building food security through farmer-led seed supply systems · long-term approach: resilience...
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Building food security through farmer-led seed supply systems
Dr. Sarah Dalle USC Canada
McGill Global Food Security Conference, October 2011
USC Canada
One of Canada’s oldest international development NGOs, founded by Dr. Lotta Hitschmanova
1945: humanitarian aid to WWII refugees 1960s-1980s: relief/development in Asia, Africa
Following droughts, famines in Northern Ethiopia in the mid-1980s Seed recovery initiative to help farmers rebuild Supported by CIDA
Seeds of Survival program: 1989
Short–term response: seed recovery
Collection: farmers & gene bank Multiplication & enhancement in farmers’ fields
Seed distribution to affected families
Collaboration between farmers & scientists
Diversity: key to local food security
Small farmers rely on a diversity of crops and crop varieties
Diverse agroclimatic conditions Diverse uses: food, income, fuel, forage, medicine, cultural/spiritual
Diversity: key to global food security
Crop diversity managed in farmers’ fields: Supply of germplasm to crop
breeders, researchers and other end users
Sources of resistance to diseases, pests and other biophysical stresses
Disease resistance from Ethiopian barley saved Canadian crop
Long-term approach: resilience
Strengthen farmers’ ability to respond and adapt to changing conditions (climatic, economic, cultural, etc.)
Increase productivity of small farming systems while maintaining diversity
Contribute to in-situ conservation of global plant genetic resources
Seed security
Sufficient quantity and diversity of adaptable seeds to meet seasonal planting needs Challenges: Germination/crop failure (drought, pests &
diseases, illness)
Inadequate seed sources (emergency aid or markets providing inadaptable seeds)
Knowledge loss (seed saving, pest management, etc)
Community Seed Banks
Farmer–run, backup to household seed supply
Reserve of all seeds adapted to the region (existing & new) Loans available to complement household stocks
Farmer-scientist innovation
Evaluation and selection of existing & new varieties (PVS)
Farmer-led development of new varieties (PPB)
Cropping practices, pest management, soil & water conservation
Knowledge and seed exchanges
Seed fairs & networking: exchange of seeds between communities and across climatic zones
Knowledge exchange between farmers, extension, policy makers, development workers
Outcomes: Southern Wollo
Seasonal variability: Farmer adaptation strategies strengthened
Long-maturing sorghum
Short-maturing sorghum
Teff Chickpea
Strengthened seed supply systems facilitate quick adadptation
Outcomes: Southern Wollo
Seasonal variability: Farmer innovation strengthened
Pearl millet Finger millet
Experimentation with alternative drought resistant crops
Short-maturing sorghum
Nutritional and cultural values restored
Outcomes: East Shewa
Re-introduction of durum wheat varieties
Renewal of culturally important foods
Improved human & animal nutrition
Challenges
Scaling up & Institutionalization Initiatives in
many countries but still localized
Support for small scale agriculture and seed systems needed