Project Detail

Seed Security and Agricultural Biodiversity for Sustainable Livelihoods

For many marginal communities in South Africa, growing their food and practising low input agriculture is a primary survival strategy. They rely on a diversity of seed and crops to ensure food security in adverse times. On-farm seed saving and community seed banks is the only way they can have access to diverse reliable, appropriate and affordable seed supply. This project sims to support the capacity of two communities in South Africa to establish seed supply systems, promote agro-biodiversity and advocate for a policy framework thta protects the rights of farmers to save seed and that promote these livelihood practices. The priority crops for these communities are groundnuts, amadube (taro), sweet potato, finger and pearl millet, bambara nuts, pigeon pea, cassava, cowpeas, sorgum, sugar beans and maize.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Biowatch

Country:

South africa

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 3

Grant Amount:

US$ 45,101.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 191,444.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

Project Number:

SAF/05/01

Start Date:

7/2004

End Date:

12/2008

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Policy Impact

A critical part of this proposal is advocacy and lobboying of government and private sector policies that threaten seed security and agricultural biodiversity. The organisation has already been instrumental in effecting changes within the Biodiversity Act.

Gender Focus

The project envisages to train and support women who are largely responsible for ensuring food security. However, the project will not exclude men from participating in the project activities.

Notable Community Participation

The project idea was developed from a workshop held in November 2003, which recommend various strategies to support subsistence farmers including but not limited to expanding or broadening the existing knowledge base of subsistence farmers. The project was further refined through meetings and workshops held by the community members and the NGO.

Capacity - Building Component

The project objectives include developing the capacity of two local community organisations in KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo on setting up sustainable seed supply systems tp promote the autonomy of these communities and increase agricultural biodiversity. In addition to training activities it is envisaged that the project will build networks and organisations to support their work through farmer exchange visits.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project responds to threats in the seed sector, namely: - the lack of a supportive seed policy to address the needs of small scale farmers - the promotion of high input and GE varieties, and - limited awareness about global trends The project will therefore raise community awareness of the threat of GE crops in order for them to make informed decisions.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project supports one livelihood option, namely subsistence agriculture. Because of its informal nature it is not afforded the institutional and economic support. Farmer livelihoods are threatened by insensitive and inappropriate government policies and pressures from the commercial sector. Small scale farmers are significantly marginalised and puts pressure on their ability to sustain their livelihoods. This project aims to empower small scale farmers in two communities in South Africa.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The project will target a community of the Zulu and Shangaan people.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

none

Project Results

The Project Results are as follows:
- improved food security through better seed security
- independence of farmers
- in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity
- preservation of cultural and traditional practices and cultural heritage
- targeted farmers develop an extensive resource base of traditional knowledge and utilise local resources and practices to ehance seed and food security
- skills and resource exchange mechanisms and structures are well developed and independent of currency.

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