Did you know that nearly 70% of farmers in our rural communities no longer own their own seeds?

Instead, they depend on expensive, chemical-laden hybrid seeds. This growing dependency not only deepens farmers' financial burdens but also degrades our soil, contaminates water, and weakens the food system. In the process, we are losing something far more profound — our agricultural sovereignty, our cultural traditions, and the promise of a sustainable future.

The Movement Begins: Beej Utsav 2025

In response to this urgent crisis, VAAGDHARA, in collaboration with Krishi evam Adivasi Swaraj Sangathan and community-based institutions, organized Beej Utsav 2025 — a four-day festival dedicated to seed sovereignty, biodiversity, and ecological wisdom.

This year, Beej Utsav blossomed into a widespread people’s movement, spanning over 60+ events across 250 villages in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. From every corner, farmers, youth, children, and women came together in a vibrant celebration of tradition and transformation.

Festival Highlights

• 6,229+ participants including farmers, women, youth, and children

• 116+ traditional indigenous seed varieties exchanged and showcased

• Hands-on activities: Seed Dialogues, Biodiversity Fairs, Seed Ball Making, and Tree Plantation by children

Beej Utsav 2025 was more than a festival — it was a call to action.

A call to return to our roots, to honor seeds as sacred living heritage passed down through generations — not as commodities, but as the foundation of life, culture, health, and sustainability.

“The seed is the essence of nature — revered in tribal traditions not just as a source of food, but as a symbol of life, wellness, and ecological balance. Saving seeds means saving our future.”

Echoes from the Earth: Voices from the Festival

Traditional Seeds, Empowered Farmers

The participation of over 6,000 farmers and the showcasing of 116+ seed varieties was a powerful statement: indigenous seeds are the key to sustainable, self-reliant farming. These seeds offer:

• Low input, high yield

• Climate resilience

• Freedom from chemical dependency

This is not just about agriculture — it’s about reclaiming our food sovereignty and future.

The Power of Women

When over 5,000 women farmers stepped forward with traditional seeds, they weren’t just holding grains — they were carrying generations of wisdom. Beej Utsav recognized them as custodians of biodiversity and the driving force behind inclusive, resilient farming.

Children of the Soil

Children crafted seed balls, not as a playful activity, but as a symbol of hope and continuity. Under the theme “Save Seeds, Save Environment”, young hands molded the future — preserving desi seeds and protecting nature’s legacy.

Seeds that Tell Stories

From the very first day, the festival showcased 100+ rare traditional seeds from tribal regions like Banswara, Jhabua, Ratlam, and Dahod. These included:

• Traditional Fruits: Aakol, Timru, Haldi Amba

• Grains: Desi maize (Doodh Mogar), varieties of traditional paddy like Kali Kamod, Dheemdi

• Vegetables: Karingda, small bitter gourd, Nari Bhaji (Water Spinach)

These seeds embody tradition, nutrition, and the strength to face climate crises. Tribal communities have always lived in harmony with nature, and these seeds are living symbols of that relationship — each one carrying a story of forest life, soil love, and self-reliance.

Children and elders exchanged knowledge about these seeds, creating a beautiful intergenerational bridge of tradition and innovation. Across villages, seed preservation, exchange, and domestic use are being revived — ensuring that future generations depend not on the market, but on their own biodiversity.

“Seeds are not just food — they are our culture, our ecology, and our commitment to the future.”

What Can You Do?

Beej Utsav 2025 planted more than just seeds — it sowed a collective responsibility. Farmers pledged to preserve traditional seeds, grow traditional crops, and teach their value to future generations.

And now, the baton passes to us.

• Preserve traditional seeds in your community

• Support women-led farming initiatives

• Involve children in ecological learning

• Promote indigenous knowledge and biodiversity

This isn’t just a festival — it’s a movement. A return to nature. A revival of identity. A revolution in our fields.

Join the journey.
Sow the seed of change today — and let it grow for generations to come.

“Beej: Our identity, our tradition, and the foundation of our environment.”
Let’s protect our seeds, our soil, and our soul — together.