Seed Festival 2025

• 24 Jun 2025

Why in News?

The four-day-long Beej Utsav (Seed Festival) 2025, held in the tribal tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, celebrated the cultural and ecological significance of indigenous seeds.

• Indigenous seeds are produced in a certain climate and location, and they are often managed by a group of local people.

Key Points

Major Highlights of the Seed Festival

• Events & Recognition:
  • The festival featured indigenous seeds of grains, pulses, vegetables, and fruits, including several rare and forgotten varieties.
    • Traditional fruit seeds included wild mango, Aakol and Timru, while traditional grains included Doodh Mogar (native maize), and the paddy varieties of Kali Kamod and Dhimri.
  • Recognition through awards such as Beej Mitra and Beej Mata to seed-preserving community members.
• Participation:
  • Tribal women and children actively engaged, learning techniques of seed preservation for multiple crop cycles.
• Institutional Support:
  • Community-led institutions, including Krishi Evam Adivasi Swaraj Sangathan, Gram Swaraj Samooh, Saksham Samooh, and Bal Swaraj Samooh were instrumental in organising the festival. 
  • They were supported by Banswara-based voluntary group Vaagdhara, which works on tribal livelihood issues.

Note: Vaagdhara is a non-profit organisation that operates under the Rajasthan Societies Registration Act, 1958. 

• The name Vaagdhara is derived from its working area, Vagad, which is the tribal region of Rajasthan bordering Gujarat, and Dhara, meaning stream. 

Significance of Indigenous Seeds in Sustainable Agriculture

• Seed Sovereignty: Empowering farmers to retain control over seeds, reducing dependence on expensive, chemical-intensive hybrid seeds.
• Climate Resilience: Indigenous seeds are often better adapted to local agro-ecological conditions, ensuring crop sustainability amid climate variability.
• Cultural Identity: Seeds like Kali Kamod rice, Doodh Mogar maize, and karingda melon hold cultural and nutritional value in tribal food systems.
• Low-Input Farming: These seeds require fewer chemical inputs, promoting eco-friendly and cost-effective agriculture.