DDS women showcase 100 traditional seed varieties

Women farmers associated with the Deccan Development Society showcased over 100 varieties of traditional seeds in Sangareddy district. The initiative highlights disappearing crops and promotes biodiversity, while encouraging farmers and visitors to adopt diverse and sustainable agricultural practices.

Sangareddy: Women farmers of Deccan Development Society (DDS) displayed over 100 varieties of seeds of different traditional crops, which were cultivated by farmers across the Zaheerabad area. Most of these crops have now almost disappeared.

The crops include millets, pulses, oilseeds and grains of various other crops. Over 100 women farmers from 45 villages, who were called ‘seed protectors’, gathered on the premises of DDS at Pasthapur during a programme organised on Monday. The seeds include a variety of jowar, pearl millet, pulses, oilseeds, green leaf crops and vegetables. As the Vanakalam season was approaching, the seed protectors in the Zaheerabad area displayed the seeds. Visitors were educated on the importance of cultivating these crops and making them part of their diet. The display of so many seeds reflects the diversity of crops once cultivated in these parts of Telangana.

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Speaking on the occasion, Lavanya, a visitor, said that she was surprised to see farmers cultivating more than 20 varieties of crops in the Zaheerabad area even today, while most parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were confined to just five to ten varieties. She further said that most farmers were cultivating only cotton and paddy in both the Telugu States. Executive Director of DDS, Dr Divya, said that they would soon train youth to help them prepare seed banks at the village level. She hoped that these youths would take the idea of DDS to future generations.