Project News

A community seed bank at Cheffe Village

Dr. Y. Morimoto of Bioversity International, Nairobo and Mr. Shiratori of FRG II visited a Community Seed Bank (CSB) at Cheffe Village near Debra Zeit. The drought in the early 2000s made the farmers in the community to lose much of their local wheat varieties. With the support from a local NGO, the farmers reintroduced local wheat varieties from the National Gene Bank and started their own CSB. By managing the local varieties together with improved ones introduced from the nearby research centre through the seed bank, the farmers have achieved better access to seed and food security. A farmer who participates the seed bank explained us that seven wheat varieties are commonly sawn by each farmer in average and some farmers saw around 12 varieties. It was a surprising fact that the seed diversity was a core part of the farmers' cropping strategy. Inside the CSB warehouse, 60 locally available wheat and beans varieties were kept in bottles, which the farmers can use when they need them. The CSB has been supported by Ethio-Organic Seed Action (EOSA) and USC Canada.