Farmers Call for Protection of Indigenous Seeds

Farmers in Lango sub region are calling on the government to prioritize protection and promotion of indigenous seeds instead of the improved seeds currently in the market.

Indigenous, also known as heirloom seeds, are those that are native to an area, well suited to the local environment, hardy, pest-resistant, and can withstand unfavorable conditions.

But over the years, most farmers in Lango embraced the "improved" hybrid seeds bought from farmer shops because they are known to be "high yielding" and fast maturing. However, farmers in Lango are returning to indigenous seeds and wants them protected.

The indigenous crops they grow include cassava, sweet potatoes, millet, sorghum, local maize, green gram, black beans, cow peas, and sim-sim. They argue that these variety withstands the current climatic shocks and provide seeds to be replanted in the next season thus cutting unnecessary costs of acquiring hybrid seeds.  

Ongwen Laodog, an indigenous farmer from Amolatar district argued that despite it being associated with backwardness and considered primitive, indigenous seeds are the best in addressing the challenge of food insecurity. According to him, unlike improved/ hybrid, indigenous crops produces all year round.

//Cue in: “Indigenous seeds actually…

Cue out: … shortages would go.”//

He however noted that promoting indigenous crops should not be considered as a threat to hybrid crops saying the two can coexist.

//Cue in: “We don’t want…

Cue out: … plant indigenous crops.”//

Gladys Ewok, a resident of Aneralibi parish in Dokolo District, explained that her interest in indigenous seeds is shaped by the fact that the improved variety of cassava being grown now starts rotting after six months unlike the local variety which stays for more than two years in the garden.

She says with improved seeds; the farmer meets more costs in purchasing fertilizer as well as other pesticides which according to her affects the fertility of the land in the long run. Ewok is happy that some farmers kept the local variety and are now promoting it.

Luo bite:   

//Cue in: “Imwaka okato apito…

Cue out: … tye abaliwa lobo.”//

Ewok is also advocating for the promotion of traditional storage facilities like granaries which she says not only store produce for long but also keeps the aroma intact unlike the current storage bags which are sprayed with smelly “harmful” chemicals.

Luo bite:

//Cue on: “Cem wa arik…

Cue out: … twero miyi two.”//

Bernard Ateng, a farmer from Okwongodul sub county in Dokolo district says hybrid seeds are too expensive for a local farmer to afford yet they cannot be stored for long in case of low market price. He wants government to supply the local seeds so that farmers can multiply them.

Luo bite:

//Cue in: “Koti adong tye…

Cue out: … akom gi tek.”//

A back-ground study conducted in the four sub-regions of Busoga, Teso, Kumam, and Lango revealed that “farming communities are losing their power over food production due to the decline in local food and seed varieties, among other factors.”

Pamela Lakidi Achan, a consultant who engaged with communities during the study says locals are considering indigenous crops in order to protect their land from destruction being caused by hybrid crops and other modern agricultural practices. 

//Cue in: “People are aware…

Cue out: … be used judiciously.”//

Dr. Theresa Auma, the Executive Director of Land and Equity Movement Uganda (LEMU), an NGO promoting the conservation of indigenous seeds in Uganda considers, as key pillars for sustainable development, the need for farming communities to retain land and control their local food systems.

Last week, LEMU launched a national campaign dubbed "Keep Your Land, Keep Your Seeds" which is aimed at creating awareness and preventing loss of land, loss of land productivity and loss of indigenous food varieties in Uganda.

Dr. Auma attributed the loss of indigenous seeds to loss of land and land production saying the two goes hand in hand. The challenge, she believes, calls for joint efforts to promote the rejuvenation of traditional foods and organic agricultural practices to improve the livelihood of all Ugandans. 

//Cue in: “Our indigenous food…

Cue out: … replanted for redistribution.”//

Naome Kabanda, the acting director of land management at the Ministry of Lands advised the ministry of Agriculture to consider setting up seed banks for indigenous seeds like beans from where supplies can be made to the farmers.

//Cue in: “A seed bank…

Cue out: … to the roots.”//

Planting indigenous seeds helps preserve biodiversity by supporting the growth of native plant species. This, in turn, provides habitat and food sources for local wildlife, contributing to a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

END