BSF project "Seeds for Life – Action with farmers in Uttar Pradesh to enhance Food Security in the context of Climate Change in India"

" Seeds for Life – Action with farmers in Uttar Pradesh to enhance Food Security in the context of Climate Change in India" is one of the projects supported by the Benefit-Sharing Fund of the International Treaty for Food and Agriculture (Second Cycle). Sustainable food security for 50 villages, covering more than 650 families (about 4000 people) in Uttar Pradesh, is the focus of this BSF project. The region is the major rice and wheat producing area of Northern India, with 70% of its 200 million population dependents on agriculture for their livelihoods. This project has helped establish direct interaction between farmers, field staff and scientists. This project aims to introduce three new crops in the area: Amaranth, Moringa and Quinoa, which may increase farmers’ production and income during fallow seasons. This initiative will provide ‘end-to-end’ solutions for women’s empowerment through the introduction of better farming methods, diversification of cropping systems, introduction of new crops and creation of links with financial institutions and government programs related to health and insurance. The activities of this co-funded project will contribute to building sustainability of results of the BSF project.