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The Community of Practice of Seed Security Assessments for the Horn of Africa

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Subject:
From:
Abdirahman Osman <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
The Community of Practice of Seed Security Assessments for the Horn of Africa <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 7 Aug 2014 23:11:07 +0300
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (191 lines)
However, while I think it’s important to discuss some of the social
consequences of crop parities being provided to affected population in
the form of seed aid in the horn of Africa region plants, I wouldn’t
completely these seed programs.
As a home gardener I save lots of seeds and use mostly tradition
seeds. However, South and central Somalia over the past few years I’ve
started using a few seeds when I’m intent on production or certain
disease issues. Yes, I do lose my ability to save seed. But it’s a
trade off that I decide is worth it on a case by case basis. I’m happy
in these instances to outsource to the seed Aid that’s developed the
mixture for me.
The big crime with Companies seeds and Seed Aid is the lack of
information many farmers had about new seeds that were introduced
under the seed aid. Certainly, there was plenty of manipulative and
misleading marketing with these new seeds. Organizations seed security
took advantage of farmers by pushing seeds without sharing the full
story or accounting for the farming systems in place.
On the other hand, the farmers aren’t without responsibility. I fully
applaud programs supporting farmers who seek education and literacy
skills in order to be able to make fully informed decisions rather
than just accepting seed aid information at face value.
At some point in the future, critically thinking subsistence farmers
with more access to information may end up choosing seeds for good
reasons within their overall choices. The best choices for a farming
family may be a mix of heritage and seed plants depending on the
specific issues that farm faces for that specific year.
Unlike seeds don’t mess with nature and may serve a purpose. The
problem is that farmers and gardeners aren’t fully informed/don’t ask
enough questions/don’t think critically about the pros/cons of each.
And because of the skewed farming systems and seed industry, heritage
seeds are being lost, reducing our choices overall.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Abdirahman
SHADO


On 8/6/14, Horn of Africa Relief & Development Agency(HARDA )
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Joseph and other  Colleague,
>
> Thanks for this opportunity to share our ideas,
> bellow are my suggestion
>
> 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?
>
> -Yes, I agree sometimes unsuitable varieties are been provided and low
> quality seeds, we have met this matter in 2012 Gu' season. we suggest that
> to initiate a program aimed at quality seed production by LNGOs in their
> respective areas and the experiment carried out in selected farms. The
> seeds produced in this initiative to be distributed freely to the farms of
> the area.
>
>
>
> 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?
>
> -No,because mostly no seed assessment and analysis is conducted,I suggest
> farmers participation of assessment is very important before any
> intervention. the other problem is  that the seed contracting companies
> bring the seeds late. the problem is that seeds arrive and are distributed
> to the farmers late into the season.
>
>
>
> 3.      Are the views of the affected populations normally well taken into
> consideration when planning seed related interventions by humanitarian
> actors?
>
> . No, Seeds are brought by the humanitarian actors without taking into
> consideration the practical needs of the farmers. i.e the irrigation
> farmers along the juba river complained at one time a variety of Onion,
> water melon and other vegetable seeds  that were not suitable or low
> quality for our area.
>
>
> Regards
>
> Daahir Bashir Nor,
>
> HARDA Bardera,
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Okidi, Joseph (FAOKE)
>> *Sent:* Thursday, July 31, 2014 10:44 AM
>> *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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>>
>
>
>
> --
> *Abdirahman A. Omar*
> *Executive Director, Somali programme*
> *HARDA Bardera Office (HQ)*
> *Cell: +254 718 740 291 Kenya*
> *        +252 61 8012 999 *
> *Email: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>,*
>
> ########################################################################
>
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