First seed fair in Chad: A way to bring the Peasant Seed System forward

It is in Pala that the CROPS4HD team in Chad demonstrated our project as an initiative to show case the importance of peasant seeds in food security and biodiversity preservation. This was done through a two-day fair, on the 20 and 21 December 2022, with the theme “Seed systems, biodiversity and resilience of rural households in Chad to the multiple socio-climatic crises”.

Links between gender and varietal selection: the case study in Orissa

In September 2022, Bhittibhumi carried out a participatory Variety Selection (PVS) exercise in Orissa with the support and guidance of FiBL. The exercise involved farmers as key stakeholders to seek and determine the most preferred lines of green gram and sesame for further advancement. Discussions with the farmers (both genders) showed differences and some similarities in trait preferences and varietal choices.

PMCA visibilty in Niger

In Niger, CROPS4HD actors participated to the National Forum for Women’s and Youth’s Empowerment taking place in Dosso in October 2022. It was the 6th edition with the specific theme “Entrepreneurship in Niger: promoting areas of growth”. CROPS4HD, have had the opportunity to present the Participatory Market Chain Approach.

Nane Nane Day : Farmer’s exhibition week in Tanzania

A one-week fair, the Agricultural Exhibition, took place in various locations in Tanzania, where farmers and other agricultural stakeholders were put in the spotlight, providing them an opportunity to share their concrete activities and inputs on the agricultural sector with the general public. More broadly, it enabled awareness-raising to the policy makers, community, and other stakeholders on the contribution of Farmer Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) and availability of seeds in the country.

Participatory Varietal Selection in India: research and process in the state of Karnataka

Promoting change through participatory activities is one of the key goals of CROPS4HD. For this, we conduct a concrete approach for the PUSH implementing aspect of the project: the Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS). In India, the first training supervised by expert from FiBL, and jointly organized by FiBL, SWISSAID and Sahaja Samrudha, took place in Mysore, Karnataka on amaranth crop in June 2022.

Creation of synergies in Chad : PMCA Event

During the first half year of 2022 the four CROPS4HD countries have successfully established the launch of their first Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA) event. In Chad, this first event took place on the 18th of June in N’Djamena. This approach aims to bring together farmers, market agents and other service providers to identify and create a business opportunity through the creation of new products from NUS and non-NUS crops.

FiBL’s technical and scientific support in Niger

In May 2022, the Nigerien team welcomed the visit of an expert from FiBL, who provided valuable  technical and scientific support. During the week of visit, three main aspects regarding CROPS4HD project were covered: to strengthen the training of stakeholders on the participatory varietal selection approach, to support the monitoring of the implementation of PUSH components, and finally to supervise the collection process of Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) ecotypes.