In Bangladesh, agriculture is more than just farming—it is the lifeline of rural communities. Protecting local seeds and agricultural traditions is crucial for food security, climate resilience, and farmers’ rights. To achieve this, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) has become a vital approach for establishing and strengthening Community Seed Banks (CSBs).
🔹 What is PRA?
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is a community-driven method where farmers actively participate in identifying local problems, mapping resources, and finding solutions. It values local knowledge and experience, ensuring that decisions are not imposed from outside but are shaped by the people themselves.
🔹 Role of PRA in CSBs
When applied to Community Seed Banks in Bangladesh, PRA helps by:
- Identifying local seed diversity through participatory seed mapping and farmers’ knowledge sharing.
- Selecting priority crops that need conservation, based on community demand and cultural importance.
- Engaging women and marginalized farmers, ensuring inclusive participation in seed conservation.
- Building community ownership so that CSBs remain sustainable and not dependent solely on external support.
- Strengthening local seed networks for exchange, distribution, and collective management.
🔹 Examples in Bangladesh
In districts like Netrakona, Rajshahi, and Rangpur, PRA sessions have enabled farmers to rediscover traditional rice and pulse varieties. Communities then organized seed fairs, documented indigenous varieties, and stored them in local CSBs. This process has empowered farmers to conserve genetic resources while also generating income from seed sales.
🔹 Why it Matters
By integrating PRA into CSBs, Bangladesh is not only conserving its rich agrobiodiversity but also giving farmers the power to decide their agricultural future. It ensures that seed conservation is inclusive, sustainable, and deeply rooted in local knowledge.
👉 PRA in CSBs is more than a method—it is a movement toward seed sovereignty, climate resilience, and community empowerment in rural Bangladesh.
