Amreto Sarkar from Rajshahi
The first seed library was established in 2019 at Taland Anand Mohan High School in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi through the facilitation of BARCIK and hard work of community people. The main objective of establishing the library was to spread knowledge about agriculture among the new generation and to instill the learning among the students regarding the importance and significance of local varieties seeds. However, due to Covid-19 there have been no activities performed to make newly established seed library alive and functioning. The Seed Library could not play a role due to the absence of students. But few months back public life has returned to normal and schools are opened. The education curriculum is running well and this is the very times for students to enrich their own knowledge with regular information from the Seed Library.
From this backdrop Taland Anand Mohan High School and BARCIK organized a joint venture named ‘local variety seed festival’ with the participation of 8th, 9th and 10th classes students. These students bring only local varieties of seeds from their homes and participate in the festival. A total of 120 students from three classes participated in the festival and presented the seeds they brought from their perspective houses. However, Amrit Sutradhar, a student of 7th class, got 1st place by presenting 83 seeds of rice, vegetables, fruits, forest and medicinal plants. Sanjida khatu stood second presenting 80 seeds and Sahanur Zaman got third place by presenting 77 local varieties of seeds.
In this regard, Amrit Sutradhar said, “Every seed is our resource, we will protect it. I can learn about local seeds by visiting the Seed Library.’ Md. Altaf Hossain, Headmaster of the school said, ‘I hope that the new generation will benefit from the Seed Library and play a role in conserving the local seeds in the future.’
Translated by Silvanus Lamin