Annapurna Seed Library

We are honoured to welcome Nora Magdalena Hauswirth, an agroecology practitioner and educator from Brazil, to Annapurna Seed Library.

Nora is an interdisciplinary practitioner working at the intersection of agroecology, art, education, and community development. Originally associated with cultural and curatorial projects in Zürich, Switzerland, she has extensive experience in communication strategy, project management, and artistic collaborations. She is currently the President of Instituto Tera Kuno, an organization based in Manaus, Brazil, dedicated to agroecological research, education, and social transformation.

Her visit marked a beautiful connection between the Amazon forests and the fertile lands of Assam.
During her time with us, Nora explored our indigenous seed collections and appreciated our continuous efforts in conserving traditional crop varieties through community participation. She showed deep interest in our grassroots approach to seed sovereignty and biodiversity preservation.

A special highlight of her visit was her interaction with students and teachers at Meleng High School, where she observed our educational programme. She was inspired to see young minds actively engaged in growing food, understanding ecology, and learning through hands-on experiences rooted in nature.
Nora also shared valuable insights from her work in the Amazon, especially on agroforestry practices and forest-based learning systems. This exchange created a powerful dialogue between two rich ecological regions, united by a shared vision for sustainability and education.

We look forward to future collaborations in:
🌱 Agroecology-based education
🌱 Global learning partnerships

Together, we continue to sow seeds of knowledge, sustainability, and hope.

District Administration, Jorhat

Added a few glimpses from our recent lecture at the Jorhat Science Society, along with regional language newspaper coverage of the event.

Today we had the honour of delivering a lecture at the Jorhat Science Society.
The gathering included scientists, teachers, doctors, engineers, science enthusiasts, and writers—an inspiring community of knowledge and curiosity. It was a privilege for us to present the vision, activities, and importance of the Annapurna Seed Library among such respected scholars of Jorhat.

We are deeply grateful for the patience, attention, and value they gave to our words and our work. Their thoughtful presence made the discussion meaningful and encouraging for our journey of conserving indigenous seeds and promoting sustainable agriculture.

With great humility, we request these scholars to help carry our voice to the younger generation and to all science-enthusiastic minds. Together, we can inspire more people to understand the importance of seed diversity, ecological farming, and community knowledge.

🙏 Thank you for encouraging our efforts and strengthening our mission.

We organised an educational tour to the Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute (CMER&TI), under the Central Silk Board, Jorhat. Csb-cmerti Lahdoigarh
Assam is the world’s leading producer of Muga (golden) and Eri (peace) silk. To help students understand this rich heritage, they explored the silkworm life cycle from egg to thread, visited laboratories, observed mating and disease-free egg production, and learned about host plants and biodiversity.
They also discussed the impact of climate change on silk production and how this traditional industry once supported many rural families. Reviving silk culture can again strengthen livelihoods in Assam.
A joyful and knowledge-filled day for our young learners—connecting tradition, science, and sustainable future.
Powered by SELCO Foundation

We are deeply honoured to witness the release of “Assam – The Cradle of Rice”, a remarkable documentary by the Assam State Biodiversity Board .
The film beautifully captures the extraordinary rice diversity of Assam — from the fertile plains to the serene hills, and even the resilient deep-water and wild rice varieties. It is a powerful reminder of our rich agricultural heritage and the wisdom preserved by generations of farmers.
We sincerely thank the Assam State Biodiversity Board for gracefully portraying the journey of Annapurna Seed Library — from conserving indigenous seeds to nurturing nature and igniting young minds through sustainable practices.
This documentary is not just a film; it is a celebration of biodiversity, tradition, and hope for a resilient future.

Assam: The Cradle of Rice This documentary is part of such work highlighting the Pich Rice diversity of Assam published for awareness generation of stakeholders. The Documentary highl...

Annapurna Seed Library conducted a full-day, hands-on learning programme where students of Chawkhat MV School joyfully participated in garden activities just like our earlier school sessions.
* Solar water sprayer installation & solar energy awareness
* Bed preparation, compost application & mulching
* Sowing Amaranthus & okra, planting chilli & Pudina
* Soil pH & soil moisture testing
* Learning about earthworms & vermicomposting
* Garden boundary developed using bamboo & green shade net
* Educational boards installed on indigenous seeds, water conservation, birds, soil insects & beneficial insects
The school garden is now growing as a safe, protected living classroom, nurturing sustainability and curiosity among students.
🙏 Grateful to the Head Mistress, teachers, students, and SELCO Foundation for their support.

With the support of SELCO Foundation, Annapurna Seed Library successfully conducted full-day garden-based learning activities at: Sri Sankardev ME School, Noraholoidari Gaon, Jorhat.
Students enthusiastically participated in: Solar water sprayer installation & solar energy awareness
Bed preparation, compost application & mulching
Sowing Amaranthus and okra, planting chilli & Pudina
Soil pH and soil moisture testing
Learning about earthworms and vermicomposting
Installation of educational boards on indigenous seeds, water conservation, birds, soil insects, and beneficial vs harmful pests.
School gardens is growing into living classrooms, nurturing sustainability, curiosity, and care for nature.
Thankful to the school administrator Head Master, teachers, students for their support.

District Administration, Jorhat

An inspiring day of hands-on learning with students of Meleng High School under the Seed to Plate – Growing Futures Programme by Annapurna Seed Library , powered by SELCO Foundation .
Key highlights of the day:
* Solar water sprayer installation and solar energy awareness class
* Garden bed preparation with compost
* Soil pH and soil moisture testing demonstrations
* Sowing Amaranthus and germinated okra seeds
* Planting chilli seedlings and Pudina roots
* Mulching with dry leaves and watering using solar sprayer
* Students joyfully touched and observed earthworms, learning their role in soil health
* Earthworms added to vermicompost bags
Installation of 5 educational printables on indigenous seeds, water conservation, birds, soil insects, and beneficial vs harmful insects

The school garden is now becoming a living classroom, where students learn sustainability by doing.
Grateful to the school administration, teachers, and students for their enthusiastic participation.

Growing food. Growing minds. Growing futures.

We distributed stationery items to all our adopted schools. With this, the stationery distribution work has been completed in all four schools. Along with this, we completed the remaining garden construction work in schools.
Students were also guided to use the stationery for writing reports, recording garden observations, and preparing biodiversity registers of their surroundings.
All these activities are part of the “Seed to Plate – Growing Futures Programme”, supported by the SELCO Foundation. Through this programme, Annapurna Seed Library is working with schools to promote hands-on learning in gardening, biodiversity awareness, and sustainable food practices, helping students understand the journey of food from seed to plate.

Dr. Nizara Phukon, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Govt. Model Degree College, Baghbar, Barpeta, and Founding Secretary of Brikshyabandhu (Friends of Trees), an environmental organization, along with Mr. Partha Pratim Handique, Member of Brikshyabandhu, visited the Annapurna Seed Library this evening. We spent a meaningful and enriching time with them, sharing knowledge and experiences related to environmental conservation, seed preservation, and sustainable practices. It was a pleasure and an honor to receive such prestigious guests at our Seed Library, and we look forward to welcoming them again in the near future.

সংস্কৃত ভাৰতী, ডিব্ৰুগড়ৰ এটি সঁজাতি দলে আজি Annapurna Seed Library ভ্ৰমণ কৰে।