The issue of loss of biodiversity in Daman area is exacerbated by the recent change in agricultural pattern which were almost non existent a decade ago. Quite recently, the area has started shifting from rainfed farming to irrigated agriculture. The project cannot aim at reversing trends set by market forces that compel small farmers to switch to unsustainable cash cropping. Neither can it prevent the overharvesting of the water table for agricultural use nor the damaging aftermath of the Chashma Right bank Canal.

However, we know from shared experience of similar development in other areas that this loss of biodiveristy and natural resources can be mitigated if communities are aware of the implication of developments in their area and are prepared with alternatives that help to balance out the damage. The communities, mainly farmers, with small land holdings in Daman, are to face problems in coping with modern agriculture that demands economies of scale. This is in contrast to the traditional and flexible means of livelihood that they have been accustomed to for centuries- use of rainwater, local seeds and forests will now begin to become scarce resources. Loss of agrobotanical resources is in sight while soil degradation and water shortage in future is feared.

This project is a small initiative to mitigate these effects by facilitating communities in reducing those losses to agrobiodiversity that will impact farmer communities, sometimes reducing household food security.

Through information-sharing and participatory conservation of seeds and traditional agricultural practices we will facilitate farmers to have more viable choices. These choices could include retention of traditional and sustainable farming based on reuse of local seed varieties that are usually essential to the household as food for the family and feed for the livestock. We have learnt that when these varieties are entirely replaced by high yielding and high input cash crops, over a period of time, both the natural resources as well as the farm family can be severely threatened through a spiral of natural and social crises. The area of the Suleiman Range foothills and the Indus flood plains has witnessed this type of preventable catastrophe over the past two decades.

The Project will lead to in situ conservation of approximately six land race seeds: gram/chickpea, mustard, varieties of wheat and sorghum will be achieved in the fields and in the nursery of the DAMAAN Seed Bank.

The project's Seed Bank will be able to preserve a good number of specimens (100 to 300 rare seeds and plants) of local land race seeds and (possibly) some rare floral species will be identified, preserved and reused in a sustainable way and known through reports to relevant research organizations.