The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed globally on 22 May. In this context, Odisha’s indigenous seed conservation practices, particularly its community seed banks and millet diversity, have been highlighted as critical models for climate-resilient farming and biodiversity protection.
International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB)
- Date of Observance: 22 May, observed by the United Nations.
- 2026 Theme: “Acting locally for global impact” – emphasizing that reversing global biodiversity loss depends heavily on local, community-level actions.
- Origin: The observance is closely associated with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a multilateral treaty opened for signature at the historic 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
- Purpose: To raise global awareness regarding the conservation of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.
Seed Conservation Practices in Odisha
- Indigenous Custodians: Adivasi (tribal) farmers in Odisha’s rainfed regions actively preserve traditional seeds and farming techniques passed down through generations.
- Role of Women: Women act as primary seed custodians, maintaining traditional local crops that are naturally adapted to the specific soil types and erratic rainfall patterns of the region.
- Community Seed Banks: These are localized storage systems designed to protect and multiply indigenous crop varieties.
- In the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, women from the Kondh and Paraja tribal communities lead these seed banks.
- They primarily protect the genetic diversity of millets, pulses, and highland paddy varieties.
Institutional & Project Support
- DIVERSIFARM-India Project: A joint initiative led by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). It focuses on strengthening community seed systems to ensure food, nutrition, and livelihood security for smallholder farmers.
- Participatory Varietal Trials: Between 2018 and 2024, organizations like WASSAN and the Shree Anna Abhiyan conducted 253 such trials across 30 districts in Odisha to test and promote resilient crop varieties.
Millets: The Core of Climate-Resilient Agriculture
- What are they? A group of small-seeded cereals (e.g., finger millet, pearl millet, sorghum) predominantly grown in dry, semi-arid, and rainfed areas.
- Climate Resilience: They have a significantly lower water requirement compared to major cereals like wheat or rice, making them highly resistant to drought.
- Post-Harvest Selection: Indigenous communities practice specific seed selection after the harvest to continuously adapt the crop’s genetic makeup against localized climatic stress.
Practice Questions
Prelims (PT) Question
Q. With reference to biodiversity conservation and traditional agriculture in India, consider the following statements:
- The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed annually to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the 1992 Earth Summit.
- In the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, Kondh and Paraja tribal communities maintain community seed banks primarily to conserve genetically modified (GM) cash crops.
- Millets require significantly more water to cultivate than traditional cereals like paddy and wheat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: (a)
- Statement 1 is correct: The day (22 May) is associated with the CBD, which was opened for signature at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The Kondh and Paraja women maintain community seed banks to protect indigenous/traditional crop varieties (like millets, pulses, and paddy), not genetically modified (GM) cash crops.
- Statement 3 is incorrect: Millets are known for their climate resilience precisely because they have a lower water requirement than paddy or wheat.
Mains Practice Question
Q. “The 2026 theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity—’Acting locally for global impact’—finds practical application in the indigenous agricultural systems of India.” Discuss how community-led seed conservation and millet cultivation in states like Odisha contribute to climate-resilient agriculture and global biodiversity targets. (150 words, 10 Marks)