Heeralal Sarote
In order to promote the revival of traditional seeds cultivated by the Baiga community a community seed bank committee – Sanwa Salhar Saghati Gaura Kanhari was established in Gaura Kanhari village in Baigachak in 2019 comprising 15 women members. Phuljaria Bai is the President which Agni Bai is the secretary.
They currently have several varieties of seeds which include Sanwa (Barnyard millet), Salhar (Pearl Millet), Bajra (Pearl millet variety), Sikiya, Katki Kang (a variety of Foxtail millet), Lal Madia (a variety of finger millet), Dongar Kutki (a variety of little millet), Kodo (Kodo millet), Ratua Dhan (a local paddy variety). They have been facilitating the cultivation of these traditional seeds in the lands of Baiga farmers of the area. In January 2022 15 farmers who had received seeds from the seed banks returned around 72 kilograms of different traditional crops that they had successfully cultivated in their lands.
On the 21st of February 2022 a training programme on management of seed banks was conducted with Sanwa Salhar Saghati Gaura Kanhari. The program involved 30 participants comprising 18 women and 12 men. Various aspects pertaining to the storage and preservation of seeds, distribution of seeds to farmers and facilitating return of seeds from farmers were discussed. Beej Swaraj books were distributed to members of the seed bank committee.
