Spinning hope! Navdanya's efforts to distribute seeds, information, and biodiversity

     Navdanya means ‘nine seeds‘. Each one represents India's collective source of food security (http://www.navdanya.org/about-us/190-nine-seeds). In an attempt to achieve food security Navdanya has created a biodiversity conservation program. The program aims to support local farmers, rescue and conserve crops and plants that are being pushed to extinction, and make them available through direct marketing. Navdanya is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalization.

     Navdanya is an organization that Dr.Vandana Shiva established in the 1980’s. Navdanya was a research initiative of the Research Foundation for science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE). The aim of the organization spun from the issue of seed debt and farmer suicide in India. Local farmers had given over their heritage seeds in favour of new genetically modified seeds. After implementation farmers did not reap abundant yields on their crops, could not afford to buy new seeds every season, would fall into debt, and in turn would commit suicide.
    
     One of the first and main initiatives by Navdanya is ‘seed banks’. The seed banks offer heritage seeds for farmers to grow in their fields as an alternative to the GMO seeds they would have to buy from multinationals like Monsanto. The idea for the seed banks came from Ghandi. “The British take our cotton, destroy our weavers” repeating Gandhi's words. Gandhi saw that the British were taking their cotton, sending it to England where it was made into cloth, then selling it back to Indians at an inflated price. Gandhi said “we don’t have to be slaves. We can make our own cloth.” From that Ghandi encouraged the people of India to spin their own cloth. All over India you will see images of the spinning wheel hanging proudly the same way a patriot hangs their national flag.
 
     Skeptics questioned Gandhi asking ‘how can you think something as simple as a spinning wheel can change the fate of India?’ He responded saying that because it is so simple it has the power for anyone and everyone to access it. “Anyone can spin. Only a few people can take guns. Gutsy people can throw bombs.” Providing seeds mirrors the same idea. It is so small but is is accessible to everyone. And so it is with this same idea that Navdanya is making seeds available to all farmers in India. They are creating a resistance by simply telling Monsanto we don’t need or want you interfering with our industry, ecology, and health.

     Now there are over 111 seed banks in India! Navdanya has not stopped there. Navdanya also has an organic farm called  Bija Vidyapeeth. Located north of Delhi in Dehra Duhn. This organic farm spreads out over 45 acres. When the farm was opened there were two main initiatives: one, to prevent the disappearance of seed diversity in India. Two, to “demonstrate to Indian agriculturalists tangible proof of the superiority of organic and bio-diverse agriculture, compared to chemical farming.” Navdanya has conserved more than 5000 crop varieties; 3000 varieties of rice, 150 of wheat, 150 of kidney beans, 15 of millets and some varieties of pulses, vegetable, and medicinal plants.

    In addition to all of this Navdanya releases numerous publications on GMO’s and seed saving. Two of the most recent are “The GMO Emperor Has No Clothes-A Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs”, which is available on their website. As well as a new book called “Seed Freedom”. Navdanya also hosts volunteers at Bija Vidyapeeth as well as internships at the office of Navdanya. I must confess that after learning about Navdanya and the work that they do I have looked into volunteering at Bija Vidyapeeth to learn more about organic farming and the movement, as well as to be able to contribute my efforts and labour to the farm and the local farmers.

      I am amazed at what Navdanya has, and is, offering the nation of India. Through the seed banks, publications, collaborations, and organic farm initiative Navdanya's efforts are crucial in teerms of changing  the face of organic farming in India and changing the future of our food! Thank you Navdanya. You are an inspiration :)

Navdanya:
http://www.navdanya.org/