Desi Beej Ghar: MCL creates a potential seeding opportunity for farmers of its command area

Sambalpur: Farmers have been increasingly using hybrid seeds owing to high yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-tolerant characteristics. However, in some cases, the hybrid seed loses its quality during reproduction. This forces a farmer to buy hybrid seeds every year resulting in a financial burden. The answer to Farmer's woes lies in indigenous seeds which maintain the same quality year after year.

Realizing the conundrum, MCL has come up with a pioneering project under its CSR for assisting the marginalized farmers to grow, conserve and bank indigenous seeds.  Partnering with MCL in this noble venture is 'Gram Samriddhi Trust', a voluntary organization working in the field of agricultural development. Named 'Desi Beej Ghar', the project will provide support for the cultivation & preservation of indigenous seeds, and create an eco-system for marketing the product to fellow farmers through seed banks. Farmers will grow high-quality seeds following scientific standards under the guidance of seed science experts. Seed banks will be established which will be operated by seed growers.

The project will be implemented in Hemgir block, Sundargarh district. Overall 200 farmers will be provided training on mechanisms for the preservation of indigenous seeds.

A Memorandum of Agreement for the project has been signed between MCL and Gram Samriddhi Trust on 28-12-2020 in the presence of the Director (Personnel).