ICRISAT, established in 1972, has the Rajendra S Paroda gene bank which preserves the seeds of 11 crops collected from across the world. This is essential for food security, writes Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics based in Hyderabad is a global organization which conducts agricultural research in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Popularly known as ICRISAT, it was established in 1972. It has the Rajendra S Paroda Genebank or seed bank which preserves the seeds of 11 crops collected from across the world.
Seed preservation promotes biodiversity in the face of threat due to a changing climate. In the case of sorghum, the gene bank has 42,799 accessions or varieties collected from 92 countries. The sorghum panicles kept in wooden boxes with glass covers showcase amazing diversity. These have been collected mainly from African countries.
At ICRISAT, the seeds which have been conserved are high yielding and resistant to pests and diseases. Even farmers can take these if they want. The gene bank is over 40 years old. If needed, seeds can be conserved for 100 years too.
“We conserve the seeds of many crops in advance at the gene bank. This is essential for nutritional as well as food security,” said Ovais Peerzada, seed laboratory manager at the ICRISAT genebank.
Among the seeds of 11 crops conserved are sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, finger millet, foxtail millet, little millet, kodo millet, proso millet and barnyard millet. Recently, ICRISAT carried out safety duplication of its seeds by sending some of the materials to another gene bank in the United States.
“When farmers get new seed varieties in the market, they may forget traditional ones available earlier. So, the genebank stores seeds as a precaution so that these do not disappear with time,” Peerzada added. Farmers also store seeds at the community level in villages but it is not scientifically carried out. Seed varieties also make crop reintroductions possible in future when some varieties may outperform others.
Arhar, the source of protein
Among pulses, the genebank has arhar or pigeon pea collection with 13,787 varieties collected from across the world showcasing a wide range in the shapes and sizes of pods. In chickpeas, which was introduced in India from outside, there are over 20,000 accessions. In groundnut, which is also a leguminous crop, there are more than 15,896 varieties. Leguminous crops provide nitrogen to the soil. The groundnut collection is mostly from South American countries like Bolivia and Peru.
