MORANG: Stakeholders have emphasised on establishing at least one community seed bank in each local level in Koshi Province.

The stakeholders underscored on this while speaking in an interaction entitled ‘Community Seed Banks in Koshi Province: Current Status and Need for Expansion’ organized in Biratnagar on Wednesday.

The interaction was organized by the Local Initiative for Biodiversity Research and Development (LI-BIRD) Pokhara, in collaboration with the Directorate of Agriculture Development, Koshi Province, with the Community Seed Bank Association Nepal, Kawasoti, Nawalparasi.

Stakeholders stated that a seed bank is necessary in every local level to conserve local and indigenous seeds.

Pashupati Pokharel, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Koshi Province Government, said the government is working on the preservation of local and indigenous seeds, stressing on the need to promote foods made from local produce by using them as snacks in schools and government offices.

Programme Advisor of the Community Seed Bank Federation Nepal, Pitamber Shrestha, said that seed banks are the basis for current and future food security, nutrition, environment, and agricultural research and development.

He emphasised that the joint efforts of agencies under all three levels of government are essential for the conservation of indigenous and local seeds.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Community Seed Bank Association Nepal, Dilli Paudel, stated that the programme was organised with the aim of exploring the possibilities of including seed conservation in the district under the provincial initiative for the upcoming fiscal year and identifying ways for mainstreaming and expansion of this initiative.

There are four community seed banks in Koshi Province: the Charpate Seed Bank in Morang, Shivganj Community Seed Bank in Jhapa, Tamaphok Community Seed Bank in Sankhuwasabha, and Khadananda Seed Bank in Bhojpur
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