• Agriculture

Agriculture

Intervening in seed systems is serious business. Seed systems are at the heart of agricultural production and determines what farmers grow and whether they will have a harvest. Badly designed and poorly implemented seed aid during a crisis harms farmers, making them even more vulnerable to uncertainties. ‘Do-gooder’ aid though well intentioned, can also create long term dependency and may also weaken systems. Avoiding these pitfalls is a major concern for those intent on delivering better seed aid and seed system support. Emergency seed aid interventions must be carefully matched to the local ecology and to people's ecosystems.

This guide presents a seven-step method for assessing the security of farmers seed systems in situations of acute or chronic stress. It aims to serve as a practical field manual for donor agencies, governmental ministries, non-governmental organisations, and individual charged with agricultural relief and recovery, including those with little or no expertise in seed systems.

The guide provides some brief background information on seed systems and the concept of seed security before continuing to lay out the steps in conducting a seed system security assessment: 

• identify zones for assessment and possible intervention 
  
• describe the normal status of crop and seed systems 
  
• describe the broad effects of the disaster on farming systems 
  
• set goals for agricultural relief and recovery operations based on farmers needs 
  
• assess the post crisis functioning of see channels to determine whether short-term assistance is needed
  
• identify chronic stresses requiring longer-term solutions and identify emerging development opportunities
  
• determine the most appropriate responses, based on analysis of priority constraints, opportunities, and farmers needs.
  
  
  

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