Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Strengthening seed delivery systems for dryland cereals and legumes in drought-prone areas of Uganda: the Cluster Granary Seed (CGS) project

This project implemented in Amuria, Kumi and Kitgum districts of Uganda led by the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) in partnership with World Vision Uganda, the National Plant Genetic Resource Centre and farmer groups. It started in 2016 with the goal to contribute to enhancing food security and climate-change adaptation in drought-prone areas by strengthening seed systems of target crops, including sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, and groundnut. Specific objectives were to (1) assemble the diverse local and improved genetic resources of target crops; (2) establish an effective and sustainable seed delivery model for increasing access to quality seeds and (3) build the capacity of farming communities to produce and conserve such seed. Over 300 local and improved genetic resources of the target crops have been assembled and characterized through farmer-led demonstrations. Thirty farmer groups are now producing and conserving quality seeds for their communities. A ‘cluster granary’ seed delivery model was developed and operationalized by 30 farmer groups. Overall, 600 farmers have directly benefited; indirectly, over 1500 households have benefited through seed sharing, training sessions, voluntary visits to demonstration sites, National Agricultural shows, World Food Day Celebration, ‘Plant Clinics’ and other agriculture-related events.
Most relevant categories
  1. Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through community seed banks, seed networks and other measures improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.
Also relevant categories
  1. Recognition of local and indigenous communities’, farmers’ contributions to conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, such as awards and recognition of custodian/guardian farmers
  2. Financial contributions to support farmers conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA such as contributions to benefit-sharing funds
  3. Approaches to encourage income-generating activities to support farmers’ conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA
  4. Catalogues, registries and other forms of documentation of PGRFA and protection of traditional knowledge
  5. In-situ/on farm conservation and management of PGRFA, such as social and cultural measures, community biodiversity management and conservation sites
  6. Participatory approaches to research on PGRFA, including characterization and evaluation, participatory plant breeding and variety selection
  7. Farmers’ participation in decision-making at local, national and sub-regional, regional and international levels
  8. Training, capacity development and public awareness creation
  9. Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as legislative measures related to PGRFA.
Institution/organizationGovernment organization; Research Centers and Academic Institution
Provision of Art. 9 addressedArt. 9.1; Art. 9.2a; Art. 9.2b; Art. 9.2c; Art. 9.3
TypesTechnical
CountriesUganda
RegionsAfrica
KeywordsCapacity development; Crop diversity; Farming communities; Food security; Local varieties; Seed system
Resource linkhttps://www.fao.org/3/ca6382en/ca6382en.pdf
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