Community Seed Bank model as a platform for seed multiplication and distribution including adapted farmer varieties

This practice was conducted through the project "Harnessing dryland legume and cereals genetic resource for food and nutrition security and resilient farming systems in Malawi and Zambia" which started in 2019, and implemented by ICRISAT, together with the Department of Agricultural Services (DARS) in Malawi, the Zambia Agricultural Research Institution (ZARI) and farmer associations with funding from the Benefit-sharing Fund. The main objectives are to support farmers to sustainably use and conserve PGRFA for food and nutrition security and to build capacity of smallholder farmers to use improved varieties for food and nutrition security to enhance resilience in production in the face of climate variability, while realizing sustained incomes among women and youth. The project promoted community seed bank modelling as a platform for seed multiplication and distribution. Activities include: organization of farmers’ seed clubs; training on seed production and agribusiness; and establishment of demonstration trials for seed production and dissemination campaigns. The main outcomes: farmers are supported to maintain and conserve agrobiodiversity in areas vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity; enhanced availability of quality seeds, improved and/or farmer varieties and enhanced equity. The main lesson learned is that linking farmers to cooperatives and provisioning of appropriate training is important.