[QODLink]
Al Jazeera Frames
The Seed
Natabar Sarangi's mission is to find, save and share his indigenous rice seed with local farmers.
Last Modified: 23 Jan 2011 13:04

Filmmaker: Jason Taylor

Sixty years ago India had more than 100,000 varieties of rice. Today there are little more than 3,000. The demise of seed variety is just one of the many issues farmers around the world are fighting against.

Agriculture has become agribusiness and more than one billion farmers' livelihoods and environments are now being threatened worldwide.

But Natabar Sarangi fights for the survival of a sustainable agriculture system with the knowledge of over 10,000 years. He continues to find, save and share his indigenous rice seed with local farmers. To date he has managed to re-introduce over 350 varieties.

He is just one of a growing number of farmers throughout the world who realise that if we do not begin to repair the damage taking place to our agricultural systems and our environment, we will lose not just our cultural identity but our fundamental right to a truly sustainable system of food security.

The Seed aired from Saturday, January 22, at 2055GMT.

Source:
Al Jazeera
Topics in this article
Organisation
Featured on Al Jazeera
Murder of Somali draws ire of foreign African nationals over rising xenophobic violence.
We look at the impact of increased sanctions against the Islamic Republic and ask who it really affects.
Tupamaros enforce rough justice in Venezuela's slums to support socialism, but critics say the group are violent thugs.
More than a decade ago the US launched a war against Afghanistan, but was it a justified battle?
Featured
News and analysis of 2013 presidential contest as Ahmadinejad finishes second term.
Two years since the start of the uprising, rebels and Assad's forces remain locked in conflict.
Extensive coverage of political unrest that spread from Istanbul to other areas.
PM Cameron vows to fight offshore finance, despite Britain's starring role.
Politician discusses his transformation from rock star to tourism minister.
join our mailing list