Zimbabwe seminar

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Zimbabwe seminar

• Bronte Hotel, Zimbabwe
• 16 April 2004

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MUTOKO COMMUNITY SEEDBANKS PROJECT

• A Community Based On-farm Agrobidiversity
  Conservation Project By SALRED In Zimbabwe

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Background

• In 1993 GTZ commissioned the Sorghum Land Race
  Study (Dr Saskia van Oosterhout) - Which was a
  detailed socio-economic survey of the coping
  strategies of smallholder farmers with adverse
  weather conditions regarding seed deployment of
  small grains
• The surveys revealed that almost 60 of the
  smallholder farmers in the study areas were
  completely food insecure.
• The major constraints to conservation and
  sustainable use of agrobiodiversity included
  shortage of seed

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Background 2

• The MCS project was initiated in 1995 in four
  wards in Mutoko. These are Kagande, Nyarukokora,
  Tarehwa and Kawazva
• The overall objective of the project was to
  enhance farmers livelihoods through conservation
  and sustainable use of plant genetic resources
  for food and agriculture.

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Project Methodology

• Participatory bottom up approach
• Training in seed production, processing, business
  management, leadership
• Seed fairs green shows introduction of new
  crops on-farm characterization of landraces
  exchange visits
• Key players farmers, community leaders, SALRED,
  AREX
• Partner institutions ZWB, Plan International,
  ITDG, ORAP, Silveira House, ZFU

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SUCCESSES

• Increased crop and variety diversity
• Improved access to seed
• Income generation
• Improved farmer knowledge
• Improved participation of disadvantaged
• Better market access
• Post harvest processing

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Factors influencing success

• Project focus addressing immediate farmer needs
• Planning and implementation approach
  participatory and transparent
• Respect and use of local knowledge
• Use of predominantly local resources
• Stakeholder support
• Full time project coordination
• Massive field level experience

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Institutional conditions

• Built on traditional structures zunde ramambo
  traditional authorities
• Community ownership and empowerment
• Networking with other organisations for training,
  seed supply, etc
• High social networking

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Challenges

• Marketing of small grains
• Seed storage
• Field workers lacked capacity
• Lack of resources
• SALRED new organisation
• Socio conditions

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Project impact
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Project Impact

• Diversity - 35 new FVs, 19 new MVs, 2 new crops
• ? indigenous and new knowledge
• ? livelihoods income, esp. food seed security
• 4 CSBs built
• Strong participation farmers at centre of
  planning mgmt, incl. women

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Policy Recommendations

• Review of agricultural policy to promote the
  production and use of small grains and other
  minor crops
• Mainstreaming agrobiodiversity conservation into
  agriculture