SEATINI: Media Tipped On Community Seed Knowledge, Indigenous Seed Practices

 

By PATRICK JARAMOGI

NAJJERA, Uganda [SHIFTMEDIA] The rights of Ugandan farmers who have continued depending on external sources for farming inputs, especially seeds is being abused. These are some of the negative impacts of commercialization of agriculture that has led to the disappearance of indigenous and traditional seeds.

Experts in bio-diversity contend that using indigenous seeds leads to improved food security, sustainable livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation.

SEATINI Uganda’s recent media training highlighted the crucial role of community seed knowledge and indigenous practices in promoting food sovereignty and safeguarding bicultural diversity.

Journalists learned how traditional seed-saving techniques and local agricultural wisdom are vital for enhancing food security and preserving unique cultural identities.

Denis Tabaro, from the African Institute of Culture and Ecology said that by integrating these practices into modern strategies, communities can bolster their resilience against climate change and sustain their rich agricultural heritage.

“The continuous use of indigenous seeds will increase seed and plant diversity thus ensuring the continuation of species,” said Tabaro at the media training held at Esella Country Hotel in Wakiso.

Tabaro said that Ugandan farmers are having challenges accessing agricultural inputs like seeds due to high interest lending rates by commercial banks. “You need 10 lorries a year for one acre to sustain the soils, which farmer can afford such? Banks these days demand for loan payments even before farmer’s harvest,” said Tabaro. He said unlike the traditional indigenous seeds that are pest resistant and can withstand unfavorable conditions, the hybrid seeds need lots of spraying to contain pests.

Jane Nalunga the Executive Director SEATINI Uganda said the issue of seed has been politicized. ‘One who controls what you eat, controls your life.  Seed has become so important, that is why we need the media to steer the debate regarding the seed systems,” said Nalunga.

She said further: ‘If you lose your seed, you lose your sovereignty.  She said that multinational companies like Monsanto who want to own the seed rights, to have farmers depend on their seeds for survival are depriving farmers of their rights to access seeds. “The person who controls medicine, food, Seeds, Will always make you look like a beggar,” she said. Nalunga noted that besides hybrid seeds being costlier, they cannot be saved of shared among the farmers. She told the media that community seed banks can secure improved access to diverse, and locally adapted seed varieties.

Media Tipped on Community Seed Knowledge

The media can play a pivotal role in promoting community seed knowledge and indigenous seed practices in several impactful ways. According to Margaret Vichuri, a media trainer with ACME (African Center for Media Excellence), journalists can publish compelling stories about local farmers and their traditional seed saving practices.

“Your role is to inform and educate the public about indigenous practices. Highlight successes, and challenges to humanize the issue and engage audiences,” said Vichuri.

 

She said journalists should write compelling stories on climate smart agriculture, AI climate change agriculture, produce documentaries and infographics that explain the importance of indigenous seed practices and their role in food sovereignty

She tasked the journalists to write feature stores, interview indigenous farmers who can provide insights and advocate for traditional seed practices.

Tumuhe Hilda the Program Associate, Debt and Aid Programs at SEATINI sensitized the media personality regarding taking keen interest in loans advanced to Uganda. “Interest yourselves in websites of the Ministry of Finance, to understand more deeply about loans, especially agriculture loans advance to Uganda,” said Tumuhe.

She also tasked them to report on policy developments and advocate for supportive legislation that protects and promotes traditional seed practices.