The following are some basic facts and figures about the four seed fairs described in this study.
Central Zone
|
Dabalo: |
26 people showed crops |
|
|
|
|
Misughaa: |
32 people and 1 school showed crops |
|
|
|
|
Total: |
58 people and 1 school showed crops |
Southern Highlands
|
Shinji |
21 groups and four individual farmers showed crops |
|
Malinzanga |
Numbers not available |
In general, more women than men farmers attended and/or displayed crops and seeds at the fairs. Fewer women attend larger-scale agricultural fairs and exhibitions, because women rarely travel long distances and are less interested in the improved cash crops that larger-scale events tend to concentrate on.
The tables below show the categories of crops shown.
Farmers focused mainly on staple crops, but many neglected and collected crops were also shown. Few cash crops were shown. Research team members were surprised to find some new crop varieties that they had not seen before.
Women showed far more collected crops than men did; for example, in Dabalo in the central zone, two men showed collected crops, compared with ten women.
|
|
Cash crops |
Staple crops |
Neglected crops |
Colleted crops |
New varieties |
Total |
|
Central Zone |
||||||
|
Dabalo |
3 |
19 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
37 |
|
Misughaa |
4 |
18 |
6 |
8 |
3 |
39 |
|
Southern Highlands |
||||||
|
Shinji |
0 |
4 |
30 |
10 |
8 |
52 |
|
Malinsanga |
0 |
3 |
12 |
2 |
1 |
18 |
Far more local than modern crop varieties were displayed.
|
|
Local varieties |
Modern varieties |
Total |
|
Central Zone |
|||
|
Misughaa |
83 |
25 |
108 |
|
Datalo |
72 |
18 |
90 |
|
Southern Highlands |
|||
|
Malinzanga* |
|
|
|
|
Shinji |
139 |
7 |
146 |
* Crop varieties displayed in Malinzanga were not recorded according to whether they were local or modern.
In Shinji (Southern Highlands), farmers showed a large number of local crop varieties of:
maize: 20 varieties;
beans: 26 varieties;
sorghum: 16 varieties;
pumpkin: 14 varieties.
In Dabalo (Central Zone) the following were shown:
maize: 8 varieties;
sorghum: 13 varieties;
songe gourd: 8 varieties;
cow peas: 9 varieties.
In Misughaa (Central Zone) the following were shown:
sorghum: 15 varieties;
sponge gourd: 8 varieties;
cowpea: 6 varieties;
finger millet: 7 varieties;
mlenda: 7 varieties.
Project field research in rural communities helps to create awareness of local crop diversity and related issues among community members, the research team and other stakeholders. A surprising number of farmers often know very little about the different crop varieties that are being used by other farmers living in the same rural community. Research greatly increases farmers' and researchers' awareness of crop diversity within rural communities, and there is a need to strengthen this process further through the use of community events. Seed fairs are a good way of achieving this.
At community seed fairs, farmers have the possibility of showing and exchanging small quantities of their seed. Seed fairs provide them with the opportunity to meet and discuss not only seeds, but also local practices and knowledge linked to specific seed varieties. In order to make seed fairs affordable for rural farmers, they should be organized on a small scale and cover only a few communities. Based on the wealth of local crop varieties available in the communities, seed fairs focus mainly on local crop diversity (improved, local, neglected and collected crops). Hybrid seeds can also be exhibited, but they should not be the main focus of a fair.
The advantage of small-scale seed fairs is that smallholder farmers can participate without problems. Few travel costs are involved, and women - who are the key people for neglected and collected crops - find it easier to attend. Another advantage of local seed fairs is that the seeds displayed are easily accessible, as they rely on local resources rather than on those from outside the community. This makes follow-up easier for the farmers; when they have exchanged seed varieties, they can discuss their experiences, thereby strengthening further exchange and communication, including through the establishment of local networks.
The following are some points to consider in the planning and implementation of a community seed fair.
The most important factor in a useful community seed fair is that the community feels ownership of it. This can best be accomplished by giving the lead role to a seed fair organizing committee with community representation. The formation of a seed fair organizing committee is the first action in the planning of a seed fair.
The committee should have representatives from the community, project research and extension staff, school staff, the church, local groups and organizations, women and men farmers, and community leaders. The seed fair committee should then meet to plan and implement the seed fair.
Clear roles and responsibilities should be defined for the committee members so that all the necessary arrangements are made.
Planning should start long before the seed fair, preferably around harvest time so that farmers can save sufficient seed of the crops and varieties that they want to display, sell or exchange.
A date that does not conflict with other community events should be chosen for the seed fair. This should preferably be shortly before the planting season, when farmers are most interested in buying seed. The risks with this are that some farmers might have no seed left to display, or they may have large quantities, which they want to sell.
The committee should develop a programme for the seed fair.
The seed fair should be conducted by the community for the community.
The seed fair should be given a theme that captures the interest and significance of crop diversity for the local community and suits local culture. The community needs to have a clear idea of the seed fair objective so that activities can be planned and then evaluated after the fair.
The following are some suggested objectives for a seed fair. A fair should have no more than two objectives.
Objective 1: Raising awareness of local crop diversity at the rural community level
Displays of crop diversity, with judging and awards for the best displays.
Presentations by very knowledgeable farmers on the crop diversity that they conserve.
Sketches, songs and dances related to crop diversity.
LinKS project presentations on the findings of field research.
Objective 2: Educating the community (including the younger generation) about crop diversity. With the involvement of students, an educational component can be presented that will help the future conservation and use of crop diversity
Presentations on nutrition and the cooking of local crop diversity. Highlight the nutritional value of neglected and collected crops. Explain the importance of nutritious food, especially for HIV/AIDS-afflicted people.
Demonstrations of processing and storage for local crops.
Involvement of the local school, including students' drawings and essays on crop diversity.
Exchange of experiences and information about seed selection and storage.
Objective 3: Buying, selling and bartering seed to encourage the conservation of crop diversity and spread it among local farmers
Farmers' sale or exchange of small quantities of local varieties.
Objective 4: Encouraging community-level production of crop diversity
Sale or exchange of local varieties.
Exchange of information on local varieties.
Planning of demonstration plots, including at the local school or with a farmer (quality declared seed [QDS], very knowledgeable farmer or other).
Based on the identified objectives, the following activities should be carried out:
An activity coordinator is identified to have overall responsibility for all the activities.
The activity coordinator discusses and recruits community members who will be involved.
The activity coordinator meets participants and agrees the necessary planning to carry out the activity.
The activity coordinator reports to the community seed fair committee.
The activity coordinator ensures that participants, materials, etc. are ready for the seed fair.
The activity coordinator reviews the activity with the participants and committee after the seed fair, to discuss how it was received and how it could be improved.
The most knowledgeable farmers and women farmers should be especially encouraged to participate in seed fairs because they are the key resource people for crop diversity.
The seed fair should not be limited to hybrid and improved seed varieties or cash crops; local seed fairs are a good opportunity to highlight and display the role and importance of neglected and collected crops for food security.
QDS farmers should also participate.
Community seed fairs must be sustainable. Every effort should be made to make the event self-funded based on the contributions of time and effort from the committee and participants. Local sources of sponsorship should be arranged if needed. Ideally, community seed fairs should be held regularly, twice a year. This would give farmers two reliable opportunities a year to find seed varieties that they have lost or long been looking for.
It is essential to inform the community of the seed fair in advance so that sufficient seed is saved for display and exchange. Local means should be used to create awareness through announcements at public events, posters, radio and leaflets.
The seed fair committee and activity coordinators must plan in advance:
Where will the seed faire take place?
When will it take place?
What will its objective be?
Who will be invited?
Who can display seeds (everybody or only certain people)? How will these people be identified and selected, and according to which criteria? How can farmers who plant more varieties than others be encouraged to participate?
What kind of material is required? Only local materials need be used - it is not necessary to build big stands as displays can be arranged on pieces of cloth spread on the ground.
What kinds of seeds will be exposed (local, improved, hybrid, collected, neglected, wild, etc.)?
What kind of awards will be distributed? Where will they be obtained?
Contact between activity coordinators and participants is necessary:
What are activity coordinators planning to do?
Who will participate? Is a large response from the rural community expected?
What will participants have to do?
When will they have to start with the activity?
The farmers and the crop diversity they display should be registered for follow-up after the event:
Who will do this?
How will crop diversity be registered?
Where will this information be stored?
What will happen to this information?
Who is interested in this kind of information?
The project staff should use this opportunity to review the crop diversity displayed, compare this with the findings of the study and record additional crop diversity.
A set programme should be followed as closely as possible, starting with an opening statement by the seed fair committee and invited guests:
Who will open the seed fair?
General events and individual presentations should follow.
There should be an award presentation followed by a final closing ceremony.
Who will select the award winners? According to which criteria?
Who will close the seed fair?
For the community members who are conserving crop diversity, recognition is an essential element of a seed fair. Awards can be provided for the most crops, most varieties of a crop, best display, best activity and best presentation. Simple awards of seed, certificates or tools can be provided.
After the seed fair, the seed fair committee should meet to review how it was received and to determine how it could be improved and when the next seed fair should be held.
Ideally, seed fairs should be organized twice or three times a year, before each planting season. Farmers need to understand the routine of regular seed fairs.
