Experts decide to establish seed bank for preservation of indigenous crops

HYDERABAD: In a move to preserve the agricultural heritage of Sindh, MH Panhwar Institute of Sindh Studies, Jamshoro, has announced establishment of a seed bank dedicated to the conservation of indigenous seeds of staple foods.

This decision was made during a meeting held at the institute where the idea of establishing a seed bank was floated and discussed in detail. The initiative aims to collect, conserve and distribute traditional and indigenous crop varieties in Sindh, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

The key resolutions passed during the meeting included the establishment of a seed bank, which would be a dedicated facility created at the institute to conserve indigenous seeds of staple crops. The participants also agreed to identify progressive farmers and landowners willing to volunteer land for cultivating indigenous crop varieties.

It was decided that a comprehensive survey would be conducted to document indigenous seeds and their places of origin, and all the collected seed varieties would be catalogued, and their DNA, nutritional value and chemical composition analysed in collaboration with relevant laboratories. All the gathered data would be systematically recorded for future reference.

Several individuals and organisations pledged their support for the initiative. Mir Amanullah Talpur volunteered to provide numerous indigenous seed varieties he has preserved and offered 10 acres of his farmland for cultivation.

Muzamil Farooque from the Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam promised to contribute at least five varieties of indigenous crops. Ghulam Sarwar Panhwar also offered his farmland to support the conservation efforts. The meeting was chaired by Prof Dr Wazir Ali Baloch and attended by the institute’s chairman Sani Hussain Panhwar and others.