Community Seed Bank

Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative believes that food is a cornerstone of GNH, Bhutan’s developmental goal; it manifests the interplay of socio-cultural, economical, ecological and governance aspects of development. Therefore, it calls for preservation and promotion of local and traditional seeds.

With a financial assistance from Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Dewathang Gewog Administration, SJI is establishing a “Community Seed Bank” at Chokyi Gyatso Institute (CGI), which has generously provided land where seed keepers’ and growers’ will meet during auspicious days considering the tradition of getting the seeds blessed by Lamas. It can also offer as an educational venue for other farmers, youth and researchers.

Groundbreaking ceremony for construction of community seed bank

Seed bank design (some changes have been made). It will be built by local people using local construction materials & subsequently, adapting traditional means of saving seeds.