CROPS4HD in India
India is part of the project because it has a progressive seed legislation which allows the coexistence of Formal Seed Systems and Peasant Seed Systems.
Context
India was chosen as a role model for its progressive seed legislation which allows the coexistence of Formal Seed Systems and Peasant Seed Systems, an example of good practice that the project will promote to address the conflicting interests between breeders’ and farmers’ rights as stated in ITPGRFA and UNDROP. India is therefore an important voice for influencing policy during negotiations of relevant global frameworks.
India supply-related activities are in the states Karnataka, Odisha and West-Bengal with different pedo-climatic and socio-economic contexts. The India map indicates the different locations for market and production. Policy activities in India will target mainly state level governments and their procurement policies, due to the current situation and highly sensitive agricultural policy environment.
Key Outcomes
- Share of consumers having increased diversity in consumption/frequency of NUS in weakly diet at household level is increased by 20%.
- Barriers to access markets for NUS are lowered in four out of six food systems and NUS volume in markets increased.
- Share of peasants with access to NUS seeds is increased by 30%.
- 20 crops (NUS crops, non‐NUS crops and NUS varieties) are newly cultivated at farm level.
- Volume of NUS leaving farm gate is increased by 10%.
- Incomes of 3’000 peasants are increased.
- Food security of 5’000 peasants is improved.
- Climate resilience of 5’000 peasants is improved.
- Effectiveness of sub‐national policies and legal frameworks in A+FS for small holder farmers is increased.
Recent News
Collecting traditional varieties
Local varieties often cope better with drought and other stresses, and outperform modern varieties when grown under ecological conditions. First traditional varieties are collected by visiting seed savers in their homes, or while attending seed festivals and farmer training events. Then, seed savers and seed producers select the varieties they like most. These are then…
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Beneficiaries stories : India
Discover the stories of three indian farmers that have (re)introducted some NUS into their fields.
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Links between gender and varietal selection: the case study in Orissa
In September 2022, Bhittibhumi carried out a participatory Variety Selection (PVS) exercise in Orissa with the support and guidance of FiBL. The exercise involved farmers as key stakeholders to seek and determine the most preferred lines of green gram and sesame for further advancement. Discussions with the farmers (both genders) showed differences and some similarities…
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