Community Seed Banks (CSBs) play a profoundly significant role in the preservation, protection and promotion of agricultural biodiversity, particularly focusing on local landraces. Local landraces are traditional crop varieties that have evolved naturally under specific local environmental conditions through generations of farmer selection. These varieties are not only biologically diverse but also represent the cultural and ecological identity of rural farming communities. They show genetic resilience having adapted to drought, pests, diseases, and soil variations better than many modern varieties. Despite this, the increasing dominance of high-yielding varieties, changing climatic patterns, urbanization and shifts in farming systems have placed many local landraces on the verge of extinction. In this scenario, CSBs have emerged as innovative, community-driven institutions that act as guardians of these invaluable genetic resources.
CSBs are locally managed seed repositories where farmers collect, store and
exchange seeds of different crop varieties. Their main objective is to conserve
seeds under safe conditions while ensuring they remain viable for future
planting seasons. Through seed conservation, CSBs maintain the unique genetic
traits of local landraces such as drought tolerance, pest resistance and high
nutritional content which are often absent in commercial or hybrid varieties.
The genetic diversity maintained by these banks serves as an insurance policy
for future breeding programs and agricultural resilience in the face of climate
change. For example, if a certain modern crop variety fails due to drought,
farmers can rely on traditional drought-tolerant landraces conserved in the
community seed bank. This proactive conservation approach ensures that
agriculture remains adaptive, sustainable, and resilient under unpredictable
conditions.
Beyond conservation, CSBs are powerful tools for farmer empowerment and participatory development. They function as community hubs where farmers come together to share seeds, exchange indigenous knowledge and discuss cultivation techniques. This participatory nature strengthens social cohesion and revives traditional wisdom that modern agricultural systems often overlook. For example, farmers might share their experiences about how certain landraces perform under specific microclimates or soil types leading to improved collective understanding. Additionally, these banks reduce the dependency of smallholder farmers on external seed companies, enabling them to become self-reliant in managing their own seed systems. By ensuring access to quality seeds at the local level, CSBs help stabilize production and promote sustainable livelihoods.
CSBs also serve educational and awareness building roles. They organize training sessions, field visits, and seed fairs to inform farmers and local youth about the importance of conserving genetic diversity. This educational dimension not only motivates young generations to engage in agriculture but also fosters pride in their agricultural heritage. CSBs often collaborate with agricultural research institutions, NGOs, and local governments to enhance their technical capacities, maintain seed purity and integrate scientific methods into traditional systems. Such collaborations bridge the gap between local knowledge and modern science, creating a balanced and adaptive model for biodiversity management.
Another crucial contribution of CSBs lies in improving food and livelihood security. By maintaining a wide range of crop species and varieties, they ensure that communities have alternatives in times of crop failure caused by pests, diseases, or extreme weather events. The diversity in seed banks enhances resilience and guarantees availability of nutritious food throughout the year. Moreover, by reviving rare and forgotten varieties, CSBs add value to local diets and markets, offering opportunities for organic branding and agrotourism. These benefits contribute directly to the economic stability of rural households and the sustainability of agroecosystems.
For example, the Bara Community Seed Bank in Bara District has successfully conserved traditional rice varieties such as Jetho Budho, Anadi and Mansuli Local which are highly tolerant to waterlogging and have strong local demand for their taste and quality. Similarly, the Kachorwa Community Seed Bank supported by Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) in Bara has conserved over 80 traditional crop varieties including rice, maize, lentil and vegetables providing a safety net for climate-vulnerable farmers.
In Nepal, the community seed bank in Begnas, Kaski acts as a knowledge sharing center where farmers meet to exchange experiences about the performance of local varieties under different climatic conditions. Farmers in that region have successfully revived local rice varieties such as Pokhreli Jethobudo and Seto Anadi increasing their cultivation and market value. Additionally, these banks reduce the dependency of smallholder farmers on external seed companies enabling them to become self-reliant in managing their own seed systems. By ensuring access to quality seeds at the local level, CSBs help stabilize production and promote sustainable livelihoods.
The Sindhuli Community Seed Bank regularly conducts seed fairs and farmer exchange programs in collaboration with the Agriculture Development Office, Sindhuli and local cooperatives. These events inspire younger generations to value indigenous varieties and take pride in agricultural heritage. Another crucial contribution of CSBs lies in improving food and livelihood security. By maintaining a wide range of crop species and varieties, they ensure that communities have alternatives in times of crop failure caused by pests, diseases or extreme weather events.
During the 2015 earthquake and subsequent drought periods, farmers in Rupandehi and Banke districts were able to recover quickly by accessing traditional drought-tolerant rice and millet varieties from their community seed banks. These varieties performed better under stress than modern hybrids. Moreover, by reviving rare and forgotten varieties, CSBs add value to local diets and markets offering opportunities for organic branding and agrotourism. In Tanahun district, the local seed bank initiative to promote indigenous maize varieties has attracted eco-tourism interest and local branding opportunities for traditional food products.
In conclusion, Community Seed Banks are not merely seed storage centers, they are living systems that connect biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and community empowerment. They symbolize collective action and responsibility toward preserving genetic heritage for future generations. By integrating traditional wisdom with scientific innovation, CSBs ensure that local landraces remain productive, resilient and relevant in the face of global agricultural challenges. The preservation of these seeds today means the preservation of food security, cultural identity and ecological balance for tomorrow.
Sadikshya Koirala, Undergraduate Student, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
