Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-The Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT) has urged for the promotion of ccommunity seed banking approach in African countries for purposes of seed saving by smallholder farmers.
After each harvest between 60 -80% of the seed grown by smallholder farmers is saved on-farm with the remainder being sourced from off-farm.
The institution says prior knowledge in the area will prove useful in the field.
“The African farmers have over the years developed vast knowledge bases and skills of growing, selecting and storing these crop varieties which are adapted to the marginalized environments of the continent”.
The organisation has however noted some challenges pertaining to this.
“However, these genetic resources are under threat from continued erosion and loss from environmental, social, economic and scientific factors such as the introduction and vigorous promotion of hybrids, climate change related droughts, crop failures, floods, conflict situations, pests and diseases and the introduction of genetically modified crops”.
“The continued loss of farmers PGR poses a danger to smallholder farmer’s sustenance, food and nutrition security and livelihoods”.
During its last stakeholders meeting in Zimbabwe in June the grouping of Africa countries attending the event noted the importance of establishing community seed banks due to various reasons.
“(Seed banks) provide smallholder farmers with easy access to quality locally adaptable seeds, preserve local knowledge, bio-cultural heritage of adaptable seeds of choice of farmers and also promote on-farm seed saving, exchange and selling of local seeds”, it said.
The Zimbabwean minister of agriculture Joseph Made is also on record urging for the same.
“Seed selection, saving and exchange are at the heart of traditional agricultural systems for millions of small holder farmers across Africa and the world at large. This contribute significantly to livelihoods and the conservation of agricultural diversity”.
“Enabling farmers to maintain and develop this diversity, along with their rich knowledge of and practices in traditional agriculture and agro-ecology, is vital in ensuring present and future food security and sovereignty”.
“Farmers’ varieties and landraces are vital for livelihoods; they enhance food security, strengthen social cohesion, maintain cultural integrity, and build climate resilience”, he said.
Africa like the rest of the world has been facing climatological challenges due to global warming such as droughts and floods all of which have seriously impacted on the livelihoods and habits of small holder farmers who compose most of its population.
Small holder farmers play a big role in African food production, providing 80% of the food.
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