Save our Rice Campaign of Kerala (Thanal- CREAT) in association with Paschim Sridharkati Janakalyan Sangha of Hingulgunj,Jogeshgunj, West Bengal has chosen Agricultural Training Centre, Fulia, Nadia, West Bengal for  organizing a three days Organic Seed Production Workshop for farmers, practitioners, facilitators and producer groups from 20th to 22^nd November 2014.

This was the maiden attempt of its kind in West Bengal.

The workshop was attended by farmers and organisations from 7 states namely-Assam, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal along with resource persons from across the country and participated in classroom sessions and visit the folk rice conservation of the centre
( 300 folk rice varieties) to undergo practical training with regard to rice morphology.More than 40 participants were present in the workshop. 

The main topics were  on-farm conservation and multiplication of folk seed varieties, establishing seed banks, diversity blocks and maintaining genetic purity of seeds, improved agronomic practices for enhancing production, organic farming, promotion of rice based cropping systems.

    Organic Seed Production Workshop  Date: 20-22 November, 2014

    Venue: Agricultural Training Centre: Fulia: Nadia: West Bengal

                                    

   Organized By  
                             

    Govt. of West Bengal                                                Save Our Rice               Paschim Sridharkathi Jana Kalyan Sangha

Agricultural Training Centre                                     Thanal-CREAT                                      Hingalgunj: West Bengal

        Fulia: Nadia: WB                                                        Trivandum         

ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION WORKSHOP

20-22 November 2014

Venue: Agricultural Training Centre, Fulia, Nadia, West Bengal

Organizers: Paschim Sridhar Kati Janakalyan Sangha, Agricultural Training Centre-Fulia and Save our Rice

Programme Schedule

DATE		RESOURCE PERSON
19.11.2014	Arrival at ATC-Fulia
20.11.14
10.30-12.00	Inauguration/Self introduction / Ice break/Expectations
12:00-12:15	Tea Break
12.15 - 1.30	Politics of Seeds need of conservation & production of seeds at farmer level.  Save Our Rice Campaign Introduction	Usha Solapani, Save Our Rice- Thanal, Kerala
1.30 – 2.30	Lunch Break
2.30 -3.30	Concept of seed, self and cross pollinated crops, Seed Mapping and On farm Conservation	Krishna Prasad, Sahaja Samrudha, Bangalore
3:30-4:30	Safeguarding  Seed Saver’s Rights	Jacob Nellithanam, Richaria Campaign, Chattisgarh
4.30 – 5.30	Regional seed mapping and documentation of seed knowledge	Group work
5.30 – 7.00	Tea Break
7.00 – 8.00	Film Show/ Folk Songs
8:00-9:30	Dinner
21.11.14
9:00-11:30	Establishing Rice Diversity Blocks (including farm visit)	Dr Anupam Paul, ATC-Fulia
11:30-11:45	Tea Break
11.45 -1.30	Agronomic practices towards enhanced production in traditional Rice varieties	Sabarmatee Tiki, Sambhav, Odisha
1.30-2:30	Lunch Break
2.30 -3.15	Traditional Rice Varieties Production Systems	Soumik Banerjee, SWALA, Jharkhand
3.15 – 4.00	Promotion of Rice based multi cropping Systems	Allauddin Ahamed, SOR,WB
4.00-4.15	Tea Break
4:15-5:00	Traditional Rice conservation-Farmer experience	Sudam, Rice saver, Odisha
5:00 – 6:00	Traditional seed storage methods	Group work
6:00 – 7.00	Break
7.00 – 8.00	Film Show
8:00-9:30	Dinner
22.11.14
9.00-12.00	Conservation of Vegetable Diversity and vegetable seed production	Deepika Kundaji Auroville
12:00-12:15	Tea Break
12.15-12:45	Establishing Community Seed banks	Bishnu Pada Mridha, PSJKS, WB
12.45-1.30	Building Small scale Seed Business	Praveen Narsighmurthy, Sahaja Seeds, Bangalore
1.30-2:30	Lunch Break
2.30-4.00	Establishing seed savers network and Developing action plan	Group work- Folk Song
4.00-5.00	Conclusion
5:00-5:30	Tea & Departure

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Sibabrata Ghatak,  Deputy Director of Agriculture (Trg), Directorate of Agriculture , Govt of West Bengal, Jessop Building, Kolkata, Mr. G Krishna Prasad of Sahaja Samrudha  of  Bangaloru ,  Ms Sabarmati Tiki, Sambhab of Odisha , Ms Usha Solapani, Thanal of Kerala, Kerala (Save Our Rice Campaign- SOR),Mr Jecob Nellithanam , Richharia Campaign of Chattisgarh , Mr. S Sridharan , Thanal of Kerala addressed the assemblage.

The dignitaries and participants tied the earthen pot containing rice seeds of different states in the symbolic Seed Tree made of old bamboo branch. They were requested to remember the names of the folk rice varieties tied onto the symbolic Seed Tree. It was a wonderful event.

Mr. Jecob Nellithanam who worked with the legendary rice scientist Dr Radhelal  Harelal Richharia offered floral tribute to his picture . We feel proud to organize this event and this was the first such event in West Bengal.  Mr Alauddin Ahmed , SOR,  West Bengal gave the vote of thanks.

Mr. Bishnupada Mridha of Paschim Sridhar Kati jana Kalyan Sangha of Hingalgunj , West Bengal  has taken the major responsibility for making it a success. His team members along with other friends of Pathar Pratima also helped in decorating the dais and Seed Tree. Mr. Arun Ram of Uthnau,  Birbhum and Mr. Arun Das of Richharia Conservation Centre, Burdwan also helped a lot. The DDA (Trg) of ATC - Fulia staff of ATC- Fulia also cooperated a lot for this event.

Dr Anupam Paul of ATC Fulia worked as anchor and facilitator and took the participants to the Biodiversity Conservation farm of the centre where 300 folk rice varieties are growing. He showed the morphological characters of rice. Mr. Samik Banerjee of SWALA , Jharkhand, one of the resources persons  has coordinated the classes. 

Local farmer Mr Pravat Dey showed live demonstration of  Bamboo Rat Trap 

Apart from traditional folk songs, famous Baul singer (a kind of folk singer) Satyanada Das and his partner Ms Hari Dasi sang beautiful songs.

News Paper Reports in Bengali Fortnightly Agricultural Newspapers 

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