Dear Hammerton,
I totally agree with you on many of the points you have raised. The issue of adulterated seed is a common phenomenon in the horn of Africa. In Uganda, for example, recent report http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/counterfeit-fake-seeds-uganda-farmers-crop-failure showed that counterfeit "high yield seed' sold through the formal sector is making famers poorer and poorer. How can this vice be controlled?
Regards,
Joseph
From: Hammerton Kazungu [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2014 12:07 AM
To: 'The Community of Practice of Seed Security Assessments for the Horn of Africa'
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Unsuitable crop parieties being provided to affected population in the form of seed aid in the horn of Africa region
Dear all
Thank you Joseph: My replies are:
Yes unsuitable varieties are being provided to farmers in some cases. The reasons are many and I will mention a few based on my experience:
№ In some humanitarian situation, time constraints force some agencies to prescribe seeds interventions without proper consultations with communities and relevant research institutions. There is need to allocate enough time to assessments on appropriateness of seed including soil testing (these are projects with like 10 months projects)
№ Some agencies do not conduct seed germination tests to test the germination rate and hybrid vigor before seeds are procured. As such, unsuitable seeds are procured and get to the farmers immediately or even late.
№ Sometimes we pre-sume that newly released varieties are the best alternative, but farmers can be supported to select their own seed or support selected farmers to bulk seed for the rest.(community Based Seed bulking -Farm Africa in Kitui areas) This is cost effective and enables farmers to plant what has been tested in their areas.
№ Poor legislative environment where traders take any grain color it in dissemination it in packaged containers as certified seeds or new varieties with little oversight by government authorities as in the case of Kenya. In the absence of government oversight, there is need for more caution and relevant extension services provided.
№ In places like Kenya, we've seen too many new varieties of maize, sorghum, cassava.....confusing the farmers; like "Tajirika", "Karembo"," Kahu tele" cassava cultivars in Mtapwa KARI centre.
№ Sometimes we forget new varieties also come in the form of a package...new pesticides, fertilizers but when we design interventions, this is often forgotten and we thus offer suitable seed varieties but in the wrong package. Everyone loses here ( FAO/VSFB project in Lodwar where only DTCS (cow peas-K80, Green grams-N26, Sorghum-Gadam and Maize-DH04) will be provided without -Pestcides and no fertilizer ( the area is hot and pests/disese are in plenty); similarly high value vegetable crop seeds like -Kales, Spinach, onions and tomatoes that has no package for fertilizers and pesticides
Thanks
Hammerton Kazungu
Community Development officer
VSFBelgium
Lodwar Field office
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
+254712284102
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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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