17th Old Seed Festival in Araku Promotes Tribal Biodiversity and Indigenous Farming

Key Facts

• The 17th Old Seed Festival took place in April 2026 at Killoguda village in the Araku region, Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh.
• It was organized by the Sanjeevini organisation, which has been working for 17 years on indigenous seed conservation and sustainable farming.
• Participants included Adivasi farmers from Araku, Rampachodavaram (Andhra Pradesh), Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), Koraput (Odisha), researchers, environmentalists, and civil society representatives.
• Farmers displayed a rich diversity of traditional seeds including millet, pulses, tubers, and other local crop varieties adapted to tribal farming systems.
• A notable exhibition featured over 80 varieties of tuber seeds from farmers of Gondivalasa village in Dumbriguda mandal.
• The festival commenced with a procession carrying preserved indigenous seed varieties, accompanied by traditional drum performances and Dhimsa tribal dances.
• T. Baburao Naidu, Executive Director of the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, visited and interacted with farmers at the exhibition stalls.
• In a seed exhibition competition, Sukri from Gondivalasa, Manikanta from Tamil Nadu, and Pratik Mori from Maharashtra were felicitated for their contributions to seed preservation.
• Representatives and experts praised Sanjeevini’s ongoing work and stressed the need for government recognition and support for organic farming clusters in Araku to enhance food security and ecological balance.

Background & Context

The Old Seed Festival is part of a longstanding initiative to revive, conserve, and showcase indigenous seed varieties that sustain tribal agriculture in the Eastern Ghats region. Araku Valley is renowned for its organic coffee and traditional tribal farming systems. Koraput district in Odisha is known for its rich agrobiodiversity, especially traditional millet cultivation.

Tribal farming systems emphasize ecological balance and resilience to climate variability through the use of native seeds, which typically require fewer chemical inputs. The festival aims to promote natural and sustainable farming, preserve tribal biodiversity, and celebrate cultural heritage such as the Dhimsa dance.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

The festival highlights important themes for environment, agriculture, and cultural studies sections of exams. Key topics include:

• Conservation of indigenous seeds and traditional agricultural knowledge.
• The role of tribal communities in sustaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
• The significance of natural farming and organic agriculture for climate resilience and food security.
• Regional cultural practices like the Dhimsa dance from Araku Valley.
• Government and institutional support needed for strengthening organic farming clusters in tribal areas.

Points to Remember

• Old Seed Festival is organized by Sanjeevini NGO and celebrated annually in Killoguda village near Araku Valley.
• Seventeenth edition held in 2026 included participation from multiple states (Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra).
• Dhimsa is a traditional tribal dance performed by Adivasi communities of Araku Valley during the festival.
• The festival exhibited over 80 varieties of indigenous tuber seeds, highlighting the importance of seed diversity for sustainable farming.
• Recognition was given to farmers for seed conservation efforts, fostering community involvement.
• Calls were made for governmental recognition and support for organic farming clusters to promote ecological and economic sustainability.

Sources

• GKToday - Araku Old Seed Festival Promotes Tribal Biodiversity
• Deccan Chronicle - Traditional Seed Festival Celebrated With Fervour in Araku
• The Hindu - Old Seed Festival in Araku Spotlights Tribal Biodiversity