ON July 11 2024, Colin Todhunter wrote an article in the Guardian, War on Farmers: World Bank Sowing Seed-Colonialism in Africa (https://off-guardian.org/2024/07/11/war-on-farmers-world-bank-sowing-seed-colonialism-in-africa/), where he was highlighting the criminalisation of seed farmers through a law passed in Kenya in 2012.
In essence, “Kenya’s Seed and Plant Varieties Act, demolishes self-sufficiency among smallholder farmers who use indigenous seeds to grow food.”
But “in 2022, the Kenyan smallholder farmers launched a legal case against its government calling for reform of the 2012 seed law to stop criminalising them for sharing seeds and a hearing is scheduled for 24 July 2024.”
In the Guardian article, Todhunter confirms that “the AGRA initiative, acronym for Alliance for a Green revolution in Africa, funded by the Gates and Rockefeller Foundations, has been intervening directly in the formulation of African governments’ agricultural policies on issues like seeds and land, a move designed to impoverish smallholder farmers and lock them out of farming, whilst at the same time opening up African markets to US agribusiness”.
The corporate commodification of knowledge and privatisation of seeds, now a global issue has become an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) imperative. In this instalment, and two subsequent instalments, we are going to interrogate from an ESG perspective, seed retention as being crucial for small holder African farmers’ survival.
Importance of seed retention
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From an ESG perspective, seed retention is crucial for small holder African farmers for several reasons:
Environmental sustainability
Biodiversity: Traditional seeds retained and used by farmers often represent a diverse range of plant varieties adapted to local environmental conditions. This biodiversity is important for resilience against pests, diseases, and changing climate conditions.
Ecosystem health: Maintaining diverse seed varieties contributes to the overall health of ecosystems by supporting pollinators, soil health, and overall biodiversity.
Social impact
Food security: Seed retention ensures that farmers have access to a diverse range of seeds that can provide food security in times of scarcity or environmental stress.
Cultural heritage: Traditional seeds often carry cultural significance and are part of farmers' heritage. Preserving these seeds maintains cultural traditions and knowledge passed down through generations.
Governance and sovereignty
Seed sovereignty: Allowing farmers to retain and exchange seeds empowers them to control their agricultural practices, reduce dependency on external inputs, and make decisions based on local needs and knowledge.
Farmers' rights: Recognising farmers' rights to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds is essential for promoting equitable and sustainable agriculture.
Economic considerations
Cost-effectiveness: Using traditional seeds that are saved and exchanged locally can be more cost-effective for smallholder farmers compared to purchasing seeds from multinational companies.
Resilience: By maintaining a diverse pool of seeds, farmers are better able to adapt to changing environmental conditions and market demands, enhancing their resilience and sustainability.
Ethical considerations
Community well-being: Supporting seed retention practices aligns with ethical principles of promoting community well-being, self-determination, and sustainable livelihoods.
Fair trade and equity: Encouraging seed retention and local seed systems promotes fair trade practices, reduces inequalities in access to resources, and supports smallholder farmers' rights. The preservation of seed retention practices among African farmers is not only a matter of agricultural tradition but also a critical ESG issue, as it directly impacts environmental sustainability, social well-being, and governance principles by safeguarding biodiversity, promoting food security, preserving cultural heritage, empowering farmers, and upholding ethical and equitable agricultural practices.
Historical significance
Seed retention has been a longstanding practice in rural communities throughout Africa for over 10 000 years. Small-scale farmers in these communities have served as the guardians of seeds, seed knowledge, land, and traditional farming practices, which are deeply intertwined with their identities. This practice has been crucial for maintaining agricultural biodiversity, promoting food security, and preserving cultural heritage. The custodianship of seeds by these farmers has not only provided them with a sense of ownership and control over their agricultural resources but has also allowed them to adapt to changing environmental conditions and ensure the sustainability of their farming practices across generations.
Here are some key points highlighting the historical significance of seed retention among African farmers:
Cultural heritage: Seed retention practices in Africa are deeply rooted in the continent's diverse cultures and traditions. Seeds have been passed down from ancestors, with each variety holding specific cultural and spiritual significance for different communities.
Adaptation to local conditions: Over centuries, African farmers have selectively saved and retained seeds that are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, such as climate, soil types, and pest pressures. This practice has enabled them to cultivate crops that thrive in their specific regions.
Crop diversity: African farmers have historically maintained a rich diversity of crop varieties through seed retention. This diversity is essential for food security, as different crops provide a range of nutrients and can withstand various environmental stresses.
Resilience: Traditional seed varieties saved by African farmers often exhibit traits such as drought tolerance, pest resistance, and disease resistance. These characteristics contribute to the resilience of agricultural systems, especially in the face of climate change and other external challenges.
Community sharing and exchange: Seed retention fosters a culture of community sharing and exchange among African farmers. Farmers often share seeds with neighbours and fellow community members, strengthening social ties and ensuring a diversified seed pool.
Knowledge transmission: Seed retention is intricately linked to the transmission of agricultural knowledge and practices from one generation to the next. Elders pass down not only seeds but also the wisdom and techniques necessary for successful farming.
Food sovereignty: By retaining their own seeds, African farmers maintain control over their food production and are not reliant on external sources for seeds. This enhances food sovereignty and empowers communities to make decisions about their agricultural practices.
Resistance to colonialism and commercialisation: Seed retention has served as a form of resistance against colonial agricultural policies that sought to replace traditional crops with commercial varieties.
By preserving their seeds, African farmers have preserved elements of their independence and autonomy.
Multinational seed companies
The reliance on multinational seed companies by African farmers can have various effects on agricultural systems, farmers' livelihoods, and food security. Here are some key implications of this reliance:
Loss of seed sovereignty: When African farmers rely on multinational seed companies for seeds; they often lose control over their seed supply. This can lead to a loss of seed sovereignty, as farmers become dependent on external sources for planting materials. Reduced crop diversity: Multinational seed companies typically promote a limited range of high-yielding commercial seed varieties. This focus on a few select varieties can lead to a reduction in crop diversity on farms, which is essential for resilience against pests, diseases, and climate change.
Increased costs: Purchasing seeds from multinational companies can be costlier for smallholder farmers compared to saving and exchanging traditional seeds. The financial burden of buying seeds each planting season can strain farmers' budgets and lead to increased indebtedness.
Dependency on external inputs: Commercial seeds often require specific inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, to achieve their full potential. This can create a cycle of dependency on external agrochemicals and inputs, affecting farmers' self-sufficiency and increasing production costs.
Risk of genetic erosion: The widespread adoption of commercial seed varieties can pose a risk of genetic erosion, as traditional crop varieties adapted to local conditions are replaced by uniform commercial hybrids. This loss of genetic diversity can threaten food security and resilience in the long term.
Legal and intellectual property issues: Multinational seed companies often sell patented or genetically modified seeds, which come with legal restrictions on seed saving and replanting. Farmers may unknowingly violate intellectual property rights or face legal challenges for saving and sharing seeds. Marginalisation of smallholder farmers: The dominance of multinational seed companies in the seed market can marginalise smallholder farmers who cannot afford or access commercial seeds. This can exacerbate inequalities in access to resources and market opportunities.
Impact on traditional knowledge: Relying on commercial seeds will invariably lead to a decline in the use of traditional farming knowledge and practices that have been passed down through generations. This erosion of traditional knowledge can weaken agricultural resilience and sustainability.
Implications of forced GMO usage
Forced GMO (genetically modified organisms) seed usage by African farmers could have several economic implications, both positive and negative. Here are some potential economic implications of such a scenario:
Increased production costs: GMO seeds are often patented and sold by large multinational corporations at a premium.
Farmers will be forced to pay higher prices for these seeds compared to traditional seeds. This can increase their production costs and reduce their margins.
Dependency on seed suppliers: By using GMO seeds, farmers will become dependent on the seed suppliers for each planting season. If the farmers are unable to afford the high prices of GMO seeds or if the seeds fail to perform as expected, it could lead to a cycle of debt and dependency on external sources for seeds.
Loss of seed sovereignty: Forced usage of GMO seeds could lead to a loss of traditional seed varieties and seed sovereignty for the farmers. This will have long-term implications on agricultural biodiversity and food security in the region.
Market domination by seed companies: Large seed companies that produce GMO seeds intend to dominate the world markets. This intended consequence has the effect of squeezing out smaller seed companies and traditional seed varieties. This will lead to a reduction of competition in the seed market and limit choices for farmers.
Environmental impact: The use of GMO seeds is known to have environmental implications, such as increased pesticide use, development of resistant pests and weeds, and loss of biodiversity. These factors have long-term negative effects on the environment and ecosystem services that support agriculture.
Productivity and yield: On the positive side, GMO seeds are designed to be more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, which could potentially increase productivity and yields for farmers. This could lead to higher incomes for farmers and contribute to food security in the region.
Access to markets: Some markets may require or prefer products derived from GMO crops. If African farmers are forced to use GMO seeds to access these markets, it could open up new opportunities for export and trade, potentially increasing their incomes.
Conclusion
Seed retention by African farmers now a topical ESG issue, holds significant historical and cultural importance that spans generations and plays a vital role in the continent's agricultural heritage. It is not only important for individual farmers but also for broader environmental, social, and governance considerations.
Supporting seed retention practices can contribute to more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, promote biodiversity conservation, uphold farmers' rights, and foster community well-being in the long term.
The historical significance of seed retention by African farmers goes beyond agricultural practices — it encompasses cultural identity, resilience, community cohesion, and the preservation of traditional knowledge. Recognising and supporting seed retention practices is essential for honouring this rich heritage and ensuring sustainable agricultural systems in Africa.
The reliance on multinational seed companies by African farmers can have far-reaching consequences on agricultural systems, biodiversity, farmers' autonomy, and food security.
Supporting initiatives that promote seed sovereignty, preserve traditional seed varieties, and empower farmers to access and save their own seeds can help mitigate these negative effects and promote sustainable agriculture in Africa.
- Ndoro-Mkombachoto is a former academic and banker. She has consulted widely in strategy,entrepreneurship and private sector development for organisations that include Seed Co Africa, Hwange Colliery, RBZ/CGC, Standard Bank of South Africa, Home Loans, IFC/World Bank, UNDP, USAid, Danida, Cida, Kellogg Foundation, among others, as a writer, property investor, developer and manager. — @HeartfeltwithGloria, WhatsApp +263 772 236 341.