Farmers: Spice Breeders & Conservers Technical Session

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The “Farmers as Spice Breeders and Conservators” session, part of Seed Fest 2025, was chaired by Dr B. Sasikumar, former Principal Scientist and Head of ICAR-IISR, and convened by Sanil P.C., Development Coordinator at CAbC-MSSRF. The session showcased the vital contributions of farmers to spice breeding and conservation.

Lead farmers shared their invaluable experiences, including Balakrishnan Kammanna, who developed the 916 Turmeric and conserved numerous pepper varieties; Mathew Sebastian, known for his innovative grafting techniques in nutmeg cultivation; John Joseph, who holds an extensive collection of nutmeg and ginger varieties; and George K.V., the developer of Agali Pepper. Their presentations highlighted the importance of combining traditional farming knowledge with innovative approaches to create and preserve unique spice varieties.

Discussants included Dr. Lijo Thomas (Senior Scientist, ICAR-IISR), Mr. V.A. Muhammed Nissar (Scientist, ICAR-IISR), and Mr. Prajeesh P. (Scientist, MSSRF), who provided expert perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in farmer-led breeding programs. They emphasized the significance of participatory plant breeding approaches and farmers’ rights to seeds. The discussants urged for stronger linkages between research institutions and farmers, advocating for greater support in validating farmer innovations and facilitating their wider adoption. Mr Prajeesh also highlighted the role of MSSRF in empowering farmers through initiatives like the Genome Saviour Award and the Seed Care Movement.

The session called for increased investment in research and development that directly benefits farmers and supports on-farm conservation. Ultimately, the session effectively highlighted the crucial role of farmers as custodians of spice biodiversity and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to support their ongoing contributions.