This farmer conserves 350 types of native vegetable and fruit seeds; sells across India

When Anil Gavali’s grandmother suffered a heart attack in 2003, she had to undergo a bypass surgery. For the next three years, she had to take 17 tablets daily after the operation. It affected her kidneys, and for the next four years, Anil took her for dialysis every fourth day. 

Anil, a farmer in Babhulgaon village, Pandharpur taluka, of Maharashtra’s Solapur district, had to sell ten out of 30 acres of the family’s farmland to meet the medical expenses. “When I would take my grandmother for dialysis and follow-ups, I would often carry some vegetables from our farm for the doctor and other staff,” Anil tells 30Stades.

Once, he took native garlic from his farm for the doctor.

“On seeing the native garlic, the doctor said this variety was rich in allicin and other sulphur-containing compounds that lowered cholesterol and reduced the risk of blood clots. However, the variety was now rare and could not be found in the markets,” Anil says.

That prompted Anil to start native seed conservation to protect biodiversity and provide healthy food for people. 

Today, he has 350 varieties of native vegetables and fruit seeds. He shares them with farmers for free and they return double the amount in the next season. For home gardeners and others interested in growing native plants, he sells the seeds in packets sent via courier.

He practices natural farming over 20 acres and does not use chemicals. 

Also Read: This Karnataka woman farmer turns leased barren lands into lush green fields using native seeds

How Anil collected native seeds

“In 2010, I started saving the native vegetables on our own farm. These included native cucumbers, garlic, white onions, and gourds etc. Alongside, I began participating in seed exhibitions and visiting farmers who were saving indigenous traditional seeds,” he says.

Tribals across India have been the guardians of native seeds for centuries. They hold seed festivals regularly. 

“I began participating in these tribal festivals for seed exchange. I would give them native garlic, cucumbers, native musk melons, various gourds and they would share their native vegetables and millet seeds,” he says.

“I started with indigenous seeds collection in Maharashtra and have travelled to 450 cities across India so far. The states include Uttarakhand, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, etc.,” he says.

From the Imphal seed festival in Meghalaya, Anil procured the seeds of black corn, traditionally used by the people there to make milk pudding (kheer). 

“I planted black corn from Imphal on my farm and they have been flourishing very well. From the Baiga tribals, I procured organic seeds of nine types of millets,” he adds.

Anil’s repertoire of native seeds includes 150 varieties of tomatoes, including black tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, blue and purple tomatoes, pickle tomatoes and apple-like tomatoes. He has seeds of 60 types of native brinjals, 80 types of bananas, 10 varieties of mangoes, many types of beans, and nine varieties of corn (red, yellow, black, green, white, golden and rainbow with seeds in seven colours). 

He has also saved native seeds of 30 varieties of bottle gourds, three types of pumpkin, four types of spinach, including Malabar and Pahadi varieties, and many types of chillies, bell peppers, and Carolina Reaper, the world’s hottest pepper, among other vegetables.

Also Read: How this teacher-turned-farmer created a profitable food forest in Shamli

Food forest and seed sharing

“I have created a food forest over 5.5 acres. It is home to many types of plants, including 1800 fig (anjeer), 1000 trees of coconut and mango each, 80 types of banana and the Agastya (also agathi) plant of both red and white varieties,” says Anil, who conserves various varieties of fruit plants in this forest.

For native vegetable seed conservation, Anil has set up an FPO with 300 farmers, who cultivate native seeds on their farms on half an acre. 

“They take the native seeds from us, cultivate them, and return double the amount of seeds after harvesting the crop. Most farmers take one to two types of seeds so that there is no cross-pollination,” Anil says.

“When the market rates are good, they sell the crop, and when the rates are less, they prepare seeds,” he adds.

It is important to prevent cross-pollination to protect the native biodiversity. This means tomatoes of two different varieties must not be planted together in the same area. 

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

“So at a time, a farmer grows only one or two (unrelated) native crops, saves the seeds for future use and returns double the amount to us,” he adds.

They also grow similar crops like different types of gourds at different times so that flowering season does not overlap. Otherwise, the farmers cover the plants during flowering stage to avoid cross-pollination.

 “Our native foods are rich in nutrients and are naturally pest-resistant and climate-resilient. By promoting their conservation and farming, I am keeping our legacy alive for future generations and contributing to good health,” he says.

(Riya Singh is a Ranchi-based journalist who writes on environment, farming, sustainability, startups, & women empowerment)

Also Read: Maharashtra man conserves 300 varieties of native trees and herbs; gives seeds and saplings for free

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