Seed Scarcity & Deforestation

My name is Sabita Pradhan. My village is Ghosaguda. The block is Tikabali. In earlier times, we used to cultivate in the forests. And we used to cultivate millets, corn, black gram, and horse gram. We used to cultivate all those. Fertilizer was not even needed there. And even if we want to cultivate now, we are not getting seeds. That's why we are requesting the government that if they provide us with seeds, we will be able to cultivate and sustain ourselves.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Chandrika Pradhan. My village is Panga Bidungia, block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to keep seeds in pots. We kept them because, in the olden days, we didn't use fertilizer. Nowadays, we are using fertilizer. That's why we can't keep our seeds for many days. We want to return to the previous state.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

A second crop does not grow here due to water problems, which is rain-fed cultivation. We ourselves collect and store the old seeds.

— Padmini Bhoi

Yes, we save our traditional seeds, but now the seeds have run out.

— Kachala Choudhary

This time, we are not receiving seeds from the agriculture department, which is a problem. We need to get some seeds from the agriculture department.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

We cultivate the seeds that we ourselves have saved and kept. And sometimes, the seeds we get from the government, they turn out to be infertile seeds, as a result, they don't even sprout. And consequently, we won't cultivate, [and we just] get the [negative] result. This is a big problem.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Sabjan Mitra Pradhan. My village is Dibaoala. My Panchayat is Godimunda, and my Block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to cultivate and live off queer, died, and mandia (millet). In today's time, we don't get those seeds. That's why we can't even cultivate. If we get seeds from the old times, we can cultivate and live.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Jayanti Pradhan. My village is Brenguda. The Panchayat is Badamunda. The block is Tikabali. In the old days, we used to cultivate millet, sorghum, and maize without fertilizer, and our health was not particularly bad. Now, we don't even get those seeds. And what is being cultivated, that requires fertilizer. That's why we are living with poor health.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Mutiy Pradhan. My Gram Panchayat is Pikorodi. My Block is Tikabali. My District is Kandhamal. Our mothers used to store seeds in the olden days. They would keep seeds in pots near the fire in 'Putra Jakore'. Nothing would happen to them. Today, in today's date, farming is done with fertilizer and pesticides, which is why this year, the seeds cannot last even for a year. That's why we want to live like before.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

There is a borewell problem in our village. Due to the unavailability of water easily in the fields, we are unable to grow a second crop.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

We have a lack of irrigation resources, due to which we cultivate crops every year using traditional methods and traditional seeds, and even today we have old traditional seeds available.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

My name is Jarunal Pradhan, and my village is Piparodi. And the GP (Gram Panchayat) is Piparodi block, Tikabali. In the past, we used to clear the forest there and plant millet, ragi, and corn. But today, we are not able to get those seeds. That's why we are requesting the government for seeds.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

Earlier, we used to keep seeds in earthen pots with neem leaves, but now those pots are not available. Their traditional profession is slowly coming to an end, and we are also forced to move towards modernity.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

My name is Ashalata Pradhan. My village is Pikorodi, and the panchayat is Pikorodi, the block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to cultivate everything like corn, paddy, and all with only natural methods (without chemical fertilizers) and would eat it, and we didn't get any diseases. Now we are not getting these seeds, that's why we are not cultivating. Our people are suffering from many diseases. And if the government gives us seeds, we will be happy and able to cultivate.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

We have run out of old seeds.

— Kachala Choudhary

Due to the lack of soil moisture in our village, we are facing difficulty in cultivating a second crop.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

My name is Mohasti Pradhan. Village Bhikkarodi, Block Tikabali. Earlier, we used to cultivate Ragi, Guruji (a type of crop), Coir (a type of crop, possibly referring to a specific plant or practice), and Maize. In this area, we did not use fertilizer. That's why we were not getting sick (from crop diseases). Now, in today's time, as we are using fertilizer everywhere, we are suffering from diseases and are also unable to get these seeds. That is why we are requesting the government. Thank you.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

It seems Kuntula Pada village is Kutrabali. In Delhi, there is also Titrabali. In the past, we used to plant seeds like paddy, millet, maize, etc., in the hills. And no fertilizer was used in this cycle. That's why our health was good. And now we are unable to get these seeds. Therefore, we request the government. If you provide us with seeds, we will be able to cultivate. Thank you.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Sukanti Pradhan. My village is Lambakupa. GP is Pikorodi. Block is Tikabali. District is Kandhamal. In our rural areas, the main food items that were cultivated, such as ragi, millet, maize, black gram, and green gram, did not require fertilizer. That's why our ancestors lived for a long time. Currently, because we are not cultivating our traditional food seeds, many kinds of diseases are occurring. So, if we can get traditional food and seeds from the government, then we can return to our previous state.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Sanjukta Digal. My village is Kamba Naju, GP is Pikarudi, Block is Tikabali. Earlier, we used to get all these things like Mandia, Deddy, Arka, Chana, Makka. And nowadays, we don't get seeds. And our body, our body is also getting very bad. Because now we are only eating processed food. That's why, if we get the old traditional seeds, we want to cultivate and keep our body healthy.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Kanchana Pradhan, my village is Renguda, block is Tikabali. The Panchayat is Kuikorodi. In the olden days, we used to eat maize, millet, jona (a type of grain), and chickpeas. But nowadays, that seed is not available, nor do we get it. That's why our son gave us the seeds, and we cultivated them.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

This time, the price of seeds from the agriculture department is very high, so we are unable to take seeds from the agriculture department. Therefore, we want the government to reduce the price of seeds so that we can grow another crop.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh

Our traditional seeds are exhausted, the old seeds are no longer available.

— Kachala Choudhary

My name is Naresh Pradhan, from Dalabali village, Jiridikia Gram Panchayat, K. Nuagaon Block, Kandhamal District. Currently, due to a shortage of seeds and lack of irrigation, we are unable to cultivate a second crop. Therefore, please provide us with seeds for cultivating a second crop.

— Rajib Pradhan · Sarangada, Kandhamal, Odisha

Earlier, we used to store our grains in traditional bins. At that time, the crop used to grow well. But now, if we keep the seeds in steel bins, they are not sprouting. So, we want to return to our old ways.

— Hariparkash kharadi · Katarwas Khurd, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Due to the absence of black soil in the village, we are unable to cultivate other crops.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

We used to plant paddy according to the season in olden times. Now, due to lack of rain, we are cultivating cotton in the fields.

— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha

We have a water shortage even for double cropping. Due to this, we are using our own seed paddy and doing less threshing, as we have sown the paddy in the field.

— Padmini Bhoi · SKIP NO LOCATION

Due to deforestation, we are unable to cultivate properly. It is not raining.

— Karunakar Uthansing · Dhusarigan, Kandhamal, Odisha

We want from the government that if we get free seeds for the Rabi crop, then we can cultivate another crop. Currently, due to our economic situation, we are unable to cultivate another crop.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

We are cultivating moong without water. We are cultivating moong with our own seeds. The government is delaying in providing seeds.

— Kusha Mahakud

Yes, due to the lack of water facilities in our fields, we grow Rabi crops using traditional methods without irrigation and also maintain traditional seeds using traditional methods.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

This time, the agriculture department is not providing Rabi seeds, which is a problem for us, so the government should provide Rabi seeds.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

They do farming without water, but now it has decreased, it doesn't ripen.

— Kachala Choudhary

My name is Nathu Baru Rayat. Village Rangaguda, Panchayat Bamangaon, Block Daringbadi, District Kandhamal. I am a farmer. I wish to cultivate a second crop, but I am unable to get seeds properly. As a result, I am deprived of this second cultivation. If the government...

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

We want to cultivate with zero irrigation, but if we do not preserve good seeds, then our farming will be fine.

— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha

Our farming activities are affected by a lack of water.

— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Adaba, Gajapati, Odisha

We still have traditional seeds like Kodo, Kutki, Maize, Sorghum, Kulthi, Arhar, etc., which we sow using old methods even without irrigation facilities. Even then, our crops ripen.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

The problem is the borewell. We are unable to cultivate a second crop due to lack of water in our fields. So, the problem is the borewell.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

We are unable to cultivate a second crop in our fields due to water problems.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh