By Ramachandran K.G., Community Wellbeing
A national level “Desi Seed Festival” and Eastern Ghats Biodiversity Fair was organised at Killoguda village, Arakkuvalley, ASR district of Andhra Pradesh on 26 and 27 of April 2025. The event was organised by and on the premises of Sanjeevani, a local NGO, in collaboration with Keystone Foundation and some other local NGOs. The festival/fair has occurred consistently for the last 16 years. Pachari Devvullu, General Secretary of Sanjeevani, while addressing the participants, said that the event aims to promote conservation of traditional food crop seeds and sustainable livelihoods for the tribal communities, as well as to preserve biodiversity of the Eastern Ghats.
Raimati Guriya, the ‘Millet Queen of India’, and Pangi Vineetha, recipient of the Andhra Pradesh State Award for Excellence in Organic Farming, were the key invitees of the event. Their attendance was a great opportunity for the participants to interact with them and to learn about their experiences
Hundreds of farmers, tribal community members and representatives from various voluntary organisations working extensively on seed conservation, organic fertilizers and natural farming practices participated in the event. These farmers and organisations from 6 different states displayed their native seeds and products in the event. Local tribal communities closely interacted with the participants and had opportunities to learn about various seeds and crop varieties, farm techniques and farm value chains. 60 stalls showcased the traditional heirloom seeds and indigenous products as part of the event.
16 members of Keystone Foundation, including both staff and community fellows of the ‘Using Diversity’ project from 4 different states namely Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, participated in the event. The team members have also visited a few field locations where natural farming interventions happen as part of the event.
Photos by Ramachandran K.G.
