Dear Joseph,

A lot has been said in this discussion.

Agriculture belonged to the local indigenous community way back before the green revolution; the indigenous people were food/fruits gatherers. They could throw the reminants in the surrounding where they live and because of their observable skills on the seeds types  growing, they practiced what we refer to as selection criteria based on; type, colour, Purity and uniformity for over time resulting in to the diverse pure seeds varieties of farmers in the farmers’ seed system. However the onset of the green revolution due to the need to produce more food to the increasing population coupled with limited land was a need to modify the farmers’ seeds in to the improved seeds we now see in the formal seed sector. Thus farmers are knowledgeable of their own seeds in terms of adaptability, suitability to the environment and the owners of agriculture through all challenges they encountered in gardening and we need to consult them in all aspects before programming.

                         unsuitable varieties have been provided as seed aids, you find most of this varieties from the seed companies might have stayed not planted over  time and have lost its viability hence the agencies involve in seeds should impose strict technical guidelines on seed variety and declares on seed quality imported for distribution by actors.

However sometimes the seeds may not be unsuitable but farmers lack technology on the new variety especially timing of maturity indicators, planting time,post harvest handling and even if the seeds are suitable the farmers tend to blame the seed variety and yet there is need to introduce and create technological information flow in prioritizing the use of this new varieties through awareness of the new improve variety introduced to farmers from seed aid and not neglecting the farmers basic seeds. I experience this from one of the counties in south Sudan were the farmer complained of groundnut variety (Serenut)supplied to her saying “the roots started rotting when she was yet expecting the branches to yield more roots” which was a sense of poor timing of maturity.

we can improve this if we carry out allot of consultative inquiry with people on ground for seed producers hence we see what is appropriate and feasible to obtain farmers views and incorporate in our rapid rural appraisal approach (RRA) and also by having intense awareness of any introduced variety to the farmers in terms of maturity timing, planting period and all agronomic practices involve but not to rush on distribution because projects have always a short duration.

                The seeds security in the disaster population is not always intensively assessed, why? the agencies most times uses estimated figures which may not be concrete to draw conclusions of which the ideas / findings from the local people are underestimated and generalized hence they depend on estimated data which may not be accurate.

                The views of the local people have never been taken in consideration as the actors always surprises them with any seed type they feel is cheaply available in the market and not considering varietal choices, suitability, adaptability of the seed type and yet the local people have the varieties which can further be modified. The local people have to be considered in identifying their own problems and their views in finding solutions to their own problems hence their ideas should be considered in formal research.

Thanks

KOITI BETTY

Universal Network for Knowledge and Empowerment Agency (UNKEA).

FSL Manager



On Wed, Aug 6, 2014 at 12:32 PM, 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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Executive Director, Somali programme
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