Burlang Yatra” the Annual Indigenous Seed Festival

Seeds of freedom echoed at Burlang Yatra in Kandhamal

Thursday, March 09, 2017
– See more at: http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=72662

The annual indigenous traditional community seed festivals have been an ancient practice in India and an integral part of the indigenous farming culture. There is no gainsaying that conservation of agro-biodiversity and agro-ecology is indispensable for food security and indigenous farmers realized it long ago. As an ancient practice, the indigenous farmers in India have been exchanging indigenous heirloom seeds not only among themselves but also passing down the generations both the knowledge and heirloom seeds through observation of indigenous traditional community seed festivals. The indigenous traditional community seed festivals have an inbuilt conservation aspect to it, which acts as the indigenous agro-biodiversity keeper. The indigenous traditional community seed festivals act as a means of exchange of indigenous heirloom seeds and act as a repository to conserve and increase indigenous heirloom seed diversity, agro-biodiversity, and diversity of the traditional food basket.

The indigenous traditional community seed festivals creates also a platform for farmers to come together to share their indigenous knowledge, exchange their ideas and culture. In addition these festivals create spaces for identification of indigenous crops which are pest and disease resistant, gives better yields and income to the farmers. Unlike the conventional market based seed supply systems, exchange of indigenous heirloom seeds and knowledge at the indigenous seed festivals is free of cost. Furthermore, the ancient practice is socio-culturally, economically, institutionally and ecologically sustainable. However, the pervasive market driven, industry-based, modern agriculture system had been replacing not only the indigenous agro-biodiversity but also driving the intricately entwined socio-cultural practices with indigenous agro-biodiversity to extinction.

In our effort to conservation of priceless indigenous cultural practices, NIRMAN, had been facilitating celebration and observation of the indigenous traditional community seed festival of the Kutia Kondh communities in Odisha, for the past few years. An indigenous traditional community seed festival of Kutia Kondh community will be facilitated this year on 5, March, 2017 at Tuakela village in Belgarh Grampanchayat, in Tumudibandha block in Kandhamal district of Odisha.

About The indigenous Community Seed Festival 2017:
The Kutia Kondh communities of Tuakela village in Belgarh Grampanchayat, in Tumudibandha block in Kandhamal district of Odisha, usually celebrates a week long annual indigenous traditional community seed festival during February-March every year. NIRMAN, will facilitate celebration of the indigenous community seed festival this year on the 5, March’ 2017. Local communities from at least three grampanchayts are expected to participate in this year’s indigenous community seed festival this year at Tuakala village. The indigenous community seed festival will feature, a farmers’ procession, indigenous heirloom exchange ceremony, felicitation of farmers, millets food stalls, display of indigenous heirloom seeds, organic manure sales, organic farming information counter, system of rice intensification (SRI) information counter, system of crop intensification (SCI) information counter, and indigenous cultural events. And all are invited!!

All Are Welcome
Date: 5, March, 2017
Venue: Tuakela Village, Belgarh Grampanchayat, Tumudibandh Block, Kandhamal District, Odisha.

Events:
1. Farmers’ Procession,
2. Indigenous Heirloom Exchange Ceremony,
3. Felicitation of Farmers,
4. Indigenous Heirloom Seeds Sale,
5. Millets Food Stall,
6. Indigenous Heirloom Display Counter,
7. Organic Manure Sale Counter,
8. Organic Farming Information Counter,
9. SRI Information Counter,
10. SCI Information Counter,
11. Indigenous Cultural Activities.

Directions to the Venue:
By Road: The venue is approx. 27 km from Tumudibandha, the nearest town; 62 km from Baliguda town and 84 km from Muniguda town with good bus service.

By Train: Nearest Railway Station – Muniguda (Distance approx. 84 km from the venue). You may take a bus or hire a cab from Muniguda Bus Station, which is 0.5 KM from Muniguda Railway Station.

By Flight: Bhubaneswar Airport approx. 282 km and Raipur Airport approx. 305 km from Tumudibandha town. You may take a bus or hire a cab from Bermunda Bus station, in Bubaneswar and Raipur Bus Station in Raipur to the venue.

Accommodation:
Nilakantha Lodge (Distance 27 km from the venue), Ph: 9439934839
Hotel Patakhanda (Distance approx. 62 km from the venue), Ph: 06846-243166
Hotel Santosh Bhavan (Distance approx. 62 km from the venue), Ph: 06846-222352
Hotel Shaheen Residency (Distance approx. 84 km from the venue),
SH6, Muniguda. Ph: 09437324123. You may take a bus or hire a cab from Muniguda Bus Station, which is approx.0.5 KM from the hotel.

For Details Please Contact
Mr. Prasant Mohanty
Executive Director,
NIRMAN
Phone – 0674-2720417
Cell: 09438294417/9556044170
Email: prasant@nirmanodisha.org

Mr. Aditya Singh Deo
Project Officer,
NIRMAN
Cell: 08895319740/09938261551
Email: aditya@nirmanodisha.org

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1367787026628075/