Haryana farmer saves 500 varieties of native vegetable seeds; sells across India

The family of farmer Lalu cultivated wheat and rice in Sonipat, Haryana, for many generations. It was obvious for him to join them after passing the 12th class. The family also grew vegetables, mostly for their own use, and sold any excess in the market.

“Farming has been life for us. With a keen interest in agriculture, I wanted to learn about our traditional farming methods, native seeds and how they have survived for hundreds of years,” Lalu tells 30Stades.

This quest for learning took him to a native seeds festival in Udaipur in November 2019. 

“I went to the seed festival with some friends who were also displaying native seeds there. I was most impressed with over 30 varieties of gourds on display by farmers from across India,” he says. 

Collecting native seeds

Lalu and his friends purchased seeds of various types of gourds, beans, tomatoes and other vegetables, worth Rs 2,000, from the festival.

“From then on, I started tracking native seed and agricultural festivals across India. I used social media to get updated about seed exchange or purchase programmes and began collecting them,” he says.

So far, Lalu has travelled 1.70 lakh km, covering 20 states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

Also Read: L&T engineer quits job for organic farming; saves and sells 800 varieties of native vegetable seeds

“I met farmers, seed savers and tribal people who have been the custodians of native seeds for ages,” he says.

“I have collected over 500 varieties of native vegetable seeds. They include tomatoes of 60 plus varieties, gourds (30 varieties), brinjal (80), okra (8), tubers of nine varieties, radishes in seven colours, 20 types of beans, and 40 varieties of chillies, including North East’s Bhüt Jolokia (ghost pepper).

Lalu says his most memorable trip has been to Nagaland, as the locals in almost every village have conserved their native seeds. 

“We went there in 2023 and walked on foot for six days in the Kiphire district. We covered two to three villages daily. Every village has saved its own varieties of native vegetables. They have a big collection of tubers and other vegetables,” Lalu says.

Also Read: With Rs 150 and a bike, this farmer saved 300 native vegetable seeds

How native vegetables grow in different geographies

On the viability of growing vegetables from one state in any other part of India, Lalu says all these vegetables grow well in the Indian climate. “Over 300 years ago, we had just a handful of vegetables, including tomatoes and bell peppers. Most vegetables came from other countries. Today, India is a leading producer because the climate here suits their cultivation,” he says.

Since over 90 percent of these vegetables have been in India for more than a century, they have adapted well to local conditions, and seed savers understand this. 

Seeds account for about 15 percent of a farmer’s cultivation cost. It is important to conserve native seeds as they can be stored for the next season, unlike hybrid seeds, which cut costs for farmers.

They also don’t require chemicals because they are well-adapted to the local climate and naturally resistant to pests and diseases, reducing farming costs.

Also Read: Five farmers who save and sell native vegetable seeds to promote biodiversity

Saving native seeds for the future

Lalu has set up a fruit orchard on half an acre of land for family consumption. He grows guava, banana, papaya, keenu, and cultivates cash crops on two acres. He propagates and multiplies the native seeds every year by cultivating vegetables over half an acre. 

To avoid cross-pollination, he shares the heirloom seeds with other farmers, who cultivate them on their farms and return the seeds to him, besides selling the crop.

“I harvest the vegetables for self-consumption and also to make seeds.  It is a time-consuming process,” the seed saver says. 

After harvest, vegetables like gourds and okra can be left to dry naturally. The seeds can be taken from them. “For other vegetables like tomato, I clean the vegetables and ferment them to procure the seeds. Then I clean and dry them in the sun. These seeds have a high probability of germination,” he explains. 

The seeds are kept in earthen pots with dried neem leaves and ash to prevent any contamination. “This is the traditional method. I am now planning to buy a refrigerator to store them as it will save time and costs,” he says.

Lalu sells the seeds at a nominal price of Rs 20 per packet. “I want people to take up organic farming and kitchen gardening using these seeds,” he says. They are sent across India by India Post delivery services.

(US Anu is a Madurai-based writer. She specialises in stories around human interest, environment and art and culture.)

Also Read: This farmer conserves over 800 types of organic vegetable seeds; sells across India
 
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