Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Jul 7, 2018 20:47:04 GMT 1
Decentralised seed libraries can boost rural agricultural growth, an expert has said. Seed libraries are institutions that lend or share seeds. They preserve agricultural biodiversity by focusing on rare and local seed varieties. An Associate Professor in the Department of Crop Protection, University of Maiduguri, said the transition from rural farming to industrial agriculture has led to fewer people growing food and not interacting with original seeds. According to him, local seed saving has become very important because of the advent of genetically engineered seeds, which diminish plant diversity, reducing the natural resilience of crops. In just a few generations, he said original seeds will be nearing extinction with the advent of hybrids. For this reason, he said more communities need seed libraries to share seeds to farmers.
According to him, the establishment of seed libraries would preserve local seed sovereignty by saving local seeds and sharing them.
He said establishing seed libraries will boost regional biodiversity, quality and quantity produce for local consumption, exportation, and resiliency by encouraging the cultivation of new crop varieties adapted to local growing conditions.
With climate change, The Thy boss suggest, a robust network of community food sheds to complement the effort of industrial farmers has become an imperative for rural farming to grow. According to him, local farmers can choose from a list of vegetable seeds available in the seed libraries, borrow them and plant their seeds. After they've harvested their crops, they save the seeds from the heartiest and healthiest of their harvest and return the seeds to the same branch. Over time, each of the seed library will include a wide selection of seeds best suited to each microclimate because they have grown to full fruition, responding to the local soil, climate, and plant and animal diversity.
According to him, the establishment of seed libraries would preserve local seed sovereignty by saving local seeds and sharing them.
He said establishing seed libraries will boost regional biodiversity, quality and quantity produce for local consumption, exportation, and resiliency by encouraging the cultivation of new crop varieties adapted to local growing conditions.
With climate change, The Thy boss suggest, a robust network of community food sheds to complement the effort of industrial farmers has become an imperative for rural farming to grow. According to him, local farmers can choose from a list of vegetable seeds available in the seed libraries, borrow them and plant their seeds. After they've harvested their crops, they save the seeds from the heartiest and healthiest of their harvest and return the seeds to the same branch. Over time, each of the seed library will include a wide selection of seeds best suited to each microclimate because they have grown to full fruition, responding to the local soil, climate, and plant and animal diversity.