Peermade Development Society’s relentless efforts for rewarding, recognizing and respecting innovative farmers and communities got recognition from international community. Project submitted by Peermade Development Society for conserving, disseminating and popularizing farmer’s varieties by establishing village level enterprises got approved by International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for food and agriculture (ITPGRFA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The project is one among the eleven projects sanctioned by ITPGRFA under its new benefit sharing scheme which was selected from more than 400 applications received from all FAO member nations.

The basic objective of the project is to conserve and propagate farmers’ varieties by establishing micro enterprises in villages by involving the farmer breeders. Though these varieties are known for the location specific specialties, disease resistance and better productivity, the diffusion of the varieties are limited to certain area. Three groups of crops are selected for the propagation. Food crops for food security, spice crops for economic development and indigenous vegetables for nutrition and health aspects are the areas of intervention.

The selected farmer breeders who developed the varieties will be assisted to establish nurseries. Regarding the community based traditional varieties, women groups will be assisted to develop enterprises. Both practical and theoretical training will be given for the farmer breeders/ SHG members to start enterprises. Model plots will be raised in the villages for facilitating diffusion. Altogether 16 enterprises will be established both among the women groups and farmer breeders. Model farmers will be trained in the cultivation practices of these crops. Efforts will be made to develop organic packages of practices for these selected varieties.