Agricultural recovery from disasters – the importance of seed-based support

Ensuring farmers have seed is an essential part of emergency aid strategies in Africa. But how effective are these strategies, and who benefits from them?

Research from the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture and Catholic Relief Services examines emergency seed systems in seven African countries. There are two types of seed relief systems. The first relies on seed distribution by commercial organisations (most common in countries where maize is the dominant cereal). The second is based on farmer systems where seed is sourced from market traders – either directly or via a voucher system.

Local seed markets are resilient and continue to function during periods of stress. Seeds from these markets are often acceptable to farmers, as they know where the seed was produced and are confident of its performance. Local seed markets are also increasingly important for introducing new seed varieties, developed by formal research systems, either directly through sale at special seed fairs or indirectly through market traders. In many cases, local systems are actually more effective at introducing new seed varieties than formal distribution channels. 

It is crucial that policies and practices support local seed markets in post-stress periods. Seed vouchers and fairs are a new mechanism to distribute seed aid that provide beneficiaries with choice, and support local seed traders and markets. Beneficiaries receive vouchers that they can exchange for locally sold seeds.

The research shows:

• In Burundi, seed fairs had a positive impact by stimulating social ties between traders and buyers and building relationships that allow farmers to obtain seeds away from seed fairs.
• Sales at seed fairs in western Uganda were dominated by a smaller number of crops and varieties than farmers were actually growing. Seed fairs need better planning to increase the diversity of varieties used.

There are some circumstances where local seed markets cannot cope. When crop production breaks down because of plant disease or declining fertility, local systems may not have the capacity to bring in new plant materials. For example, when cassava brown streak disease hit Mozambique, the distribution of  disease-free cuttings did not work as quickly or widely as expected, nor was subsequent farmer management adequate. It is crucial to share knowledge about the causes of the disease and effective planting practices alongside the introduction of new materials.

In most cases, seed aid is triggered by an acute event, but there are often underlying problems. These include declining agricultural productivity, drought stress and ongoing civil unrest. By only responding in disaster situations, seed aid programmes often overlook the underlying causes of seed insecurity. Furthermore, a disaster response, whether direct distribution or market-based, often fails to examine the precise problem or how farmers are coping with it. This misses opportunities to strengthen seed systems and improve seed security.

Several policies can improve the effectiveness of seed aid. The researchers recommend a combination of strategies:

• Local seed systems should be understood and seed security diagnosed before any seed aid interventions are made.
• More rigorous evaluation of seed aid strategies will help to refine current implementation models for different situations.
• Better use of learning of what has and has not worked should inform potential policy responses.

Source(s):
‘Addressing Seed Security in Disaster Response: Linking Relief with Development,’ International Centre for Tropical Agriculture: Cali, Colombia, by (eds) Louise Sperling, Tom Remington, Jon M. Haugen and Sigrid Nagoda, 2004 Full document.

Funded by: United States Agency for International Development and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

id21 Research Highlight: 22 June 2006

Further Information:
Louise Sperling
Centro International de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT)
Le Ginestre
Lucio Volumnio 37
00178 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 (6) 7185454
Fax: +39 (6) 6197661
Contact the contributor: l.sperling@cgiar.org

Centro International de Agricultura Tropical, Italy

Tom Remington
Catholic Relief Services
PO Box 49675
Nairobi
Kenya

Tel: +254 733 627 660
Contact the contributor: tremington@crsearo.org

Catholic Relief Services, Kenya

Other related links:
'Putting farmers at the centre of the rice seed systems in Bangladesh'

'Maintaining crop genetic diversity through farmer networks'

'Using local seed systems for agricultural disaster recovery'