The Andhra Pradesh Coalition in Defence of Diversity (APCIDD) held Bio-diversity Exhibitions for 2 days in each district to disseminate information on the benefits of cultivation of local land races, organic farming, and diversity in cropping. Further, the exhibitions also envisioned highlighting their associated values like protection of land, health and nutritional values, and demonstrating their inextricable relationship with the traditional carnivals. The Deccan Development Society provided the required material and personnel for each district. This year is the third time we are holding bio-diversity exhibitions at the District Level.

The exhibitions were scheduled for 20 districts beginning 3rd March 2004. Two teams consisting of Mr Raju & Mr Ratnam (Team Leaders), along with experienced women farmers Ms Chendramma, Ms Kamalamma, Ms Sulochanamma, Ms Nagamma, Ms Susheelamma, Ms Chinna Chendramma, Ms Tuljamma & Ms Nirmalamma from DDS accompanied the exhibitions and displayed the following material:

• 80 varieties of Telengna Region seeds and several other local varieties were exhibited.
• A set of 8 posters featuring themes ranging from the importance of CBRs to the need for protecting seeds, the importance of diversity on agricultural farms and the reasons for suicides by the farmers were displayed
• Publications such as, Traditional Crops of Medak Region, Our Crops - Our cuisine, Agro-biodiversity in A.P. - A farmers perspective, Vermicompost, Organic Compost and Prajateerpu, were on display
• Videos entitled Gangwar Manemma, the community seed keeper, Mobile Biodiversity Festivals of DDS, Why are Warangal Farmers Angry With Bt Cotton? were shown to the farmers.

In all the exhibitions, about 150 to 200 farmers participated every day, and most of them were amazed looking at such a rich variety of seeds. The DDS team explained the exhibits to the participants. The farmers shared their views, apprehensions and anxieties. Their interaction with the DDS farmers and women provided them with an opportunity to realize the richness of their agricultural heritage, and made them feel nostalgic about a past that has been lost to the effects of "green revolution".

The response from the elders was very positive. They started sharing their experience with the present and past food habits and their nutritive values. They shared with others that they are continued to be strong and healthy only because of the organic food they had eaten in the past. The present generation was also accepting the difference, but some of them were saying that if they grew these crops they could not survive in the present society due to marketing problems of traditional varieties. The DDS farmers suggested to them to first start cultivation of traditional food grains in an organic fashion in smaller quantities for their own use.

Districts where Exhibitions were conducted: