The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has introduced a new national standard for the management of Community Seed Banks (CSBs), a move aimed at preserving indigenous crop varieties and strengthening farmers' access to quality local seeds.
The new standard, IS 20201:2026 - Community Seed Bank Management: Requirements, provides a structured framework for establishing and managing community seed banks across the country. Officials say the guidelines will help conserve traditional seed varieties and support sustainable farming systems in the face of growing climate challenges.
India's agriculture sector is increasingly affected by erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells. In such conditions, traditional crop varieties are gaining importance because many possess natural traits such as drought tolerance, disease resistance and enhanced nutritional value. The new standard seeks to ensure that these valuable genetic resources are conserved and made available to farming communities.
Community seed banks function as local repositories where farmers can collect, store, preserve and exchange seeds adapted to local agro-climatic conditions. BIS said the standard will help create a uniform system for managing such seed banks and improve the quality and reliability of seed conservation efforts.
The guidelines cover the entire seed bank management process, including organisational arrangements, seed collection and acquisition, seed processing, viability testing, cleaning, drying, storage, documentation, quality assurance, seed regeneration and risk management. The standard also includes provisions for continuous improvement of operations.
According to BIS, the initiative supports the government's broader efforts to conserve agricultural biodiversity and strengthen food security. It complements existing programmes such as the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), which provides one-time financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh for setting up community seed banks. The standard is also aligned with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Well managed community seed banks can reduce farmers' dependence on external seed sources, improve access to locally adapted varieties and strengthen resilience against climate-related risks.
The standard was developed by the Biodiversity Sectional Committee of BIS with technical support from ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and inputs from organisations including the National Biodiversity Authority, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, Rythu Sadhikara Samstha and BAIF Development Research Foundation.
BIS clarified that IS 20201:2026 is a voluntary and certifiable management system standard. The document is available free of cost on the BIS portal, and community seed banks, farmer groups, cooperatives and other agricultural stakeholders are encouraged to adopt the guidelines.