Hello Joseph Okidi
greetings from Juba , hoping that you are very fine.
I feel interesting to be a part of discussion, and I agreed with some of
the colleagues and friends, and that is why some of humanitarian project
like agriculture dose not succeed. there are three major things to be
involve
1. every body/farmer need to learn a new variety most of humanitarian
distribute seeds / variety with out giving farmers knowledge about its
timing weather it is a quick variety of long term.
2. they don,t care about the type of soil, weather , climate and rainfall.
3.they don,t sit with the farmers to identify the best variety for the
farmers compare to the market , and they don,t assess weather, there is a
seeds / crops locally with in the area or not.
so my advise to humanitarian actors is like this .
assessment is the main important instrument to identify the real needs of
the main affected population to help you get a way forwards even in term
of emergency.
any way thank you very much
Patricia Philip
PSO
Trocaire . south
Sudan Juba
From: "Okidi, Joseph (FAOKE)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: 01/08/2014 09:42
Subject: Re: Unsuitable crop parieties being provided to affected
population in the form of seed aid in the horn of Africa region - POOR
QUALITY SEED
Sent by: The Community of Practice of Seed Security Assessments for
the Horn of Africa <[log in to unmask]>
Dear Michel,
I totally Agree with you that many humanitarian actors think famer’s seed
are of poor quality. Much as I agree the we need to follow certain
critical procedure in checking quality (germination, purity, MC etc), many
times the guys from the seed companies tend to be smart enough in duping
us on quality. I have had some bad experience while working with FAO
South Sudan. FAO Uses an international quality control agent, but I
realized that if you totally rely on the paper work only you may easily be
duped. Quality check done be done along supply chains – Kneeing where this
seed have been produced, checking with the relevant government authority
if the supplier actually has the capacity or quantity you need, sampling
and testing seed before loadin, and final checking by the technical staff
at field level. Most importantly, how do we punish those supplying BAD
SEED? Otherwise, as you have already mention, we shall do more harm than
good to the affected population.
Regards,
Joseph
From: Micheal Yemane [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2014 1:57 PM
To: The Community of Practice of Seed Security Assessments for the Horn of
Africa
Subject: RE: Unsuitable crop parieties being provided to affected
population in the form of seed aid in the horn of Africa region
Thanks Joseph for raising an important issue.
You are right most of the agencies think farmer's seeds are of poor
quality, which is not correct. One thing that we have to realize is the
farmers are the best experts for their farm. They have been living for
generations on the land and have wealth of accumulated knowledge. The
great solution is not to start from scratch but it is to consult the
farmers/target people. I have seen a cotton seed distributed, which can't
germinate, wasting lots of money. I expect real professional to follow
certain critical procedures. We have to know the variety, germination
percentage, purity and its disease/drought tolerance. Without this basics,
doing seed distribution will do more harm than good.
In most cases affected people are not consulted before implementation of
the program. It is understandable....time can be constraint in rapid onset
emergencies. We may rush to secure the budget/funding but during
implementation we have to sit with the farmers to know the specifics of
the support. The interest of farmers can be rice seed but attention has to
be paid to the variety equally. By giving rice seed, we cannot address
their problem.
As expert, there are certain areas that need improvement in farmer's
routine exercise. Recent innovations and research ideas has to be tested
in the field and disseminated in a proper way. By talking to the direct
beneficiaries, we can be more efficient!
Regards!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Micheal Yemane
Advisor, Food Security and Livelihoods
International Medical Corps, From Relief to Self-Reliance
Cell Phone (in Eth): +251-913-283266
www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org
Skype: micheal.yemane1
From: The Community of Practice of Seed Security Assessments for the Horn
of Africa [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Okidi,
Joseph (FAOKE)
Sent: 31 July 2014 10:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Unsuitable crop parieties being provided to affected population
in the form of seed aid in the horn of Africa region
Dear All,
A lot of humanitarian and recovery work in food security in the Horn of
Africa region involves provision of seed aid with significant direct seed
distribution of seed sourced from the formal sector (seed companies).
There have been concerns from some of the assisted famers in the recent
past that some of the varieties are unsuitable (un-adapted and
un-preferred). Many times famer’s seed are considered of poor quality by
humanitarian actors, and therefore, the need to provide them with quality
seeds of varieties which are improved – high yielding, disease resistant,
drought tolerant etc.
1. Do you agree that at times unsuitable varieties are being provided
in the form of seed aid? What is your experience with this? And do you
think this can be improved?
2. Do you think seed security of the crisis/disaster affected
population is well assessed and analyzed before any intervention – If not
how do you want this improved?
3. Are the views of the affected populations normally well taken into
consideration when planning seed related interventions by humanitarian
actors?
Note: This e-discussion will run until 15th of August.
Regards,
Joseph Okidi
Seed System Specialist
FAO REOA
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