A dedicated group of farmers has been driving efforts to build local biodiversity on the farms of Dungarpur. This group leads seed conservation and transforms agricultural observation into practical, field-based science. They developed a detailed characterisation template to capture the unique traits of each landrace, with a focus on staples like paddy, barley, wheat, and channa (chickpea). Their framework evaluates each variety using 15 to 70 distinct parameters, ranging from the angle and texture of a blade of grass to differences in grain size, colour, and shape. Through this work, the fields serve as living laboratories, deepening the understanding of landraces and preserving resilient genetic traits for the future.
True conservation cannot be confined to a single archive or left to outside experts—it must be rooted within the community itself. To ensure seed preservation remains community-owned, the initiative uses a decentralised, peer-to-peer learning model. Initially, ten farmers received training in reading and understanding their crops. These farmers then became educators, sharing their knowledge with other community members and farmers across the villages. This farmer-to-farmer exchange keeps expertise grounded in the landscape, enabling those who work the land to safeguard and sustain local biodiversity.