Bengaluru Agricultural University to Launch Seed Bank for Native Grains

 

In a significant step toward preserving India’s agricultural heritage, a seed bank dedicated to conserving indigenous grain varieties will soon be established at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru.

This initiative aims to protect and promote native seeds that are rapidly vanishing due to the dominance of hybrid and commercial varieties. The seed bank will act as a living repository of traditional grains, including millets, pulses, and heritage rice strains, many of which are naturally climate-resilient and nutritionally rich.

The idea behind the project is to safeguard the genetic diversity of local crops, which have historically sustained farming communities and are well-suited to India’s varied agro-climatic zones. University officials emphasized that preserving these seeds is crucial not just for ecological sustainability, but also for future food and nutritional security.

Researchers and scientists at UAS will document, store, and multiply seeds, while also encouraging farmers to adopt and revive these traditional varieties through awareness campaigns, field trials, and collaborative projects.

This initiative is expected to boost sustainable farming practices and help reconnect communities with their agricultural roots, ensuring that heirloom seeds are not lost to time.

 

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