Safeguarding farmer-managed seed systems is one of the key objectives of the CROPS4HD project. Local seeds represent a genuine genetic heritage, handed down from generation to generation and particularly well adapted to local cultural and climatic contexts.
In this video, you will learn more about this farmer-based seed system in Niger and the activities implemented by CROPS4HD to support it. Specifically, you’ll learn how the construction of community seed banks offers farmers a more secure seed supply, increasing their resilience in the face of climatic hazards and potential crises.
As Doka Gado, a resident of the village of Amoukke, explains, many seeds of local varieties, such as the “Arné” bean, are disappearing year after year. To tackle this problem, community seed banks have been set up to safeguard local seeds such as millet and voandzou, which have always been used in the village.
After raising awareness in each village, and since the video was recorded, the 10 seed banks mentioned have been built using local materials in the communes of Matankari and Dankassari. Farmers from these villages have built up an initial stock of seeds in each of them, and set up a management structure to ensure their smooth running. Thanks to 120 newly trained seed guardians, about ten plant species are currently conserved in these banks, including neglected and underutilized species (NUS) such as sesame, voandzou or okra.
