Fri Jun 13 12:23:36 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Karnataka to Establish Seed Banks, Hosts Desi Seed Festival to Promote Indigenous Varieties

**Bengaluru, June 13, 2025** – The Karnataka government is taking steps to safeguard the state’s agricultural heritage by proposing the establishment of community seed banks aimed at promoting and preserving indigenous seed varieties. This initiative will involve distributing these resilient seeds to farmers and facilitating market linkages, offering a potential solution to the challenges posed by climate change.

This announcement coincides with the upcoming Desi Seed Festival, a collaborative effort by the Institution of Agricultural Technologists (IAT), Bangalore, Sahaja Samrudha, WASSAN, Keystone Foundation, CROPS4HD, and Using Diversity. The two-day festival, commencing June 14th on the IAT premises in Bengaluru, aims to unite seed conservators, farmer scientists, agricultural enthusiasts, and consumers from across India to celebrate and discuss the critical importance of conserving indigenous seed diversity.

“This festival is a step towards raising awareness among farmers about the significance of preserving these seeds,” stated a release from the festival organizers.

The festival will showcase over 1,500 indigenous seed varieties, encompassing rice, millets, pulses, tubers, leafy greens, and vegetables. Tribal farmers will also share knowledge of wild plant resources preserved through generations.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairman of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFR), will inaugurate the event. Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chairman of the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission, is slated to be a notable guest at the closing ceremony.

The collaborative effort highlights the growing recognition of the importance of preserving indigenous seeds for agricultural resilience and biodiversity in the face of a changing climate.

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