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Seed System Innovations in the Semi-Arid Tropics of Andhra Pradesh

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/5284/
 
Title Seed System Innovations in the Semi-Arid Tropics of Andhra Pradesh
 
Creator Ravinder Reddy, C H
Tonapi, V A
Bezkorowajnyj, P G
Navi, S S
Seetharama, N
 
Subject Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
 
Description The power of a seed is unlimited. As a powerful agent of change, seeds can be
a means of overcoming production constraints, thereby making a difference
in the lives of the poor and hungry. This requires seed demand and supply to
be balanced by way of a secure seed supply system. This would give farmers
access to adequate quantities of good quality seed of the desired type at the
required time and at affordable cost.
Seeds are key components in the conservation and ownership of biodiversity.
Accordingly, sustainable seed supply and implementation of seed security are
among the major activities outlined in the Global Plan of Action for the
Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture. Seeds therefore represent hope for the future of
mankind.
Throughout our history, farmers’ informal seed systems have had a great
influence on the evolution of modern agriculture, by practising conservation
of agrobiodiversity at the gene, farmer and ecosystem levels. Within this
framework, women in particular have played a crucial role, as has been
identified by a recent analysis, in sustaining the informal seed sector, and
more widely, in ensuring food security. However, informal seed systems are
heavily dependent on local resources and inputs, and highly vulnerable to
natural disasters and sociopolitical disruptions. Therefore, investing in a
range of appoaches in order to strengthen local seed systems assumes great
urgency.
While the formal hybrid seed industry led by the private sector has tended to
focus on profit-making species and crops, the informal sector has
concentrated on crops – mainly self- or open-pollinated varieties – that are
crucial to local food production systems. Given such a scenario, national seed
policies concludes helping to strengthen the informal sector. International
support too continues to be mainly engaged with the formal sector. Perhaps
matching support is required to encourage continued development of
informal seed systems.
In this context, the concept of ‘seed villages’, which advocates selfsufficiency
in production and distribution of good quality seed, is fast gaining
ground. Seed villages, or village seed banks, operate under supervision and
utmost transparency, inculcating mutual trust and social responsibility
among farmers, thereby reducing their dependence on external inputs.
Several initiatives have been launched to revive this traditional concept, such
as those initiated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the
National Research Centre for Sorghum (NRCS) and state agricultural
universities (SAUs). Similarly, the seed bank concept is part of ICRISAT’s
projects in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Tata-
ICRISAT project in Vidisha and Guna districts of Madhya Pradesh and the
Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project (APRLP) in Kurnool district in
Andhra Pradesh and other ongoing efforts in the states of Maharashtra and
Karnataka.
In low-rainfall, dryland agricultural areas, cereals and legumes serve the dual
purpose of providing food and income for poor farmers and fodder for their
cattle. Given the critical role played by improved varieties in increasing
conventional crop production, a key question arises: how do we facilitate the
development of an integrated and cost-effective seed system that is capable
of generating, producing and distributing improved seed varieties that meet
the needs of resource-poor farmers?
This book is an attempt to review and document the existing seed
multiplication and delivery systems in four dryland agricultural districts of
Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur, Kurnool, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda. While
analyzing the problems associated with different seed systems in these
districts, the book makes a strong case for strengthening alternative seed
systems and seed delivery models that address the needs of small farmers in
the context of constantly changing dynamics on the national, international,
political and socioeconomic fronts.
I am sure this book will be a valuable reference source for those engaged in
strengthening local seed systems as a step toward food security in the semiarid
tropics of India.
 
Publisher International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
 
Date 2007
 
Type Monograph
NonPeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Rights —
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/5284/1/J%2016_2007%20Seed%20System%20Text%20All%20Pages.pdf
Ravinder Reddy, C H and Tonapi, V A and Bezkorowajnyj, P G and Navi, S S and Seetharama, N (2007) Seed System Innovations in the Semi-Arid Tropics of Andhra Pradesh. Monograph. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India.