Neelam Dutta, an organic farmer from Assam, has been conserving climate-resilient heirloom seeds which are disappearing owing to modernisation and the relentless march of time.

The farmer had understood that in the face of a changing climate, these heirlooms held the secrets to survival.

“Heirloom seeds, passed down for at least 50 years, are resistant to floods. This is a vital trait in combating food security threats posed by climate change,” he says.

“Sadly, due to the increasing adoption of genetically modified hybrid seeds, farmers in the Northeast are abandoning heirloom varieties. This, coupled with frequent floods, has made agriculture unsustainable in the region,” he adds.

Neelam believes the solution lies in preserving heirloom seeds which serve as an essential resource for farmers striving to adjust to climate change.

“These seeds have their own identity in terms of taste, colour, and shape. They are more resilient than hybrid seeds,” he says.

He further points out that, unlike heirloom varieties, the seed saved from hybrids does not grow true to its type in the next cycle, which only compels farmers to buy new seeds every year.

Backed by the traditional wisdom imparted by his father and the elderly in the village, he went on to promote the cultivation of heirloom seeds in his region.

In the past 15 years, Neelam has conserved over 1,000 heirloom seed varieties of vegetables and rice.

He also runs a company ‘Pabhoi Greens’ to inspire other farmers in Northeast India to adopt similar practices. So far, he has trained at least 24,000 other farmers in seed conservation.

“Every time these farmers grow heirloom seeds, they preserve that diversity and ensure these seeds are available for future generations,” he remarks.