In situ (on-site) conservation is part of seed bank activity. Seed diversity is distributed among the farmers, monitored using cards and collected after the growing season. The seed bank register, card monitoring and in situ farmers' list are maintained as part of conservation efforts. From the farmers' standpoint, in situ conservation is an important part of livelihood security because the conservation meets more than 90 percent of their basic nutrition and food needs.

In situ conservation helps:

• Facilitate the evolutionary process of local crop adaptation
• Conserve diversity at all levels
• Improve the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers through social and economic development
• Increase farmers' control over and access to crop genetic resources

Seed conservation at the farmer and farm level is different from ex situ conservation because, despite miracle seeds, farmers in large parts of India still prefer to retain and barter seeds among themselves, outside of the market paradigm. This indicates that the farmers' own production and exchange networks continue to be relevant and significant. Secondly, farmers will put aside a portion of their seed supply for sowing, for farmer-to-farmer exchanges and for selling at the market.

Download Farmers List: The list helps to identify the farmer conserved variety.