After creating the creative RiceBucketChallenge last month, Hyderabad has just started another challenge. This time around, to address the needs of small and marginal farmers. A farm foundation has announced Seed Packet Challenge with an aim to providing the basic input to the small farmers. They can also give pamphlets, relating the best farm practices to increase yields.

In return, the farmers can give back an equal amount of seeds to the foundation that can be distributed to more farmers.

It tied up with a few top seed firms and other stakeholders to start this initiative. Thousands of poor farmers face huge difficulties in securing good quality seeds to grow crops each year.

“Seed is the essential component of agriculture. Small and marginal farmers find it difficult to source the seeds in the sowing season. Shortage of seeds and high prices force them to settle for unbranded seeds with poor quality seeds, severely impacting the output,” a Nest Foundation executive told Business Line.

The foundation tied-up with Telugu agricultural monthly to start the Seed Packet Challenge for all the stakeholders. The contest provides an opportunity for seed companies and other stakeholders to help out the small farmers.

“Those who benefit from the initiative can give an equal quantity of seeds or even more so that we can reach out to more farmers in the next season,” the executive said.

The foundation and magazine would distribute the seed with the help of farm cooperatives, welfare committees and non-governmental organisations.

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