Raghuveer Nandam, a visionary Organic Farmer and Seed Saver at Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, leads the charge in natural farming and seed conservation. Over the last five years, he has championed the revival of traditional agricultural practices while advocating for sustainable farming methods. His innovative initiative, the One Seed Revolution Community Seed Bank, reflects his unwavering commitment to preserving biodiversity. Through this effort, Raghuveer has meticulously conserved over 250 native rice varieties, safeguarding crops endangered by modern farming practices.
His exceptional contributions have earned him well-deserved recognition. In 2023, the President of India honored him with the prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Award, followed by the IARI Innovative Farmer Award in 2024. Additionally, multiple state-level accolades for Best Organic Farmer highlight his groundbreaking approach to sustainable agriculture and his dedication to empowering rural farming communities.
Raghuveer’s influence extends far beyond his fields. He has organized hands-on workshops, equipping farmers with practical knowledge about natural farming techniques. He emphasizes organic solutions such as jeevamrut and beejamrut to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers. These methods not only restore soil health but also boost productivity and enhance crop resilience in the face of climate change.
Looking ahead, Raghuveer envisions a broader reach for his seed bank network. By ensuring access to high-quality indigenous seeds, he aims to foster self-reliance among farmers and promote sustainability at the grassroots level. Furthermore, his One Seed Revolution stands as a beacon of hope, advancing rural empowerment, environmental preservation, and sustainable farming practices.
In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World, Raghuveer delves into his journey of seed conservation and natural farming. He also shares how he ensures indigenous seeds are available to farmers, describes his meticulous methods for maintaining these valuable seeds, and outlines his plans for expanding community farming initiatives to new regions. Here are the highlights of this compelling conversation.
Q: Can you share how your efforts in seed conservation support and promote natural farming practices?
A: For the past five years, I have dedicated myself to natural farming, cultivating crops without chemicals and focusing solely on native varieties. Sadly, these native varieties have all but disappeared as farmers chase high-yielding options that lack nutrition. The reality we face today isn’t just climate change—it’s a climate emergency. Crops are failing even with the best efforts because of unpredictable weather patterns. Farmers, unfortunately, bear the brunt of this crisis more than anyone else.
While organizations and individuals in other sectors continue to receive steady incomes, farmers struggle against the devastating impacts of climate disruptions. This is why we are passionately advocating for native varieties. These crops are naturally climate-resilient, highly nutritious, and vital for ensuring food security.
To support this mission, we established the One Seed Revolution Community Seed Bank. It holds a treasure trove of 250 varieties of paddy, millets, bananas, tubers, and pumpkins. These native crops are not only nutritious but also have a long shelf life, making them essential for farmers’ sustenance and resilience.
This is the work we do: preserving biodiversity, empowering farmers, and addressing the urgent challenges posed by the climate emergency.
Q: How do you facilitate the availability of these seeds to farmers at the grassroots level?
A: First, understand that we operate independently, without support from any NGO or government. We began as a small group of farmers, united by a shared community and purpose. Together, we identify the specific crop varieties we need for the coming year. Whether there are 200 or 250 varieties available, the sheer number is irrelevant if they don’t align with our preferences. Instead, we base our choices on this year’s trends, farmers’ tastes, and their practical needs. Guided by these insights, we grow the required seed varieties accordingly. So far, we haven’t faced significant challenges in accessing the seeds we need.
Q: Currently, it seems your initiative is focused on a small community. Do you have plans to scale it and expand its reach across India?
A: This is a small but powerful example. In this system, our community of farmers gains access to whatever seeds are available. What sets us apart is the core principle of our community: we don’t buy or sell seeds. Instead, we strictly exchange them. If we discover any farmer in our community buying or selling seeds, we immediately disassociate from them.
Treating seeds as a commodity degrades their quality, and we’ve seen this firsthand. Many national and international seed sectors fail to provide high-quality seeds. It’s not about whether the seed is native or hybrid; the fact is, quality seeds are simply unavailable to most farmers. If any farmer resonates with our approach, we are more than willing to help expand this model.
Q: Can you share the process behind developing these 250 seed varieties? What scientific principles or techniques were involved?
A: These are not newly developed seeds; they are native varieties. We traveled across India, gathering them directly from tribal farmers. Thanks to their generosity, we have been able to collect these seeds, not from commercial sectors. These varieties are shared within our community, and now, people are reaching out to us to experiment with them. Two major institutes—IRRI and NRRI—manage vast land areas, have substantial funding, and work with hundreds of farmers. Yet, they show no interest in preserving these varieties. They conduct research, yet it is our community that maintains these seeds. Ironically, they now turn to us, requesting our seeds for their experiments.
Q: What plans do you have that align with the best interests of the country and its people?
A: We are working directly with farmers. In India, many people have introduced large-scale policies, but none have proven effective. As I mentioned earlier, decisions are being made in air-conditioned rooms by those who are disconnected from the reality on the ground.
As for the future, I have no grand plans for India. We are content with the work we are doing at the community level. This model can be replicated, and we are open to offering assistance if needed. However, we are not interested in collaborating with NGOs or other agencies. Our focus is on climate resilience. Climate change is no longer a distant concern; it has become a climate emergency. This year, in the same region, we witnessed both drought and flood affecting the same crop in one season. Such extremes highlight the urgency of the climate crisis. Our varieties are specifically bred to withstand these fluctuations and require minimal inputs from farmers.
In addition, these varieties are highly nutritious. These three aspects—climate resilience, minimal input needs, and nutritional value—are crucial. Currently, ICAR scientists are shifting their focus from yield to developing climate-resilient varieties. They recognize that the yield game is over. However, ICAR is now focused on breeding varieties that can withstand climate extremes. However, despite their efforts, they are not utilizing these varieties. If they were to adopt our seeds, it would undermine their research and, in some cases, cost them their jobs.
