Dear Issa,
I totally agree with you. We need this kind of open discussion for us to forge a way forward
Regards,
Joseph
________________________________________
From: Issa John [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2014 9:44 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 - POOR QUALITY SEED
Dear Joseph,
It is so developmental for having brought in such topic for discussion as seeds are back borne for agricultural adventure. The little experience I have with some seed companies is non of them is ready to lose either a gram or kilo of seeds after the seeds have expired and they usually do the following to their clients/customers:
1-they change the packaging materials and re-brand as if they have been newly parked.
2-they avail their clients with viable seeds for any technical analysis such as germination test etc yet they supply 75% fake seeds and only 25% is viable since they know germination test is already done.
3-they usually use synthetic fertilizers to boost the crops performance in order to attract farmers/humanitarian agencies attentions, however, the same crops will not give the same results when procured and distributed to the affected population.
Opinions:
1-It will be good if farmers' home saved seeds can be improved, bulked, procured and distributed to affected population by humanitarian agencies, expired seeds distribution to affected population would be reduced and finally eliminated.
2- Promotion of farmers unions in each region for easy seeds bulking can be another step to reduce annually financial loose incurred by the agencies as they can buy directly from the farmers themselves, hence encouraging farmers to produce more since their financial status are improved through procurement of their bulked seeds by the agencies.
3-Promotion of progress farmers to test any new varieties of seeds before any distribution is done in any geographical location to avoid farmers' doubt on humanitarian agencies technocrats since farmers are experts as far as agriculture is concerned.
4-It would be good if bottom-top approach is always applied rather than top-bottom approach to maximally involved farmers in any plans to address agricultural related problems.
Kind regards
Issa.
On Friday, August 1, 2014 1:32 AM, Patricia Philip <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
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<http://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]<mailto:[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
________________________________
To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
________________________________
To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
________________________________
To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
********************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential
and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to
whom they are addressed. If you have received this email
in error please notify the system manager.
www.trocaire.org
*********************************************************
________________________________
To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
________________________________
To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
########################################################################
To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
|