Hi Okidi, I can see a lot of very good discussions that has been going on since you formed the group! I will try to catch up with the various exchanges you have had so far. My experience from Gedo region, Somalia is that, there was some time we had thought that it is very important using the time tested, locally adopted seeds varieties from local farmers when doing seed based programming. This we believed will not only ensure we have seed varieties the communities believe in/trust but also the money injected into the local economy will improve the livelihood standard through trickle down effects. However, the challenge was, will the local farmers have the capacity (in terms of quantity and storage/quality ) of seeds that can suffice the demand from the contracting authority (NGOS, UN etc) this, can be achieved through a long term strategy of starting local seed multiplication plan and in the long term the same targeted farmers for the seed multiplication can be used as seed vendors/suppliers (currently none exist in most of SCZ Somalia). Such a strategy will rope in more farmers to aim and benefit from the plan and hopefully in the future we shall have a fully fledged cooperatives/local entities specializing in seeds multiplication as a venture. Other research bodies specializing in seeds (ICRIsat etc) could also be partnered with to offer more expertise in the same. Thanks. 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: Friday, August 01, 2014 9:40 AM To: [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 - POOR QUALITY SEED 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] 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 <https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1> &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 <https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1> &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 <https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1> &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