Climate Change and Community Seed Banks _Conference Paper. Association of Regional Agricultural Economics

1. COMMUNITY SEED BANKS IN NEPAL: PROSPECTS AND
CHALLENGES FROM CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
PERSPECTIVES
MAHARJAN, S. K. and MAHARJAN, K. L.
31 October 2015
65th Annual Meeting of Association of Regional Agriculture and Forestry
Economics, Tottori University

2. OVERVIEW
1. Introduction
2. Rural Problems in
Agriculture and Seed
Sectors in Nepal
3. Objectives of the paper
4. Methodology
5. Prospects of CSBs from
climate change perspectives
6. Key Issues and Challenges of
CSBs
7. Factors Affecting CSBs
8. Conclusions
9. References
2

3. 1. INTRODUCTION (1/3)
3
 Agri. is the main source of livelihood and income for poor and
smallholders in Nepal
 CSB is a community based storage of seeds/grains with the purpose
of conservation, multiplication and distribution to the farmers
 Local institution led and managed by farmers for conservation of
seeds – landraces, introduced and improved – seed, food and
livelihood security (Sthapit, 2013)
1 kg of
seed
1.5 to 2 kg
of seed

4. 1. INTRODUCTION (2/3)
 Different forms, sizes and functions of CSBs
across the communities and countries.
 Different names – Seed Exchange Network
(Brazil), Seed Wealth Center (Bangladesh),
Seeds of Diversity (Canada), Community
Seed Reserve (Costa Rica), Farmer’s Seed
House and Farmer Seed Network (France)
4
 In addition to seeds, CSBs also conserve and manage
associated traditional knowledge and practices
 Reliable on-farm conservation of local crop diversity

5. 1. INTRODUCTION (3/3)
 CC unpredictability, uncertainty, irregularity has impacted in
agriculture and decreased agricultural productivity (MoE, 2010)
Important to ensure farmers’ access to drought and flood tolerant
seeds to produce enough food for their families
Effective means of climate change adaptation conserving
traditional landraces resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
5
 Generally registered in Village Development Committees
(VDCs) or District Agriculture Development Offices (DADOs)

6. 6
Construction
through use of
Local Resource
Community biodiversity
register (CBR)
Formation of Community
Biodiversity management
committee
Rules and mechanisms for
seed collection,
regeneration, quality
control, access to Genetic
Resources
Distribution of
seeds based on
rules and
regulations
Collection of
seeds through
Biodiversity
fairs, farmers
networks
CSB
Management
CSB
Management

7. 2. RURAL PROBLEMS IN AGRICULTURE ESPECIALLY
IN SEED SECTORS IN NEPAL
High dependence on Agriculture for livelihood and income
generations – Poor and small holders in rural areas
Increased human pressures, intensification and climate
change impacts and induced disasters – Loss of
biodiversity and associated knowledge
Shrinkage of agricultural lands and crop genetic resource
base and increased farmers’ dependency on external
sources – Seeds, fertilizers and other agriculture inputs
Limited accessibility of quality seeds, Farmers’ preference
on modern and hybrid seeds - Replacement of landraces
No recognition of CSB as climate change adaptation 7

8. 3. OBJECTIVES OF THE PAPER
To explore and analyze
community seed banks (CSBs) from
the perspectives of climate
change adaptation in Nepal
To analyze the prospects and
challenges of CSBs in relation to
climate change adaptation
To analyze the factors
influencing CSBs for its
sustainability in Nepalese context.
8

9. 4. METHODOLOGY
9
Very few scientific research and publication relating
to CSBs in Nepal
Not seen from climate change perspectives
Collection of literature on CSBs and climate change
adaptation
Qualitative review and analysis from climate
change perspectives; including the analysis of
prospects and challenges, factors influencing

10. 5. PROSPECTS OF CSB IN ADDRESSING
CLIMATE CHANGE
On farm conservation
of landraces
On farm conservation
of landraces
Climate resilient and
tolerant seeds
Climate resilient and
tolerant seeds
Farmers’ Accessibility
and Capacities
Farmers’ Accessibility
and Capacities
Participatory Crop
Improvement
Participatory Crop
Improvement
Participatory Seed
Exchange
Participatory Seed
Exchange
Seed collection,
conservation,
multiplication,
regeneration,
distribution
Seed collection,
conservation,
multiplication,
regeneration,
distribution
CSB

11. 5.1. EFFECTIVE ON-FARM CONSERVATION OF SEEDS
 Landraces are tolerant to both biotic and abiotic stresses
(Regmi et al., 2009)
 Loss of landraces, biodiversity, associated knowledge and
whole evolutionary process (Shrestha et al., 2006)
 30% of International seed market is dominated by 5 seed
companies (FAO, 2010)
11

12. 5.1. EFFECTIVE ON-FARM CONSERVATION OF SEEDS
 Reliable institution for maintaining crop diversity, pool and
genetic variability through on-farm conservation (Worede, ND;
Shrestha et al., 2012) to adapt to changing climates
 Enhance seed and food security and farmers’ accessibility
(Pokhrel et al., 2012)
 Manage crop resources for natural and human selection in agri-
production system (Subedi et al., 2006)
12

13. 5.2. FARMERS ACCESSIBILITY AND CAPACITIES
 Enhance seed availability and
accessibility to the poor and marginalized
farmers as cash or loan in Bank (own
system)
 Successful and effective in enhancing
farmers’ capacities and accessibility in
conservation and sustainable use of seed
and its diversity (Maharjan, et al., 2011a)
 Availability and accessibility of seeds in
changing environment (Progressio, 2009)
13

14. 5.2. FARMERS ACCESSIBILITY AND CAPACITIES
 Increased abundance and
accessibility of landraces and
overall diversity – reduced the
dependency to external resources
(Shrestha et al., 2012)
 Enhance farmers’ adaptive
capacities – conservation,
multiplication, marketing, fairs and
diversity blocks (Maharjan et al.,
2011c)
14
Capacities on conservation farming, homegardens, SALT, PSE,
ecological Ag, farmers’ networks and rights, fair/equitable
benefit sharing (Vernooy et al., 2015)

15. 5.3. SOURCES OF CLIMATE RESILIENT AND STRESS
TOLERANT SEEDS
Preserve and revive the important
crop genetic resources and
knowledge – fulfilling farmers seed
demands (Maharjan et al., 2011a)
Both farmers and breeders prefer
landraces and diversity for
heterogeneity, unique traits and
adaptability to local and harsh
climate (Gyawali et al., 2006a)
15
Healthy and stable seed system and community resiliency (Shrestha
et al., 2012)
FAO (2010) – conservation and use of quality seeds support
farmers to respond climate change

16. 16
5.3. SOURCES OF CLIMATE RESILIENT AND STRESS
TOLERANT SEEDS
Conservation and
distribution of Tilki and
Mansara rice seeds in
western Nepal (Regmi et
al., 2009)
Farmers’ access to diverse
and locally adapted seeds
Reliable and viable for farmers living in marginal and disaster
prone areas (Shrestha et al., 2012)
Progressio (2009) – ‘safe deposits’ and ‘Insurance’ of valued
seeds for crop failure and seed shortages
Diverse and local seeds are suitable for micro-climates, soil
types, temperature, altitude, slopes etc (Worede, ND)

17. 5.4. PARTICIPATORY LANDRACES ENHANCEMENT
Landraces are needed for
sustainable production and
livelihood improvement of
the community
Base for participatory crop
improvement and
development of new
varieties (Gyawali et al.,
2006b)

17
Train farmers the procedures of
Participatory Plant Breeding
(PPB) and Grassroot Breeding
(GB), Community seed production
(CBSP) (Vernooy et al., 2015)

18. 5.4. PARTICIPATORY LANDRACES ENHANCEMENT
(2)
Regmi et al., (2009)
claimed that PPB can
reduced vulnerability of
farmers to CC and
climate variability.
Emphasis was given on
PPB in conserving local
biodiversity and farmers’
knowledge
18
 CSB in Kacharwa developed new rice variety named
Kacharwa – 4 and has been selling 5-10 tons every year

19. 5.5. PARTICIPATORY SEED EXCHANGE AMONG
FARMERS
Bartering and seed exchange is still common practice in rural
Nepal
Managed and maintained diversities
Informal seed networks and seed systems
Very crucial for maintenance of local crop diversity (Subedi et
al., 2006 and Maharjan et al., 2011a)
Almost 20-50% of seeds through informal networks and system
(Subedi et al., 2006).
19

20. 5.5. PARTICIPATORY SEED EXCHANGE AMONG
FARMERS
Globally 80% of seeds are saved
by smallholders in on-farm through
information networks and seed
exchange (Vernooy, et al., 2015)
CSB plays crucial role in
maintenance and seed exchange
among and between farmers
20

21. 5.5. PARTICIPATORY SEED EXCHANGE
AMONG FARMERS (2)
CSB enhances social cohesion and
social inclusion among farmers
(Subedi et al., 2006)
Prioritize the seed access to
women, poor and marginalized
farmers (Shrestha et al., 2006)
Farmers’ seed systems and social
network in CSBs – CC adversity
and impacts
21

22. 6. ISSUES AND KEY CHALLENGES
Disappearance of landraces and local resources rapidly (Shrestha et
al., 2006) – Intensification, commodification and commercialization of
seeds
Inaccessibility and control over of poor and marginalized farmers
Lack of quality seeds
Increased dependence and high preference of farmers on hybrids and
modern varieties
Lack of policy and incentives to farmers on conservation and
maintenance of landraces
Climatic risks and vulnerabilities
Roles and contribution of women are neglected
Less priorities of government, development and research sectors
(Vernooy et al., 2015)
22

23. 7. FACTORS AFFECTING CSB
Available resources and local
climatic conditions – Marginal
environments and disaster
prone areas
Viability of the seeds
Socio-economic conditions –
social relationships and
cohesion
High technical interventions
High access to inputs
Institutional and political
supports
Commitment and community’s
interest
23

24. 8. CONCLUSIONS
24
Multiple functions of CSBs in
farmers livelihoods and welfare
Recognized for conservation and
development including collection,
distribution, regeneration,
multiplication of seeds
Fulfilling farmers’ seed demands
and accessibility
Rare seeds – common
Enhanced social cohesion and
social seed networks

25. 8. CONCLUSIONS
Landraces are tolerant to
biotic and abiotic stresses
Farmers’ preference to
improved and hybrid seeds
CSB has strengthened farmers
in on-farm conservation and
development activities
including adaptive capacities
to adverse climatic risks and
stresses
Still many issues and
challenges associated for its
sustainability and overall
development - Need to link up
to National Gene Bank
25

26. 9. REFERENCES
26
FAO, 2010. The second report on the state of the World’s plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture: Synthetic report. Commission on genetic resources for food and agriculture.
http://www.fao.org/agriculture/seed/sow2/
Gyawali, S., Sthapit, B., Joshi, B. K., Mudwari, A. and Bajracharya, J. 2006b. Participatory plant
breeding: A strategy of on-farm conservation and improvement of landraces. In: B. R.
Sthapit, P. Shrestha and M. P. Upadhyay (eds.). On-farm management of agricultural
biodiversity in Nepal: Good practices. NARC/LIBIRD/Bioversity International.
Gyawali. S., Sthapit, B., Bhandari, B., Gauchan, D., Joshi, B. K., Tripathi, M., Shrestha, P. K.,
Joshi K. D. and Mudwari, A. 2006a. Participatory landrace enhancement: An economic
incentive to support on-farm management of agrobiodiversity. In: B. R. Sthapit, P.
Shrestha and M. P. Upadhyay (eds.). On-farm management of agricultural biodiversity in
Nepal: Good practices. NARC/LIBIRD/Bioversity International.
Maharjan, S. K., Gurung, A. R. and Sthapit, B. 2011a. Enhancing on-farm conservation of agro-
biodiversity through community seed bank: An experience of Western Nepal. Journal of
Agriculture and Environment. 12: 132-139

27. 9. REFERENCES
27
Maharjan, S. K., Sigdel, E. R., Sthapit, B. and Regmi, B. R. 2011b. Tharu community’s
perception on climate changes and their adaptive initiations to withstand its impacts in
Western Terai of Nepal. International NGO Journal of the Physical Sciences. Vol.
6(2):035-042, http:// www.academicjournals.org/INGOJ.
Maharjan, S. K., Subedi, A., Shrestha, P., Gurung, A., Sthapit, S., Rana, R., Sigdel, E.K., Karki,
D., and Sthapit, B. 2011c. Community seed bank: Reaching to poor farmers and building
climate resiliency in western Nepal. In: K. P. Acharya, D.M. Tripathi, J. Joshi and U. M.
Gurung (eds.), Leveraging the Landscapes: Conservation beyond the boundaries, 54-67,
Nepal Foresters Association (NFA) Kathmandu
MoE, 2010. National adaptation programme of action to climate change. Ministry of
Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Pokhrel, C.P., Bhandari, V., Lakhe, P., and Yadav, R. K. P. 2012. Agro-biodiversity conservation
through seed banking: A case study from Mid-Western and Far-Western Nepal. Ecoprint.
19: 39-47, Ecological Society (ECOS), Nepal.
Progressio, 2009. Seed saving and climate change in Zimbabwe. Progressio, Zimbabwe.
Regmi, B. R., Thapa, L., Suwal, R., Khadka, S., Sharma, G. B., and Tamang, B. 2009. Agro-
biodiversity: An opportunity for mainstreaming community based adaptation to climate
change. Journal of Forest and Livelihood. 8(1):111-119
Shrestha, P., Subedi, A. Sthapit, S., Rijal, D., Gupta, S., and Sthapit, B. 2006. Community seed
bank: A reliable and effective option for agricultural biodiversity conservation. In: B. R.
Sthapit, P. Shrestha and M. P. Upadhyay (eds). On-farm management of agricultural
biodiversity in Nepal: Good practices. NARC/LIBIRD/Bioversity International

28. 28
Shrestha, P., Sthapit, S., Devkota, R. and Vernooy, R. 2012. National workshop on community
seed banks: Workshop summary report. 14-15/06/2012, Pokhara. LIBIRD/USC Canada
Asia/Oxfam Nepal/Bioversity International.
Sthapit, B. 2013. Emerging theory and practice; Community seed banks, seed system resilience
and food security. In: P. Shrestha, R. Vernooy and P. Chaudhary (eds.). Community Seed Banks
in Nepal: Past, Present and Future. Proceedings of a National Workshop, LIBIRD, USC-
Canada/Asia, Oxfam, Development Fund, IFAD, Bioversity International, 14-15/06/2012,
Pokhara
Subedi, A., Sthapit, B., Rana, R., Baniya, B., Paudel, D., Singh, D. and Shrestha, P. 2006. Social
seed network: Good practice for ensuring maintenance of local crop diversity. In: B. R. Sthapit,
P. Shrestha and M. P. Upadhyay (eds.). On-farm management of agricultural biodiversity in
Nepal: Good practices. NARC/LIBIRD/Bioversity International
Vernooy, R., Shrestha, P. and Sthapit, B. (eds) 2015. Community seed banks: Origins, Evolution
and Prospects. Routledge. Routledge Sustainability blog (retrieved on 1/10/2015)
Worede, M. (ND). Establishing a community seed supply system: Community seed bank
complexes in Africa.
9. REFERENCES

29. THANK YOU
Photo credits: Own photos, Photo bank of Local Initiatives for Biodiversity,
Research and Development (LIBIRD) and its publications and Internet
29