LOOKING BACK | 2022
Resilience in the face of environmental adversity.
EMERGENCY CLIMATE RESPONSE
In 2022 Navdayna proved its resilience in the face of environmental adversity. As a result of the now ever-present climate crisis, Navdanya operations were damaged by natural disasters stemming from climate change. The Navdanya Biodiversity Conservation Farm experienced two unusually intense monsoon storms within three weeks of each other that flooded its fields with two feet of water and damaged the central Navdanya seed bank. Hundreds of Gardens of Hope were damaged, some completely destroyed. In other areas, farmers who work with Navdanya were forced to plant their fields two and three times after initial monsoon rains were followed by unprecedented dry spells that killed seeds in the ground..
SEED BANKS 2022/2023
For decades Navdanya and its network have been able to build a network of knowledge to support seed, food, and farm security. Thanks in part to donations from donors like you, seed banks proved their value by distributing thousands of pounds of climate-resilient seeds to farmers. These seedbanks provided seeds on a loan-type basis that asked farmers to repay their loans in kind. For example, with a quantity of seed equal to what they borrowed plus a small portion extra as a form of interest. The system has proven a win-win for both the seed banks who recoup their loan with a “little interest” and the farmer who can “afford” to participate and does not fall into debt paying cash or taking a line of credit to buy commercial seed.
Navdanya seeks to build two new community seed banks in the tribal areas of central India in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states. The proposed seed banks will be an important step toward the identification and conservation of crucial traditional seed varieties that are on the verge of extinction in this agro-ecological zone. The seed banks will also help orient the tribal farming communities toward conserving and cultivating nutrient-dense traditional crops and varieties. Funds are needed for the construction of the physical building in which seeds will be stored; farmer training in seed selection, multiplication, and production; as well as for distribution and other operations carried out by the seed bank.
FARMER TRAINING
In 2022 Navdanya maintained its schedule of training farmers on Seed Freedom and Food Freedom, its core programs for community seed bank operations and chemical-free agroecological farming respectively. Navdanya also forged ahead with its program for extending the Earth Democracy movement at the regional level in parts of eastern and central India by hosting Jaiv Panchayats (conclaves) that brought together women farmers at the regional level to reflect and empower their voices in promoting the rights of people and nature with the goal of effecting a gradual transition toward regions free from chemical agriculture.
