Preserve indigenous seeds to protect farmers

Artistes perform at a cultural show organised at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city yesterday on the occasion of World Rural Women's Day. PHOTO: STAR

They said the rural women of the country have played a crucial role in preserving the seeds for hundreds of years.

But their rights on local bio-resources as social property are being threatened in view of the expanding multinational markets under the cover of patent rights, they added.

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The rally was organised by Bishwa Grameen Nari Dibas Udjapon Jatiya Committee at the Central Shaheed Minar to mark the World Rural Women's Day.

This year the theme of the day internationally was 'Demand your rights in decision making process'.

In Bangladesh, the committee observed the day with a slogan 'Preserve indigenous seeds to protect the farmers and the agriculture'.

The speakers called for resisting multinational companies to market the hybrid seeds as it is not possible to reproduce seeds from the crops of hybrid seeds.

They also urged the government to revive Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation to produce seeds locally.

Swapan Guha, chief executive of Rupantar, a non-government organisation, said it is possible to produce enough crops to meet the need of the country if government promotes the researchers and their seeds across the country.

"The tradition of preserving seeds locally must not be stopped for the sake of our farmers, and our women must be allowed to play their important role of conserving the seeds for next plantation," he added.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, member-secretary of Supra, said there are more than 40 companies are now working for the expansion of hybrid seeds specially under the flood rehabilitation programme.

Shahadat Islam Chowdhury, executive director of the Project for Rural Area Development and Improvement of Poor People (PRADIP), Dr Jesmine Ara Sultana, deputy director of TMSS, and Arjuman Ara, assistant secretary of Ubinig also spoke at the rally.

The committee also organised an exhibition of indigenous seeds and medicinal plants along with a cultural show at the Shaheed Minar and 57 districts across the country.