banks across Uttarakhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and more recently in Rajasthan, Bundelkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. During 2016–2017 alone, over 15,000 farmers received seeds—including cereals, millets, seasonal crops, and vegetables—from various Navdanya seed banks.
Private Seed Banks Role In Seed Bank Revolution
Private seed firms began emerging in the 1960s and 1970s, many benefiting from NSC’s technical assistance. These firms gradually developed their own breeding programs and released improved cultivators, now independently pricing products like sunflower, sorghum, and maize, which hold a significant market share. For publicly bred varieties, private companies must adhere to government-set prices.
The private sector plays a crucial role in the production of hybrid seeds. By 1993, nearly 70% of all breeding and marketing by private companies involved hybrids. Since hybrid seeds cannot be replanted by farmers, they ensure consistent sales for companies due to the necessary seed replacement rate. This contrasts with high-yielding varieties of crops like wheat or rice, where the replacement rate fluctuates between 9% and 14%.Private firms are also heavily involved in the commercialization of low-volume, high-value crops, particularly vegetable seeds. With over 500 companies, some linked to multinational markets, the private sector now contributes just under 50% of the country’s total seed requirements. Reduced barriers to foreign and Indian companies collaborating have led to numerous joint ventures, prompting many states to actively expand their seed industries.
In a country like India, where agriculture is deeply intertwined with ecology and tradition, agrobiodiversity is survival. Seed banks are absolutely central to modern agriculture, especially in biodiverse and agriculture-dependent nations like India. They’re more than just places to store genetic material; they’re foundational for resilient agricultural systems, preserving biodiversity, and sustaining human societies.
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