For centuries, farmers have maintained spring, summer and winter harvests by relying on seed stocks saved from the previous year and informally exchanged with their neighbours. These informal agriculture networks are still the main sources of seeds to meet local demand in a country where 76 per cent of households depend on agriculture for a living. This has created the urgent need for institutions like community seed banks that not only conserve local biodiversity, but assure immediate and long-term food security of farmers.