In the vibrant town of Kikuyu, nestled amidst Kenya's verdant landscapes, lies a pivotal institution for the country's agricultural future—the National Seed Bank. Established in 1988, it was a response to the alarming disappearance of traditional seed varieties, a trend exacerbated by changing climate conditions. This repository not only conserves over 50,000 seed types but plays a crucial role in research and potential reintroduction to farms.
The resilience of these traditional seeds offers substantial promise. According to Desterio Nyamongo, Director of the Genetic Resources Research Institute, traditional seeds outperform their hybrid counterparts, especially in less fertile areas. Their inherent resistance to challenges like pests and disease presents a beacon of hope for Kenya's agriculture. With rain-fed farming accounting for a third of the nation's GDP, these seeds could prove vital amid frequent droughts and other climate shocks.
The situation poses complex challenges. A 2023 U.N. report highlights escalating food security issues across Africa, where over a billion people struggle for healthy diets. Kenya, like many countries, faces additional pressures from counterfeit seeds flooding the market. Millions in losses have plagued farmers, prompting urgent calls for enhanced seed quality control.
During Kenya's inaugural international seed quality conference, Paul Rono, a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture, acknowledged the continent's struggle with producing high-quality certified seeds. Echoing these concerns, Stephen Muchiri from the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation underscored a flawed seed breeding and propagation system as a contributing factor to diminishing crop vigor.
A law enacted in 2012 further complicates the landscape, prohibiting seed sharing—a traditional cost-cutting practice for Kenyan farmers. While intended to avert uncertified seed circulation, it faces legal challenges. Farmers like Francis Ngiri argue that constantly purchasing new seeds is financially burdensome. Ngiri, based in Gilgil, 120 kilometers from Nairobi, champions indigenous seeds at his community seed bank, teaching sustainable conservation methods.
Despite the legislative hurdles, farmers like Maximilla Onyura in Busia County find value in indigenous seeds for food security. Although not part of the legal dispute, she collaborates with seed savers to promote resilient, locally adapted crops.
The penalties for seed sharing in Kenya include fines and potential imprisonment, although no farmers have been prosecuted to date. The National Seed Bank sporadically provides free seed samples to help farmers counter environmental stressors. Nyamongo highlights the importance of these varieties for farmers without access to fertilizers necessary for hybrid seeds.
Globally, there's a push for investing in community-based seed programs to diversify indigenous seed use, according to Patrick V. Verkooijen from the Global Center on Adaptation. These varieties, he notes, offer genetic diversity crucial for combating climate impacts and fostering sustainable agriculture.
Proponents in Kenya, including Ngiri, argue that perceived drawbacks like lower yields mainly arise when seeds are transplanted beyond their native environments. Their local adaptation makes them better suited to prevailing conditions.
For Kenya, the ongoing debate on seed legislation underscores the broader struggle to balance modern agricultural practices with traditional wisdom, ensuring a resilient and secure food future.
