The CSB Nepal organized two seed exchange festivals to promote the exchange of local crop diversity and knowledge among community seed banks.
The first seed exchange festival was organized on 15 May 2019 at Agyauli Community Seed Bank, Nawalparasi targeting participation and exchange of seeds and planting materials among terai-based community seed banks.
At the Agyauli Seed Exchange Festival, 11 community seed banks came up with 381 local varieties of seeds and planting materials of 43 crop species for exchange. Out of this, 353 packets of 27 crop species were exchanged. These community seed banks shared seeds with other CSBs ranging from 13 to 73 packets.
Similarly, the second seed exchange festival was organized on 10 February 2020 at Purkot Community Seed Bank, Tanahun among the hill and mountain-based community seed banks.
At the Purkot Seed Exchange Festival, 12 community seed banks exchanged 196 samples of seeds, each CSB borrowing 2 to 62 seed samples.
The exchange of seeds and planting materials among community seed banks and farmers is not a new thing but such an organized exchange of seeds and knowledge on seed had never happened before.
An elaborated story about the seed exchange festivals can be found here:
