The indigenous seeds have proven to be climate resilient and cheaper, leading more farmers to opt for them in times of increasing extreme weather events.
As traditional varieties of seeds are losing ground to hybrid ones, seed banks in Odisha are trying to revive India’s indigenous seed diversity while encouraging farmers to move away from chemical farming
The state’s natural farming programme must ensure that women are empowered as they move to cleaner, greener farming, and do not just become a means to an end