
The 9th edition of the Wayanad Community Seed Festival was inaugurated by Sri. O.R. Kelu, the Minister for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes and Dewasoms of Kerala. Minister underlined the importance of agriculture and traditions in India and expressed deep concern over decline in agriculture in the country. He stressed that reviving agriculture should not be seen merely as an economic necessity but as a cultural and social imperative, ensuring that farming remains a valued profession.
National Seminar on Unfolding the Potentials of Community Seed Banks for Food and Nutrition Security

Community seed banks and farmer-managed seed systems are of high priority and can protect the genetic diversity of agriculture crops in the field said Dr. Regine Anderson, Research Director and Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute Norway. Participatory seed systems can also serve as the medium for food security that rightly conserve the seeds against changes in climatic conditions, she added. While talking in the national seminar, Dr. Balakrishnan, Member Secretary, Kerala State Biodiversity Board said that the state is the treasure trough of biodiversity, however, technology-based and participatory efforts are needed for its protection. Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) constituted in every panchayats of the state has a decisive role to play since they are the rightful owners of the resources of the region, he added. Dr. Rangalakshmi, Executive Director (Area & Operations) of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation detailed the multiple values and ecosystem services of community seed banks and cited several examples where the seed banks are being functional.


Community Genome Saviour Awards
Community Genome Saviour awards were declared in the function and Mr. Kanaran, Cholakkolly Mullukuruma joint family won the first place. Mr. Dharappan belonging to the Polliyottil Kurichya tribal joint family and Mr. Kelu belonging to Valakottil Kurichya joint family acquired the second place. The awards were given to those farmers who conserve and protect genetic diversity in their agriculture land.



The award was given by Wayanad District Tribal Development Action Council (WDTDAC) by utilizing the interest of the amount given to them by the Central Government’s Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Authority. The Seed Fest also felicitated major custodian farmers of Wayanad who for the last several years are relentlessly engaged in the conservation of traditional crop varieties in their field.
Farmers: Spice Breeders & Conservers Technical Session
Dr. Verghese Kurian Memorial Session – Cooperatives in Sustainable Development
In the Seed Fest 2025, there were more than fifty-five exhibition stalls showcasing the rich biodiversity of South India and participants from Odisha, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu also participated. The programme was attended by students, farmers, academicians, experts and people of all walks of life.