The bank will store both rare seeds for research as well as common seeds that can be planted in the city to increase its green cover
In a first-of-its-kind move in the state, Society for Environment Conservation and Research (SECR), along with the Institute of Science at Madame Cama Road is working towards creating a seed bank. This initiative started by the Institute’s department of botany will store the seeds of various plant species with an aim to conduct research using the rare seeds as well as improve the city’s green cover using the seeds common to Mumbai’s topography.
Securing the food chain
SECR aims at promoting environmental conservation, protection and tribal development and also focuses on global warming, climate change, deforestation and the proper use of natural resources. According to SECR, seeds are the beginning of the food chain. “By absorbing carbon dioxide, an acre of trees can remove up to 2.6 tonnes of the gas each year.
“For several years, we have been collecting the seeds of various plants, primarily flowering plants and plants that yield fruits and vegetables. We encourage people to not throw away the seeds of fruits and vegetables such as papaya, watermelon, tamarind, mango, orange, etc. Instead, they should wash and dry them and send them to us. In turn, we will distribute it to schools, as part of education programmes as well as to farmers and NGOs,” said Rehan Tamboli of Institute of Science.
The seed bank
Currently, as the Institute of Science does not have an official director (it has a director in-charge), an official launch of the seed bank isn’t planned. However, according to Tamboli, Dr. Vijay D. Mendhulkar, who heads the department of botany at the institute, is keen on the launch of the bank. “Seeds available in this bank will be available for research as well as distribution. Currently, we have stored the seeds in a greenhouse inside the campus building. However, we will still continue distributing the seeds even though the bank hasn’t been officially inaugurated,” added Tamboli.
How can you help?
If you wish to contribute and donate seeds for the cause, you can start off by immersing the seeds from your fruits or vegetables in water until the surrounding tissue becomes soft. Once this is done, you can scrape the seeds away from the pulp. Rewash the seeds and air dry for 24 hours. Place the seeds in air-tight paper packs and send them to SECR.
jayadev.calamur@dnaindia.net
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