Seeds of resilience: In coastal Khulna, women lead a grassroots movement to save indigenous crop varieties
Their seed-saving efforts are deeply connected to a wider movement across Bangladesh: a push toward organic farming, ecological sovereignty and reducing reliance on agrochemicals
In the coastal unions of Batiaghata upazila in Khulna, a quiet revolution is underway. About 200 women from 17 villages are leading a grassroots movement to conserve, exchange and cultivate indigenous seeds — a lifeline for food security, climate resilience and agricultural sovereignty.
Shyamoli Sarkar of Shukdara village in Surkhali union is at the heart of this effort. "I have collected about 80 types of seeds. All of them are seeds of indigenous crops in our region. I plant various types of seeds throughout the year in empty spaces in the courtyard of my house. The fruits and vegetables that are harvested from there are used to feed my family," she explains.
Her yard is a living catalogue — gourds, pumpkins, cucumbers, and greens all grow from locally preserved seed varieties.
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The seed-saving efforts in Khulna are deeply connected to a wider movement across Bangladesh: a push toward organic farming, ecological sovereignty and reducing reliance on agrochemicals.
In Dhaka and beyond, movements like Prakritik Krishi, which translates to 'organic farming', are reviving traditional farming methods. Prakritik Krishi maintains a seed bank of 20 indigenous rice varieties and 70 local vegetable types, rooted in the idea of rejecting pesticide and fertiliser dependence.
These farmers grow not just for profit, but to preserve biodiversity and reject the influence of multinational agrochemical companies.
Across Bangladesh, the fight to preserve native seed varieties has become more urgent than ever. As hybrid, genetically-modified and chemically-dependent crops flood the market, farmers who wish to continue organic or natural agriculture increasingly struggle to access the indigenous seeds that once defined their landscape.
This crisis is not merely ecological — it threatens future food security, climate resilience and farmers' autonomy.
As Delowar Jahan, founder of Prakritik Krishi, puts it, "If you want to continue 'organic farming' or natural agriculture, you need local or native seeds. And currently, our native seeds are on the verge of extinction. We have no other way but to protect and cultivate more and more with these seeds."
But structural barriers make this difficult.
"The government also does not want to conserve our local varieties. If you go to officers in local areas, they will not encourage you to farm with organic seeds. They will hand you over hybrid varieties. And what will the poor farmer do? Everyone needs money, everyone prefers the varieties that yield more crop even if it requires tonnes of fertiliser and pesticides," he said.
Supriyo Paul, general manager of the Seed Division at Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), acknowledges the problem while pointing to new efforts, "We are currently working on a project where we are building seed banks in different places in the country, for example, in Dinajpur to save Kalijeera, Kataribhog rice."
This initiative, titled 'Programme on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition Entrepreneurship and Resilience in Bangladesh' (PARTNER), is financed by the World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), supported by Tk1,454.65 crore in government funding.
Most of the native seeds are already lost. More than 3,000 rice varieties are lost forever. We are trying to save what is left and inspire our farmers to continue organic farming. Otherwise, there will be a time when no one will remember the actual taste of a gourd, or how a deshi kumra smells.
Building a seed bank outside corporate control
Chandana Sarkar, another member of the seed preservation community in Khulna, is outspoken about the pressures faced by farmers. "Due to hybrid seeds, farmers have become hostages in the hands of a few companies," she says.
She accuses these companies of manipulating the market — raising seed prices, pushing more pesticides and fertilisers, and locking farmers into a cycle of dependency.
This is not a small operation. Namita Sarkar, aged 61, runs a seed bank holding 423 varieties, distributing seeds to others and collecting more in return. "For good agricultural yields in this region, we need salinity-resistant local seeds. Nothing can be better than our indigenous varieties."
Lakshmi Rani Mandal of Jharbhanga village also maintains a collection — 248 varieties — and notes that "safe food gardens are being developed in almost every house" thanks to mutual seed exchange.
The women note that local seeds resist pests naturally and adapt well to the saline soil common in coastal Khulna. As a result, no chemical pesticides are needed, and yields remain strong even without synthetic fertilisers.
This resilience is vital: Climate change brings frequent natural disasters to the region, and "these plants do not suffer much damage in ordinary minor disasters," according to the community members. By contrast, seedlings from hybrid seeds are fragile, unable to survive heavy rains or winds.
Supporting this effort is the non-governmental organisation Lokaj, which offers training, technical support, and seed-saving materials. Through "yard gatherings", women share seeds and knowledge; at annual seed fairs — a tradition for the past 15 years — they deepen their network and reinforce their commitment.
Professor Md Monirul Islam from Khulna University's Department of Agrotechnology praises their work.
"Due to hybrids, indigenous vegetables, fruits and grains are disappearing. However, those women are fighting to save the seeds. This will help our indigenous varieties survive," he says.
The shadow of agrochemical dominance
Despite the benefits of indigenous seed-saving, the agrochemical sector in Bangladesh remains powerful.
Nearly 90% of the country's pesticide demand is met through imports, according to data by the Bangladesh Agro Chemical Manufacturers Association (BAMA). The pesticide market is valued at around Tk7,500 crore, with multinational companies controlling more than half of it.
Pesticide use has surged over decades; data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics show that consumption climbed from roughly 11,367 MT/KL in 1997 to 39,543 MT/KL in 2021, growing at an annual rate of 5.2%, surpassing overall agricultural growth.
Meanwhile, chemical fertiliser use has ballooned — where farmers once used about 8.5 kg per hectare, it has now soared to 700kg.
This over-reliance on synthetic inputs has deep consequences. According to a 2025 study titled 'Public Health Implications of Pesticide Use in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Review', pesticide use increased from around 3,000 tonnes in 1990 to over 45,000 tonnes in 2021, posing serious risks to human health; nearly 27% of farmers report pesticide-related illnesses.
Challenges and vision for the future
The path forward is not simple.
These women face resource constraints, limited access to formal seed-certification systems, and ongoing pressure from agrochemical corporations. Scaling up their model will require stronger institutional support, policy changes, and more public awareness.
Organisations like Lokaj provide critical training and resources. There is a strong case for expanding similar initiatives across Bangladesh to safeguard local seed diversity and reduce agrochemical dependency.
SM Ferdous, former principal of Khulna Agricultural Training Institute, says, "Such initiatives can be created in other parts of the country to preserve local varieties… these seeds adapt easily to the local environment, which makes them more resilient to pests, diseases and climate change… This programme must expand to other parts of the country to ensure sustainable agriculture."
Delowar Jahan says that breaking free from this cycle requires a three-pronged approach: urging agricultural graduates to unlearn chemical dependency; promoting traditional inputs and ecological methods; and creating demand for organic, locally‐grown produce.
He says, "What nature chose for us, for thousands of years, we are trying to change that. Now beans and cauliflowers are available in the summer and monsoon as well. This has a huge impact on our body and our environment."
"Most of the native seeds are already lost. More than 3,000 rice varieties are lost forever. We are trying to save what is left and inspire our farmers to continue organic farming. Otherwise, there will be a time when no one will remember the actual taste of a gourd, or how a deshi kumra smells."
And the women of Khulna are not just preserving seeds — they are preserving knowledge, identity, and the right to self-sufficient farming. Their work resonates with a broader movement of organic farmers, educators and activists across Bangladesh who challenge the dominance of agrochemical corporations.
In the face of climate vulnerability, corporate control and ecological degradation, these seeds are more than heritage — they are hope. As more communities adopt this model, Bangladesh could cultivate a future where farmers no longer sow only for yield, but for sovereignty, resilience and sustainability.
