In conjunction with International Seeds Day, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) held a seeds fair to create awareness on its essential role in life.
The event is held every year on April 26th.
“We have gathered here to celebrate seeds and to encourage seed saving and sharing. Seeds are our first link to the food chain and are essential for life. All along farm communities have been observing, selecting, nurturing, breeding and saving seeds.
“Traditionally the regular exchange of seeds among communities and farmers had allowed crops to adapt to different conditions, climates, and deal with different challenges of soils, pests and diseases.
“However, industrial agriculture and its push for commercial seeds have eroded not only seed diversity but also farmers’ seed systems,” said CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader, President of Consumers’ Association of Penang.
School children, farmers and those keen in gardening and farming had gathered at the event.
He also added that it is thus vital for us to take control of our seeds and keep it away from the clutches of corporations. Seed laws and plant variety rights are being constantly revised to adapt to the demands of the seed and biotechnology industries.
As farmers and gardeners, we need to be aware of these attempts to take control of our seeds.
CAP has been promoting agroecology, urban farming and seed sharing through events such as and had established our community seed bank which has a collection of local herbs and vegetables which are organically grown. Feel free to propagate and exchange these seeds.
Any disruption of the right to exchange seeds, farmers’ seeds system and our seeds sovereignty must be challenged as seeds are crucial for humanity. We must regain control of our seeds, our natural heritage.