ACTIVITIES

Sri Sri Beejkosh (Seed Bank)

Sri Sri Beejkosh (Seed Bank) (Protect indigenous, time tested seeds)

Seed is nano part of a plant which is formed by five natural elements ( panch maha bhootas). The seeds are not as yet artificially manufactured. The indigenous seeds have the capacity to give good yields and have capacity to resist, the drought, the pest and diseases.

• Natures gift and cannot be artificially produced.
• They are location specific and highly adaptable to local conditions.
• Naturally resistant to pest and diseases.
• Drought tolerant .
• Better taste with higher nutritive value.
• Pleasant aroma and flavor with good keeping quality.
• The growth pattern of indigenous varieties is observed to be good for mixed farming practice.
• Easy availability and accessibility.
• Indigenous crops provide more fodder which meets the nutritional requirement of livestock.

• Each farmer has to identify the best quality local/ desi seeds available in his village and also in other neighboring villages.
• Collect such seeds and store by using neem leaves.

• Name of the Crop.
• Local name of the seed.
• Size of the seed
• Colour of the seed:
• Soil requirement
• Resistance to pest:
  a) Less   b) Medium   c) High
• Maturity :
  a) Early   b) Late
• Yield per acre (in quintals):
• Fodder yield per acre (in quintals)
• Any special attributes:
• Market demand :
  a) High   b) Medium   c) Less

• Before sowing the seeds select good pure seed which are bold, bright and disease free.
• Treat the seeds with “Beejamrut” and then sow in the field.
• Remove off type plants (which does not conform to the main crop and is a mixture of some other crop) from the main crop every after one month.
• Select healthy, strong, thick stemmed, disease free plants and having good panicle/ cob growth with good grain filling.
• Tag such plants with colored ribbons.
• Harvest such selected plants separately.
• Keep the seeds separately and dry them properly (use neem leaves for storage) so that the seeds do not get damaged by insect and pests.
• Use these seeds for next generation and follow the above steps for producing best quality seeds every year which is better than any hybrid or Genetically Modified seeds .

The seeds of vegetables, cereals, pulses, oilseeds can be produced which are locally popular and established. The seeds should be cleaned, graded and sold at a reasonable price to the farmers under the label of Sri Sri Beej Kosh.

• Identify the genuine seed growers .
• Train them on quality seed production methods of desi seeds.
• Conduct “Seed Mahotsav” in the villages.
• Plan for a “ seed Production Programme”
• Conduct training for women/men on the post harvest management of such seeds so as to prevent infestation by pest and diseases.
• Organize field day for the farmers to showcase the performance of desi seed.
• Sun dry the seeds and store them properly in suitable containers.
• Conduct groups discussion once in a month with seed growers and document the observations and submit the report to SSIAST, Bangalore.

• Take one hundred seeds.
• Keep these 100 seeds in line on a water soaked gunny/cotton cloth for about 5-7 days.
• Keep sprinkling little quantity of water on the gunny bag to maintain optimum moisture level for facilitating germination
• Count the number of germinated seeds after the stipulated period and work out the percentage of germination.
• It is desirable to have more than 90% germination.
• If the germination percentage is less than 90% then clean the seeds, remove abnormal seeds and again, put the seeds for germination as described above.
• Use and Distribute the seeds which have more than 90% germination.

After getting the seeds from Sri Sri Beej Kosh production farm, the farmer should maintain the purity and quality of seed by following above procedure and use the seeds for his future crop production. He need not to purchase seeds every time. He himself should maintain his own seed bank.

Differences between Genetically Modified Seeds & Indigenous Seeds

GM SEEDS	INDIGENOUS SEEDS
Expensive	Not Expensive
Farmers looses ownership on seeds	Self Reliant
Unsafe for consumption	Safe for consumption
Artificially Made	Evolved Naturally
Environmentally Unsafe	Safe from ecological consideration

Facts about Indigenous seeds

• Farmer is a rightful owner of the seeds
• Farmer is plant breeder.
• Desi seeds are well suited to local agro climatic situations
• Desi seeds are resistant to drought, pest and disease.
• Can be produces by farmers themselves on their own farm

Action to be taken by the farmer

• Each village will have desi beej kosh.
• Adopt selection method of breeding.
• Do not purchase seeds from market.
• Do not use hybrid and GMO seeds.