ABSTRACT
The Mamudpur Nayakrishi Seed Hut (NSH) was established in 2001, when Rina Begum, along with other farmers, became interested in collecting local seeds to improve their livelihoods (Plate 1). The farmers had participated in a training session in biodiversity-based farming held by Unnayan Bikalper Nitinirdharoni Gobeshona (UBINIG), a policy research organization working with the farming community. After joining the Nayakrishi Seed Network, whose aim is to collect and maintain seeds of local crop varieties, they decided to establish a ‘seed hut’ in the village of Mamudpur on land donated by Rina Begum. In a seed hut, a group of farming households takes joint responsibility for looking after seeds and genetic resources that they collect and propagate on behalf of the community.
