How can farmer-managed seed systems contribute to food security in Chad? This was the question that the 800 participants focused on during the second edition of the Farmers’ Seed Fair, organized in Koumra from December 12 to 13, 2023 as part of CROPS4HD.
As in other African countries, Chad’s agricultural sector, which employs more than two-thirds of the population, is bearing the full brunt of climate change. The irregularity and scarcity of rainfall, for example, leads to a drop in agricultural yields. Soil fertility, impoverished by the use of harmful chemical inputs and poor crop diversification, is declining every year. This difficult situation poses a number of challenges for the country, including serious food insecurity and conflicts over the sharing of natural resources.
In this context, the question of seeds is of prime importance, since they are one of the main factors impacting agricultural yields. In Chad, current commercial practices and the legal framework favor the formal seed system, and therefore industrial seeds, to the detriment of farm saved seeds. Yet the latter, produced directly by farmers, are less costly, more locally adapted, often more resilient to climatic hazards, and require fewer external inputs. In fact, they are used by 95% of Chad’s small-scale producers.
Farmers’ seeds are used for food, cultural, social and therapeutic purposes. They are a way of life and a belief that must be known and safeguarded to better guarantee food security.
Olivier Ngardouel Mbaïnaïkou, SWISSAID Country Representative in Chad
One of CROPS4HD’s missions is to promote the diversity of farmers’ seeds, particularly neglected and under-utilized species (NUS), and to raise public awareness of their importance as a foundation for sustainable food security. This explains why, after a successful first edition in Pala at the end of 2022, the farmers’ seed fair was back in December 2023 for a new event showcasing the diversity and richness of Chadian farmers’ seeds.
The chosen theme, ” My seed, my identity, for sustainable food security “, was addressed through a variety of activities. Lectures, debates and screenings gave attendees the opportunity to learn about and question issues relating to food security, biodiversity preservation and seed use. Through practical workshops, participants followed trainings on agroecology, nutrition and how to prepare local dishes using NUS. In a dedicated exhibition area, farmers’ organizations and growers presented their seed varieties to the public, leading to enriching discussions on the practice of peasant agriculture. Finally, seed exchanges and sales were organized.
The fair brought together farmers, Cadres de Concertation pour la Promotion des Pratiques Agroécologiques (CACOPA), farmers’ organizations, agricultural product processors, women’s and youth groups, NGOs, representatives of state and local authorities, the media and research institutions. At the end of the event, stakeholders publicly expressed their commitment to supporting the peasant seed system. The governor of Mandoul province has also pledged to act as spokesman for this cause with the Chadian government.
For CROPS4HD, events like this fair represent places where the different dimensions of the project intersect: support for producers, public awareness-raising and political advocacy. The number of participants, the quality of the debates and the presence of political authorities at the second edition of the farmers’ seed fair in Chad therefore represent a true success for the project.