Dr. Shephalika Amrapali
The Pahariya community is one of the eight tribal groups listed under the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in Jharkhand. Over 40% of the Pahariya community live in the districts of Godda and Pakur, with the rest concentrated in other districts of Santhal Parganas – Dumka, Sahebganj, and Deoghar. The Pahariyas, particularly Sauriya and Kumarbag, are increasingly vulnerable due to the loss of their customary habitats, livelihood resources, unfair practices of market intermediaries, and poor infrastructural facilities. The Paharias in the hill areas of Santhal Parganas practice Jhum cultivation of maize, millets, pulses, etc., on the slopes of the Rajmahal plateau. Indigenous seeds mostly used for sowing are well adapted to the local climate and edaphic factors and also have good demand in markets.
The Paharia families rely heavily on traders for seeds during sowing, often repaying three times the original quantity at harvest. Failure to repay in seeds results in cash payments with 1.5 to 2 times the principal as interest, or recovery at even higher rates the following year. Limited household storage infrastructure forces this dependence. Recognizing this exploitative system, Transform Trade and Badlao Foundation initiated the establishment of community-managed seed banks across two blocks to ensure access to quality seeds—such as cowpea, rice bean, horse gram, sorghum, maize, and pigeon pea—at fair, community-determined exchange rates. This initiative aims to reduce exploitation, empower local control over agricultural inputs, and foster self-reliance. To achieve this NGOs, approached ICAR-NBPGR RS Ranchi. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Ranchi, provided critical technical inputs and scientific guidance to transform the facilities into seed gene banks rather than simple storage units. The seed bank committees received capacity-building sessions focusing on scientific seed selection, preservation techniques, and improved storage practices. This institutional collaboration, combined with strong community participation, is evolving the seed banks into sustainable models integrating biodiversity conservation, livelihood enhancement, and women-led rural entrepreneurship. The initiative exemplifies how community-driven efforts can revitalize local agricultural economies while preserving biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems.
Currently, around 1,600 households—benefiting nearly 7,000 individuals—are directly supported through these five seed banks. By ensuring timely access to quality seeds, the initiative strengthens food security and advances food sovereignty within the community. It also fosters local knowledge exchange, encourages seed sharing among neighbours, and engages younger generations in valuing their local food systems.
Each seed bank is managed by a seven-member committee with equal representation of women and men, reflecting a commitment to gender balance and inclusive leadership. The committee oversees membership drives, seed collection, cleaning, proper storage, documentation, and measures to minimize defaults. Members coordinate lending seeds to households at the start of the season and ensure their return after harvest, maintaining the system’s sustainability. Through collective effort and community ownership, the seed banks are becoming pillars of resilience, economic stability, and cultural preservation for the Pahariya community.
During the financial year 2025–2026, the seed bank facilitated the sale of 22 tonnes of diverse crops—including cowpea, rice bean, sorghum, horse gram, pigeon pea, and maize—generating ₹32 lakh in revenue. Farmers secured prices 10–15% higher than those previously offered by village middlemen. This initiative not only boosts household incomes but also ensures fair and transparent pricing. By strengthening collective bargaining and promoting women’s leadership in agricultural marketing, the project fosters financial independence and community resilience. It also encourages continued cultivation of traditional, climate-resilient crops, contributing to food and nutritional security in the region.
The community seed bank has emerged as a powerful grassroots enterprise, combining traditional knowledge with collective action to strengthen livelihoods. Beyond conserving indigenous seeds, it has taken proactive steps in marketing members’ produce. Through a women-led Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), crops are now linked directly to district markets and institutional buyers, reducing dependence on intermediaries.
“I have been a member of the community seed bank since 2021, and I will continue to remain part of it,” says Bagi Pahadin from Village Dumgo, Kunjbona. “Earlier, we had to depend on traders and pay high interest for seeds. This was a burden for our family. Now, through the seed bank, I receive quality seeds without paying extra interest, and the harvest is much better. This has brought both relief and confidence to us.”
Seeds are our lifeline, we cannot think of farming if we do not save our seeds.” Namita Paharin
(Author is Senior Scientist at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources. Views are personal.)
