you know I’m going to talk today about a guild that has existed for ten thousand
guild that has existed for ten thousand
guild that has existed for ten thousand years making it the oldest human guild
years making it the oldest human guild
years making it the oldest human guild in the history of humanity for ten
in the history of humanity for ten
in the history of humanity for ten thousand years the members of this guild
thousand years the members of this guild
thousand years the members of this guild worked relentlessly passionately
worked relentlessly passionately
worked relentlessly passionately they worked to give us a better life and
they worked to give us a better life and
they worked to give us a better life and just in the past 50 years it was a very
just in the past 50 years it was a very
just in the past 50 years it was a very understated guild it never came on the
understated guild it never came on the
understated guild it never came on the headlines it was never in the media but
headlines it was never in the media but
headlines it was never in the media but they just worked quietly for thousands
they just worked quietly for thousands
they just worked quietly for thousands of years and just in the past 50 years
of years and just in the past 50 years
of years and just in the past 50 years that guild has just about died out there
that guild has just about died out there
that guild has just about died out there are so few of us left that you can
are so few of us left that you can
are so few of us left that you can literally count us on your fingertips
literally count us on your fingertips
literally count us on your fingertips I’m talking about the guild of the seed
I’m talking about the guild of the seed
I’m talking about the guild of the seed keepers and it’s important it’s
keepers and it’s important it’s
keepers and it’s important it’s imperative that we understand why this
imperative that we understand why this
imperative that we understand why this has happened a guild that did its work
has happened a guild that did its work
has happened a guild that did its work so beautifully flourished for 10,000
so beautifully flourished for 10,000
so beautifully flourished for 10,000 years in the last 50 years it’s gone
years in the last 50 years it’s gone
years in the last 50 years it’s gone away it’s gone and we don’t even know
away it’s gone and we don’t even know
away it’s gone and we don’t even know about it I mean this is the age of big
about it I mean this is the age of big
about it I mean this is the age of big data the cloud computing and deep dive
data the cloud computing and deep dive
data the cloud computing and deep dive how did we miss this so today’s talk
how did we miss this so today’s talk
how did we miss this so today’s talk focuses and it’s a tribute to the golden
focuses and it’s a tribute to the golden
focuses and it’s a tribute to the golden era of seed keepers it’s also a wake-up
era of seed keepers it’s also a wake-up
era of seed keepers it’s also a wake-up call for us why we should revive this
call for us why we should revive this
call for us why we should revive this why you should become a part of this so
why you should become a part of this so
why you should become a part of this so to understand why this guild was so
to understand why this guild was so
to understand why this guild was so important to us we need to understand
important to us we need to understand
important to us we need to understand where we are today you know if I go to
where we are today you know if I go to
where we are today you know if I go to the vegetable market today to buy
the vegetable market today to buy
the vegetable market today to buy vegetables the list would read something
vegetables the list would read something
vegetables the list would read something like this a kilo of cabbage a kilo of
like this a kilo of cabbage a kilo of
like this a kilo of cabbage a kilo of cauliflower two kilos of tomato blah
cauliflower two kilos of tomato blah
cauliflower two kilos of tomato blah blah because the default mode today is
blah because the default mode today is
blah because the default mode today is for a variety of vegetable whether it’s
for a variety of vegetable whether it’s
for a variety of vegetable whether it’s cabbage tomato cauliflower whatever
cabbage tomato cauliflower whatever
cabbage tomato cauliflower whatever there will be one variety in the one
there will be one variety in the one
there will be one variety in the one type of vegetable in the market
type of vegetable in the market
type of vegetable in the market cauliflower means one one type of
cauliflower means one one type of
cauliflower means one one type of cauliflower cabbage means one type of
cauliflower cabbage means one type of
cauliflower cabbage means one type of cabbage so that’s the before so by and
cabbage so that’s the before so by and
cabbage so that’s the before so by and large if you go and see four colors of
large if you go and see four colors of
large if you go and see four colors of capsicum on the shelf that’s an
capsicum on the shelf that’s an
capsicum on the shelf that’s an exception to the rule but just look at
exception to the rule but just look at
exception to the rule but just look at this slide it was published in the July
this slide it was published in the July
this slide it was published in the July edition of 2011 in the National
edition of 2011 in the National
edition of 2011 in the National Geographic magazine and it succinctly
Geographic magazine and it succinctly
Geographic magazine and it succinctly captures a research that was done by the
captures a research that was done by the
captures a research that was done by the National Center for genetic resources
National Center for genetic resources
National Center for genetic resources preservation in the US
preservation in the US
preservation in the US who did a survey this was done in 1983
who did a survey this was done in 1983
who did a survey this was done in 1983 who did a survey of number of types of
who did a survey of number of types of
who did a survey of number of types of vegetables that were available in 1983
vegetables that were available in 1983
vegetables that were available in 1983 for 10 common vegetables and compared it
for 10 common vegetables and compared it
for 10 common vegetables and compared it with what was there in 1903 that was
with what was there in 1903 that was
with what was there in 1903 that was eight years before that time what was
eight years before that time what was
eight years before that time what was the variety that was available and in
the variety that was available and in
the variety that was available and in 1983 what was available
1983 what was available
1983 what was available the shocking finding was that 93% of the
the shocking finding was that 93% of the
the shocking finding was that 93% of the biodiversity of the vegetables was lost
biodiversity of the vegetables was lost
biodiversity of the vegetables was lost in 80 years we lost 90 percent the fact
in 80 years we lost 90 percent the fact
in 80 years we lost 90 percent the fact of the matter is like the theme of
of the matter is like the theme of
of the matter is like the theme of today’s TED talk against all odds can we
today’s TED talk against all odds can we
today’s TED talk against all odds can we make a change and that was the question
make a change and that was the question
make a change and that was the question that was there in my mind in the 70s
that was there in my mind in the 70s
that was there in my mind in the 70s when I was doing my doctoral studies in
when I was doing my doctoral studies in
when I was doing my doctoral studies in agriculture I belong to the lineage of
agriculture I belong to the lineage of
agriculture I belong to the lineage of people like dr. Norman Borlaug dr. MS
people like dr. Norman Borlaug dr. MS
people like dr. Norman Borlaug dr. MS Swaminathan who ushered in the green
Swaminathan who ushered in the green
Swaminathan who ushered in the green revolution into this country we were the
revolution into this country we were the
revolution into this country we were the ones who championed the cause of
ones who championed the cause of
ones who championed the cause of industrial agriculture we told the
industrial agriculture we told the
industrial agriculture we told the farmers to adopt chemical agriculture we
farmers to adopt chemical agriculture we
farmers to adopt chemical agriculture we told them to use b.a.p urea pesticides
told them to use b.a.p urea pesticides
told them to use b.a.p urea pesticides and we were the ones who champion the
and we were the ones who champion the
and we were the ones who champion the cause of using hybrid seeds at that time
cause of using hybrid seeds at that time
cause of using hybrid seeds at that time to us the agriculture scientists of my
to us the agriculture scientists of my
to us the agriculture scientists of my time
time
time our dictate was to create national food
our dictate was to create national food
our dictate was to create national food security that is what was our goal to
security that is what was our goal to
security that is what was our goal to build to give due credit I think we
build to give due credit I think we
build to give due credit I think we achieved that but there was a small
achieved that but there was a small
achieved that but there was a small voice in me that kept asking me are we
voice in me that kept asking me are we
voice in me that kept asking me are we doing the right thing
doing the right thing
doing the right thing avi is this model that you are
avi is this model that you are
avi is this model that you are propagating is that a sustainable model
propagating is that a sustainable model
propagating is that a sustainable model for future agriculture this voice
for future agriculture this voice
for future agriculture this voice wouldn’t go away it just kept getting
wouldn’t go away it just kept getting
wouldn’t go away it just kept getting louder and louder and one day I decided
louder and louder and one day I decided
louder and louder and one day I decided I said okay
I said okay
I said okay to hell with this I’m gonna change my
to hell with this I’m gonna change my
to hell with this I’m gonna change my field of study I’ve changed my field of
field of study I’ve changed my field of
field of study I’ve changed my field of study and then for the rest of my
study and then for the rest of my
study and then for the rest of my profession I practiced landscape
profession I practiced landscape
profession I practiced landscape architecture so I went away from my
architecture so I went away from my
architecture so I went away from my original qualification now the one
original qualification now the one
original qualification now the one beautiful aspect about being a landscape
beautiful aspect about being a landscape
beautiful aspect about being a landscape architect based outside the country was
architect based outside the country was
architect based outside the country was that I had an opportunity to reach out
that I had an opportunity to reach out
that I had an opportunity to reach out to very remote parts of the world and
to very remote parts of the world and
to very remote parts of the world and during my travels I used to always go
during my travels I used to always go
during my travels I used to always go and meet seed keepers the older
and meet seed keepers the older
and meet seed keepers the older generation of farmers I used to go and
generation of farmers I used to go and
generation of farmers I used to go and meet them talk to them ask them what
meet them talk to them ask them what
meet them talk to them ask them what they used to grow in their days I
they used to grow in their days I
they used to grow in their days I traveled to almost all the remote parts
traveled to almost all the remote parts
traveled to almost all the remote parts of India many other countries and
of India many other countries and
of India many other countries and because that seed keeping was still in
because that seed keeping was still in
because that seed keeping was still in their DNA to my amazement I found that
their DNA to my amazement I found that
their DNA to my amazement I found that they’d still have preserved some seeds
they’d still have preserved some seeds
they’d still have preserved some seeds like this particular brinjal is a
like this particular brinjal is a
like this particular brinjal is a brinjal that was so common in Bangladesh
brinjal that was so common in Bangladesh
brinjal that was so common in Bangladesh just about 20 years ago today he will
just about 20 years ago today he will
just about 20 years ago today he will not find it anywhere in Bangladesh I had
not find it anywhere in Bangladesh I had
not find it anywhere in Bangladesh I had visited a old farmer in the border state
visited a old farmer in the border state
visited a old farmer in the border state of Puglia and West Bengal and when I was
of Puglia and West Bengal and when I was
of Puglia and West Bengal and when I was talking to him he shared with me a old
talking to him he shared with me a old
talking to him he shared with me a old dried-up piece which still had few seeds
dried-up piece which still had few seeds
dried-up piece which still had few seeds from it so I went I I kept collecting
from it so I went I I kept collecting
from it so I went I I kept collecting seeds and in that I used to share it
seeds and in that I used to share it
seeds and in that I used to share it with other seed keepers using common
with other seed keepers using common
with other seed keepers using common platforms with dedicated like-minded
platforms with dedicated like-minded
platforms with dedicated like-minded seed keepers around the world and
seed keepers around the world and
seed keepers around the world and whatever biodiversity that we were able
whatever biodiversity that we were able
whatever biodiversity that we were able to salvage I collected
to salvage I collected
to salvage I collected that and in 2011 when I came back I had
that and in 2011 when I came back I had
that and in 2011 when I came back I had the privilege of doing voluntary work
the privilege of doing voluntary work
the privilege of doing voluntary work with the agriculture wing of the Art of
with the agriculture wing of the Art of
with the agriculture wing of the Art of Living Foundation that gave me access to
Living Foundation that gave me access to
Living Foundation that gave me access to our two million farmers across the
our two million farmers across the
our two million farmers across the country to promote chemical-free farming
country to promote chemical-free farming
country to promote chemical-free farming and when I started to work with these
and when I started to work with these
and when I started to work with these farmers I realized how bad the situation
farmers I realized how bad the situation
farmers I realized how bad the situation of indigenous seeds was in the country
of indigenous seeds was in the country
of indigenous seeds was in the country and that’s when I decided to become a
and that’s when I decided to become a
and that’s when I decided to become a full-time seed keeper I realized that I
full-time seed keeper I realized that I
full-time seed keeper I realized that I had with me
had with me
had with me about five hundred and forty varieties
about five hundred and forty varieties
about five hundred and forty varieties of indigenous seeds and in the past six
of indigenous seeds and in the past six
of indigenous seeds and in the past six years I tested them for genetic
years I tested them for genetic
years I tested them for genetic stability environmental suitability and
stability environmental suitability and
stability environmental suitability and purity viability and in the past six
purity viability and in the past six
purity viability and in the past six years I’ve managed to actually stabilize
years I’ve managed to actually stabilize
years I’ve managed to actually stabilize multiply and share a hundred and forty
multiply and share a hundred and forty
multiply and share a hundred and forty two varieties of vegetable seeds with
two varieties of vegetable seeds with
two varieties of vegetable seeds with friends farmers and urban gardeners such
friends farmers and urban gardeners such
friends farmers and urban gardeners such as you if I show you some of the let me
as you if I show you some of the let me
as you if I show you some of the let me first show you some of the pictures now
first show you some of the pictures now
first show you some of the pictures now these are the kind of beans that you
these are the kind of beans that you
these are the kind of beans that you would find in hariyali farms just
would find in hariyali farms just
would find in hariyali farms just wrangler south just see the variety i
wrangler south just see the variety i
wrangler south just see the variety i mean if you if you wanted even thought
mean if you if you wanted even thought
mean if you if you wanted even thought of being a vegetarian a variety like
of being a vegetarian a variety like
of being a vegetarian a variety like this will get your juices trickling just
this will get your juices trickling just
this will get your juices trickling just look at these beautiful i’m on these
look at these beautiful i’m on these
look at these beautiful i’m on these capsicums of beauty i mean they’re just
capsicums of beauty i mean they’re just
capsicums of beauty i mean they’re just so beautiful this one I will hold it
so beautiful this one I will hold it
so beautiful this one I will hold it just by the start because it’s the
just by the start because it’s the
just by the start because it’s the world’s spiciest naturally occurring
world’s spiciest naturally occurring
world’s spiciest naturally occurring pepper this I got this from the from our
pepper this I got this from the from our
pepper this I got this from the from our natural in the Northeast the ordinary
natural in the Northeast the ordinary
natural in the Northeast the ordinary chili in the market that’s about 17,000
chili in the market that’s about 17,000
chili in the market that’s about 17,000 Scoville units that’s degree of heat
Scoville units that’s degree of heat
Scoville units that’s degree of heat this one is a hundred and seventy five
this one is a hundred and seventy five
this one is a hundred and seventy five thousand one lakh 75 thousand Scoville
thousand one lakh 75 thousand Scoville
thousand one lakh 75 thousand Scoville units so if I touched it with my hand
units so if I touched it with my hand
units so if I touched it with my hand after some time it’ll burn my hand you
after some time it’ll burn my hand you
after some time it’ll burn my hand you just look at these Tomatoes they look
just look at these Tomatoes they look
just look at these Tomatoes they look like grapes though
like grapes though
like grapes though they yeah you look at these peppers such
they yeah you look at these peppers such
they yeah you look at these peppers such beautiful peppers yeah you look at I
beautiful peppers yeah you look at I
beautiful peppers yeah you look at I mean there’s the end of the season
mean there’s the end of the season
mean there’s the end of the season bindis have you seen a bindi that’s that
bindis have you seen a bindi that’s that
bindis have you seen a bindi that’s that beautiful do you see the colors of corn
beautiful do you see the colors of corn
beautiful do you see the colors of corn we have many many more colors you see
we have many many more colors you see
we have many many more colors you see these cucumbers the one on the bottom
these cucumbers the one on the bottom
these cucumbers the one on the bottom left this was called Osaka till about
left this was called Osaka till about
left this was called Osaka till about 30-40 years ago it was very freely
30-40 years ago it was very freely
30-40 years ago it was very freely available in North Karnataka Andhra
available in North Karnataka Andhra
available in North Karnataka Andhra drier parts of Andhra it is a crunchy
drier parts of Andhra it is a crunchy
drier parts of Andhra it is a crunchy apple shaped cucumber with a lemon
apple shaped cucumber with a lemon
apple shaped cucumber with a lemon flavor you have the one next to that and
flavor you have the one next to that and
flavor you have the one next to that and the bottom row the middle bottom row
the bottom row the middle bottom row
the bottom row the middle bottom row this they call al Luka curry in the
this they call al Luka curry in the
this they call al Luka curry in the Northeast northeastern states it’s a
Northeast northeastern states it’s a
Northeast northeastern states it’s a cucumber which has got a very subtle
cucumber which has got a very subtle
cucumber which has got a very subtle flavor you have the other one which is
flavor you have the other one which is
flavor you have the other one which is on the right hand top corner this was
on the right hand top corner this was
on the right hand top corner this was called punakha curry it was very famous
called punakha curry it was very famous
called punakha curry it was very famous these were very famous to be you will
these were very famous to be you will
these were very famous to be you will not find these varieties in the market
not find these varieties in the market
not find these varieties in the market and the beauty is if you just have one
and the beauty is if you just have one
and the beauty is if you just have one seed you can make a thousand seeds and
seed you can make a thousand seeds and
seed you can make a thousand seeds and share it with your friends in fact let
share it with your friends in fact let
share it with your friends in fact let me just quickly show you some one just
me just quickly show you some one just
me just quickly show you some one just look at the variety of tomatoes those
look at the variety of tomatoes those
look at the variety of tomatoes those will be different kind of bindis purple
will be different kind of bindis purple
will be different kind of bindis purple bindis pink bindis white bindis all
bindis pink bindis white bindis all
bindis pink bindis white bindis all kinds of bindis look at the kinds of
kinds of bindis look at the kinds of
kinds of bindis look at the kinds of squashes you want to have leaf in your
squashes you want to have leaf in your
squashes you want to have leaf in your diet then you have we have got more than
diet then you have we have got more than
diet then you have we have got more than 23 varieties of lettuces and mustards
23 varieties of lettuces and mustards
23 varieties of lettuces and mustards all indigenous they see farmers also use
all indigenous they see farmers also use
all indigenous they see farmers also use this as a high revenue income stream in
this as a high revenue income stream in
this as a high revenue income stream in fact I have one farmer right here Varun
fact I have one farmer right here Varun
fact I have one farmer right here Varun very you yeah this techy boy took a
very you yeah this techy boy took a
very you yeah this techy boy took a sabbatical from his IOT space for two
sabbatical from his IOT space for two
sabbatical from his IOT space for two years to do hands-on Manini McGavock
years to do hands-on Manini McGavock
years to do hands-on Manini McGavock hardcore agriculture and he sold us he
hardcore agriculture and he sold us he
hardcore agriculture and he sold us he sold these Tomatoes at 300 rupees a kilo
sold these Tomatoes at 300 rupees a kilo
sold these Tomatoes at 300 rupees a kilo because he was a man who knew how to
because he was a man who knew how to
because he was a man who knew how to market it
market it
market it he had a storyboard and he gave the
he had a storyboard and he gave the
he had a storyboard and he gave the fullest nine yards spiel and he had
fullest nine yards spiel and he had
fullest nine yards spiel and he had people lapping it out of his hand at
people lapping it out of his hand at
people lapping it out of his hand at three hundred rupees a kilo a farmer if
three hundred rupees a kilo a farmer if
three hundred rupees a kilo a farmer if he gets twenty rupees
he gets twenty rupees
he gets twenty rupees kilo in the best of times he will
kilo in the best of times he will
kilo in the best of times he will celebrate and you know you can make a
celebrate and you know you can make a
celebrate and you know you can make a business model like that now the urban
business model like that now the urban
business model like that now the urban enthusiasts were what another species
enthusiasts were what another species
enthusiasts were what another species altogether women grew especially women
altogether women grew especially women
altogether women grew especially women home gardeners they grew this vegetables
home gardeners they grew this vegetables
home gardeners they grew this vegetables exotic vegetables and they found that it
exotic vegetables and they found that it
exotic vegetables and they found that it had a huge social media potential women
had a huge social media potential women
had a huge social media potential women started posting pictures of this is a
started posting pictures of this is a
started posting pictures of this is a Japanese Comeau
Japanese Comeau
Japanese Comeau brinjal one of the tastiest brinjals
brinjal one of the tastiest brinjals
brinjal one of the tastiest brinjals that you can find imagine 1,000 likes on
that you can find imagine 1,000 likes on
that you can find imagine 1,000 likes on Facebook that’s what you heard that he
Facebook that’s what you heard that he
Facebook that’s what you heard that he will put it on Twitter and you put it on
will put it on Twitter and you put it on
will put it on Twitter and you put it on Instagram I have had people hold Kitty
Instagram I have had people hold Kitty
Instagram I have had people hold Kitty parties just for the lady of the house
parties just for the lady of the house
parties just for the lady of the house to display these wonderful vegetables
to display these wonderful vegetables
to display these wonderful vegetables which she has grown at home but beneath
which she has grown at home but beneath
which she has grown at home but beneath all that take away that Twitter the
all that take away that Twitter the
all that take away that Twitter the Instagram the the Flickr and whatever
Instagram the the Flickr and whatever
Instagram the the Flickr and whatever there is a very deep service that the
there is a very deep service that the
there is a very deep service that the urban population is doing because they
urban population is doing because they
urban population is doing because they are ensuring somewhere on this planet
are ensuring somewhere on this planet
are ensuring somewhere on this planet these varieties will not go extinct we
these varieties will not go extinct we
these varieties will not go extinct we can’t do about the 540 we can’t do
can’t do about the 540 we can’t do
can’t do about the 540 we can’t do anything about the 544 cabbages that
anything about the 544 cabbages that
anything about the 544 cabbages that went away but at least we can save these
went away but at least we can save these
went away but at least we can save these so it is important that you and I get
so it is important that you and I get
so it is important that you and I get together and we somehow create another
together and we somehow create another
together and we somehow create another new age of the seed keepers and we make
new age of the seed keepers and we make
new age of the seed keepers and we make a statement that seeds belong to all
a statement that seeds belong to all
a statement that seeds belong to all mankind no company no individual can
mankind no company no individual can
mankind no company no individual can have a proprietary right on them so I
have a proprietary right on them so I
have a proprietary right on them so I urge you just because you can experience
urge you just because you can experience
urge you just because you can experience that wonderful consciousness of the seed
that wonderful consciousness of the seed
that wonderful consciousness of the seed keepers let’s give each other a
keepers let’s give each other a
keepers let’s give each other a wonderful round of applause thank you
”
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