Mysuru: Desi Seed Producers Company chosen for Plant Genome Saviour Community Award

Members of the Desi Seed Producers Company at a meeting in Mysuru recently.

The Mysuru-based farmer-owned Desi Seed Producers Company Limited has been selected for the prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Community award for 2024-25.

The award, instituted by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, recognises outstanding contributions by farming communities and organisations towards conserving, protecting and promoting India’s agricultural biodiversity and indigenous plant genetic resources.

The award ceremony will be held in New Delhi on November 12. It carries a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, a citation and a memento, said a press statement here.

Promoted by Sahaja Samrudha, an organic farmers’ association, Desi Seed Producers Company Limited, popularly known as ‘Sahaja Seeds’, was established through the collective efforts of like-minded seed conservators from Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Dharwad districts.

Recognised as India’s first farmer-owned organic seed company, it has grown from a grassroots farmers’ initiative into a successful enterprise with a national presence, marketing indigenous seeds under the Sahaja Seeds brand, the press statement added.

Working closely with farmers, traditional seed conservators and community seed banks, Sahaja Seeds has contributed to the conservation and promotion of more than 250 traditional crop varieties.

The company also operates an organic retail outlet, ‘Kisan Mall’ at Kukkarahalli Lake, Mysuru, in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, to promote and market organic products.

During 2025–26, the company recorded a turnover of ₹1.1 crore and distributed its profits among seed-supplying farmers. By encouraging farmers to produce and market indigenous seeds, particularly climate-resilient varieties, Sahaja Seeds is contributing to farmers’ economic empowerment and seed self-reliance.

G. Krishna Prasad, Director of Sahaja Samrudha, said, “Sahaja Seeds was born out of the vision and collective efforts of a few passionate seed conservators. Today, our indigenous seeds have customers across the country. Sahaja Seeds has demonstrated that farmers can take ownership of seed production and marketing and achieve seed self-reliance. It has emerged as a model for other Farmer Producer Companies.”

B.N. Gnanesh, head of ICAR–JSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Suttur, said, “JSS KVK nominated Sahaja Seeds for this prestigious award. We are proud that its grassroots efforts have received national recognition. Sahaja Seeds has played a significant role in reviving agricultural biodiversity in the Mysuru region.”

Ravi K. Magal, CEO of Sahaja Seeds, said, “Desi Seed Producers Company connects biodiversity conservation with farmers’ livelihoods through indigenous seed production, quality management, processing, packaging and marketing. This award recognises the dedication and invaluable contribution of traditional seed conservators, women farmers and farming communities who have protected indigenous seeds for generations.”