Folk Rice and Seed Festival

On May 2-3, 2015, over 150 small and marginalized farmers from West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chattisgarh and Eastern UP participated in Folk Rice and Seed Festival organised at Seva Kendra, Calcutta.

The festival was inaugurated in presence of Sri Sachchidananda, ex- chairman of Municipality; Secretary Maharaj of Bharat Sevashran Sangh; Prof. R.N Basu, Ex. VC of CU; Prof. T.K Bose, Ex Dean of BCKV Agriculture Development officers of WB Gov; 170 farmers, well-known activists, doctors and nutritionists. 

"Through generations these farmers have conserved several hundreds of folk varieties of rice, millet, wheat, maize, etc. Our aim was to provide a platform to these farmers to showcase the forgotten folk seeds of Eastern-India and through consumer awareness bring back their demand", said Angshuman Das, one of the organisers.

The visitors appreciated the efforts of the farmers who are maintaining these treasures of diversity of folk crops and practicing sustainable, organic and ecological farming.