In their community seed bank，the farmers’ group of Kachorwa，Central Terai，Nepal，uses a traditional seed storage structure. Photo：Pitambar Shrestha/LI-BIRD

What is the point of community seed banks and gardens？

Community seed banks are local institutions that conserve and maintain access to locally adapted seed and planting materials for farmers. Typically they rely on a community storage structure where the seed can be processed，selected and stored，in order to have sufficient quantities available even when normal supplies fail. Usually there is a community seed bank committee that oversees activities and decides what can be stored，and how and when seed can be used. In many cases，the seed stores built can provide storage conditions which are better than those on farms，and sometimes they also have an office and meeting room. Keeping the seed in a secure building administered by a committee is more likely to prevent farmers from selling off or consuming the seed in times of food scarcity. Thus seed banks contribute to the security of the seed supply. Seeds for the village store are procured from farmers who are recognized to be good seed producers. While the initial seed lots are often purchased by a project，a regulated process for withdrawing and depositing seed is necessary to ensure the subsequent conservation of seed stocks.

Farmers who have borrowed seed are required to return a similar quantity to the seed bank after harvest. For crops which are not propagated from seed，alternative structures must be developed for conservation and propagation at community level，e.g. by setting up conservation gardens.