Seeds bank to preserve indigenous agro seeds in northern Bhojpur

Bhojpur, May 17: Shadananda Municipality in Bhojpur district of Koshi Province has established a seeds bank, aiming at preserving and promoting indigenous agricultural seeds. The local government decided to launch a campaign to conserve the indigenous seeds for the long run so that it would help minimize growing threat to native crops. 

"The major objectives of the campaign are to provide farmers with quality native seeds, to revive the production of locally endangered varieties of crops and to protect the agricultural biodiversity," said Mayor Surendra Kumar Udas.  

The drive is expected to contribute substantively in the preservation of native crops, he said. 

Through the bank, seeds of millet, buckwheat, barley, Chino (Proso millet) , Kaguno (Foxtail millet), gahat ( horse gram), soybean, bean, maize and other local crops have been collected and stored safely. The bank has so far conserved 115 species of 27 sorts of crops that are locally produced, said Municipality's agricultural section chief Dipen Thapa. 

Farmers have access to such store on 50-percnet subsidy, it is said. 

Similarly, various initiatives including the training to farmers on the selection of seeds, conservation and promotion techniques are being implemented through the bank. 

Deputy-Mayor Pramila Rai expressed hope that such initiatives would prove significant in preventing invasive crops species and protecting traditional groups. The local government also aims to further enhance the marketing, branding and reasonable pricing of home-grown crops, thereby increasing farmers' proceeds.(RSS)