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In the dry parts of Andhra Pradesh, where farming is often hard due to poor rainfall and low soil fertility, local communities are finding strength in old traditions. Community seed banks, led by farmers and women’s groups, are bringing back native seeds and promoting safer, low-cost farming.
These initiatives have grown gradually over the last decade, supported by local NGOs and networks that promote sustainable agriculture. According to Uday Nagubandi, programme manager, Sustainable Seed Systems at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, the efforts to conserve and share traditional seeds have become stronger in recent years as climate pressures worsen.
In districts like Kadapa, Anantapuramu and Sri Sathya Sai, self-help groups (SHG) and farmer-producer organisations are collecting, storing and distributing traditional seed varieties. These local seeds are better suited to the region’s soil and climate and need fewer chemicals to grow, making them a sustainable option for small and marginal farmers.
“The women did not want to depend on external companies for seeds,” said Nagubandi. “These seeds are part of their identity. Their grandmothers grew them. They can survive drought, they taste better and we don’t need chemicals.”
At the Bhavana Seed Bank in Musalareddygaripalli village, Kadapa district, women have collected and preserved over a dozen traditional rice varieties, including Kujipatalia, Rakta Sali, Chittimutyalu, Rathna Chudi, Black Rice, Sidda Sannalu, Hindustan Machine Tools, Narayani Kamini, Bahuroopi and Kala Batti Radhajigel. They also save native vegetable varieties like mulla vanga (wild brinjal), chitti kakara (spiny gourd) and chenu benda (okra).
These varieties are traditional, native, thrive in areas that are drought-prone and have poor soil, making them perfect for areas struggling with climate stress. Many also have high nutritional value and cultural significance passed down through generations.
To keep these seeds safe, they are stored in traditional clay pots and pest-resistant cotton bags. These methods protect seeds without needing chemical preservatives.
The Bhavana Seed Bank follows Nagu Paddati, a natural farming method that avoids synthetic inputs. “Communities treat seeds with cow dung and urine before sowing, and use intercropping to improve soil fertility,” said Nagubandi. “It’s about keeping the seeds as natural as possible.”
This practice not only reduces costs but also lowers greenhouse gas emissions linked to chemical fertiliser use.
In Anantapuramu district, another model is taking shape, this time through farmer cooperatives. Supported by the Centre for Collective Development, a non-profit working on farmer-owned business models, the cooperatives have focused on producing and marketing high-quality seeds, especially of a groundnut variety called TCGS-1694 (visishta) since 2010.
This variety has high oil content and yield. It is usually grown during the Rabi season. It takes about 100-110 days to grow and can give a yield of up to 45 quintals per hectare. It is one of the best oil-producing groundnut types and is most suitable for wetlands. It performs better in Rabi season than in Kharif.
Unlike the SHG-led seed banks that focus on conserving traditional varieties for community use, this cooperative model is commercially oriented, producing seeds for sale to other farmers. The entire process from seed production, moisture testing, grading and certification (by the State Seed Certification Agency) to packaging and marketing is handled by the cooperative itself.
This gives farmers more control and better prices, said Nagubandi. “In Anantapuramu, farmers trained by Centre for Collective Development, a non-profit, learn how to test seed quality, weigh their produce accurately and avoid middlemen. They earn more from selling certified seeds.”
These seed banks have made a big difference. Local and traditional seeds, once hard to find, are now available to farmers during each season. Many of these seeds grow better in dry or difficult weather and are also healthier. They also help farmers avoid using too many chemicals.
Farmers in places like MR Palli have started using these local seeds. They no longer depend on external markets. They can now grow crops that are healthier and better suited to the soil and weather in their villages.
In Anantapuramu, the cooperative model also helps farmers earn more from the sale of high-quality seeds. The cooperatives train farmers on how to check seed quality using moisture meters, ensure proper weighing and manage sales. This way, farmers get fair prices and do not have to deal with middlemen.
There are still challenges. Small seed banks find it hard to store seeds properly and fight pests. Cooperatives also face delays in getting money from government agencies.
Despite the problems, farmers want to expand these seed systems. They plan to collect more local seeds, keep better records and build better storage.
This story is part of a comprehensive study by Delhi-based think Centre for Science and Environment on the status of community seed banks in India. As part of this research, we conducted questionnaire-based surveys on different NGOs working in 15 states across India to understand how community seed banks are working on the ground.