Seed-Mothers’ Confront Climate Insecurity By Manipadma Jena
BHUBANESWAR, India, Jul 1, 2011 (IPS) – In eastern Orissa state’s tribal hinterlands about 200 ‘seed-mothers’ are on mission mode – identifying, collecting and conserving traditional seed varieties and motivating farming families to use them.–
As they spread their mes
sage through the hinterland, targeting another 140 villages, the women also promote zero dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides….
The struggles of Malkangiri farmers with climate change is visible in the Gudumpadar village where seed-mothers are passionately reviving agricultural heritage and convincing the community to stay with local seeds and bio-fertilisers and pesticides….
Well-known environmental activist and founder of Navdanya, Vandana Shiva, told IPS that “climate resilient seeds in women’s hands are vital to climate security and corporations that have taken out some 1,600 patents on climate resilient seeds are biopirates”.
“Allowing corporations to hijack and monopolise seed supply is a recipe for food insecurity and climate insecurity,” Shiva averred.
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