Support for quality seed of local landraces/farmers’ varieties (LRs/FVs) through community-managed seed systems (CMSS) in Odisha and other rainfed areas

Objectives: To provide technical assistance to be able to implement the seed SOP end-to-end and extend the SOP to crops other than millets in Odisha

Description: Odisha is known for its rich crop diversity and is one of the centers of origin for rice. The Koraput region in Odisha is recognized as an agrobiodiversity hotspot and a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the FAO. Odisha is home to a wide variety of indigenous and farmers' varieties (FVs) of paddy and other crops. These local landraces (LRs) and FVs are known to be nutritionally rich and adapted to the local climate, making them important for climate change adaptation. However, there are significant knowledge and evidence gaps in the formal seed system with respect to the availability, accessibility and quality of these LRs/FVs.

To address this, the Government of India has taken two pioneering initiatives - issuing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Seed System for Landraces under the Odisha Millets Mission, and constituting a 'Landrace Varietal Release Committee (LVRC)' for the release of traditional millet varieties as certified seed. FAO provides technical assistance to the government to implement these initiatives end-to-end and extend them to other crops beyond millets in Odisha. The project also uses the Odisha experience to promote climate-resilient LRs/FVs in other rainfed areas of the country, including through the work of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA). The gender dimension is also an important aspect, with tribal women recognized as knowledge-holders and playing a key role.

FAO Regular Programme Budget

Expected Outputs:

• Model local varieties are made known.
• Framework of standards, protocols, and principles for both in situ conservation and the documentation of LRs/FVs as per VCU for local communities is developed.
• End-to-end support for LRs/FVs is piloted through a CMSS (in line with SOP) on selected location(s) in Odisha.
• Policy paper on the possibilities and constraints under the existing legal and policy framework for LRs/FVs is prepared.
• National experience-sharing workshop to process the learnings of the Odisha pilot encourages other states to adopt/adapt.
• Set of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials developed and circulated for capacity building and advocacy.