"The seed saving technique for each variety differs - during the meet-ups, we share the concepts with newcomers”

As many as 170 farmers in three of Andhra Pradesh's districts will take up sowing diverse seed varieties in half-acre of land each in kharif 2018.

Apart from benefiting farmers, the scheme would also benefit thousands of school going children.

Farmers who have reclaimed native seeds as a commons have reduced costs, increased incomes, become debt-free and are not driven to suicide.

What can be better than organic cotton, hand-spun, hand-woven and hand-dyed in organic colours?

“Whatever I obtain from my field feeds my family, our community; the birds, the insects and the animals who visit my field. Everyone is full!”

She supplies farmers with seedlings of native crops, encouraging them to switch to native varieties.

“The consumption of millets is lower down on the agenda of policy makers as well as the community... need campaigns to popularise millets again."

'... I will support the farmer in my own interest as well as because I think he (she) will stand a better chance'.