"Community Seed Banks for Climate Adaptation"

Summary of the Project:

Climate change has intensified threats to agricultural resilience, food security, and biodiversity in many rural and farming communities. Extreme weather events, prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and increasingly frequent crop failures have placed subsistence farmers—especially smallholder households—at significant risk. Traditional seed varieties, which were once adapted to local conditions, are disappearing due to the rapid introduction of hybrid and commercial seeds, loss of indigenous knowledge, and degradation of natural ecosystems.

This proposal presents an initiative titled “Community Seed Banks for Climate Adaptation.” The project aims to strengthen local resilience by establishing well-managed community seed banks that conserve climate-resilient, traditional, and indigenous seed varieties while enabling farmers to access quality seeds, improve crop diversity, and enhance food security. Through training, community participation, and climate-smart farming practices, the project will empower rural communities to regenerate their agricultural systems, restore biodiversity, and adapt effectively to climate-related hazards.

Background and Problem Statement

Smallholder farmers depend heavily on agriculture for food and income, yet they face increasing constraints due to climate  change. Significant challenges include:

    Loss of Indigenous Seeds

    Traditional crop varieties that are naturally resistant to drought, floods, pests, and diseases are gradually disappearing. This reduces the adaptivecapacity of local farming systems.

    Dependence on Commercial Seeds

    Farmers often rely on expensive commercial seeds that are not suited for unpredictable climatic shifts. These seeds may require high inputs, such as fertilizers and irrigation making them unsustainable for low-income farmers.

Reduced Crop Diversity

    Monocropping and the promotion of uniform seed varieties decrease ecosystem resilience and increase vulnerability to climate shocks.

    Limited Access to Quality Seeds

    Remote communities frequently experience shortages of seeds during planting seasons, resulting in delayed sowing, lower yields, and increased food insecurity.

Weak Seed Management Knowledge

    There is a lack of awareness and Skills related to seed selection, storage, processing, and conservation.

    These challenges demonstrate the urgent need for localized solution that provide farmers with reliable access to diverse, climate-resilient seeds.Community seed banks (CSBs) are a proven method to conserve genetic diversity, strengthen adaptation, and improve farmer autonomy.

Project Goal and Objectives

Overall Goal

To enhance climate resilience and food security for 500 rural  poor and disadvantaged farming communities by establishing and strengthening community seed banks that preserve and provide access to diverse, climate-adapted seed varieties by the end of 2026 in Kurigram,Bangladesh.

Specific Objectives

v  Establish 500 functional community seed banks in targeted villages.

v  Train farmers on seed collection, conservation, multiplication, and climate-smart agriculture with the technical assistance bt the Department of Agriculture Extension, Kurigram,  Bangladesh.

v  Increase access to locally adapted, resilient, and diverse seed varieties.

v  Promote indigenous knowledge and strengthen community-led seed governance.

v  Enhance household food security through improved crop diversity and productivity.

v  Develop a sustainable seed management system owned and operated by the community.

Target Beneficiaries

• Primary Beneficiaries
• Smallholder farmers
• Women farmers Groups
• Indigenous communities
• Youth involved in agriculture
• Vulnerable households affected by climate risks

Secondary Beneficiaries

    Local school and agricultural extension workers

    Community leaders and farmer organizations

    Local food markets and cooperatives

Methodology and Key Activities

The project will take a participatory and inclusive approach to ensure community ownership and long-term  sustainability.

Baseline Needs Assessment:

Establishment of Community Seed Banks:

Collection and Characterization of Seeds:

Seed Multiplication and Quality Control:

Training and Capacity Building:

Establishment of Seed Exchange and Sharing Systems

Promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning:

Expected Outputs

    At least 500 community seed banks established and functional.

    Minimum of 500 climate-adapted seed varieties preserved.

    100 farmers trained in seed conservation and climate-smart agriculture.

    Annual seed exchange fairs conducted in each community.

    A community-based governance structure to manage seed banks.

    Increased crop diversity and seed access across target villages.

Sustainability Strategy: Sustainability will be achieved through:

• Community ownership and governance committees
• Local seed multipliers ensuring continuous supply
• Revenue generation from seed sales or membership fees
• Partnership with agricultural institutions
• Training local trainers for long-term leadership
• Integration of seed banks into existing farmer cooperatives
• The seed banks will serve the community long after project completion.

Risk Management: Key risks and mitigation measures include:

v  Risk 1: Low initial community participation

v  Mitigation: Sensitization meetings, inclusive leadership, and trust building.

v  Risk 2: Poor seed storage conditions

v  Mitigation: Use of proper containers, moisture control, and regular monitoring.

v  Risk 3: Climate shocks during seed multiplication

v  Mitigation: Crop diversification, irrigation support and selecting resilient varieties.

v  Risk 4: Loss of indigenous knowledge

v  Mitigation: Documentation and knowledge-sharing events.

Implementation Timeline

    Months 1: Baseline assessment, community consultations

    Months 2: Organise Farmers training, Seed bank establishment, procurement of materials

    Months 3:  Seed collection

    Months 3 : Seed multiplication, quality control

    Months 4–24: Seed exchange fairs, evaluation, sustainability planning

Estimated Total Budget: 19,30,000 (USD 19,300)

 Appeals:

The project interventions we have been started from early November, 2022 and continued according to project plan. Some activities have been just started and while others activities will also be taken into consideration to implement. Budgetary funding is necessary to implement the programmes. By this time very small amount of funding were arranged through GlobalGiving to meet the operational cost. This project would not have been possible without the kind support and help of donors, friends and any individuals. To support the project fund raising is continued under GlobalGiving and we hope that all the people who are willingly would like to extend their support for the project is highly appreciated. Their generosity will make a huge difference in the lives of many targeted women.