Seed Mothers

The Adivasi communities of Odisha, India, have experienced substantial losses of many natural resources from their area, which are key elements ensuring their food and livelihood security. Many farmers from the Adivasi communities have lost diverse varieties of traditional local crops like millet based mix crops while trying out market seeds. The local resilient crop systems have been destroyed through this process. The male-dominated Adivasi People’s Organizations identified resourceful Adivasi women in the villages and termed them as Seed Mothers. These Seed Mothers were the key to help ORRISSA team to challenge the assumptions of the modern farming orientation and stimulate new learning from the community. This report explains the work done by the Advivasi communities.