The harvest is in the seed
22 Apr 2021
©FSC

Week 26 – Guidelines: Emergency Seed Interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author: Food Security Cluster, 2020
Subjects: emergency, seed systems, Covid-19

Emergency seed interventions may already be planned or ongoing in many areas (e.g. to respond to drought, pest infestation, displacement, or other stresses). COVID-19 and its associated restrictions on travel, trade and markets may also constrain farmers’ seed security, as well as the ways in which aid agencies are able to operate.

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18 Mar 2021
© The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Week 22 – Research Results: Rapid assessments of the impact of COVID-19 on the availability of quality seed to farmers: Advocating immediate practical, remedial and preventative action

Author: Elsevier, 2021: Walter S.de Boef, Gareth D.Bormana, ArnabGupta, AbishkarSubedi, Marja H.Thijssen, Amsalu Ayana Aga, Mohammed Hassena Beko, Swe Zin Myint Thein, Win Thein, Folarin Okelola, Osundiya Olusegun, Olusegun Philip Ojo, Chinedu Agbara, Geoffrey Otim, Charles Ssemwogerere, Bonny Ntare, Patrick Oyee
Topics: Seed security assessment, quality seeds, COVID-19

The use of Rapid Assessments that were inclusive and effective helped advocating immediate action.READ MORE

14 Mar 2021
© African Union

Week 21 – Policy Brief: White Paper on the COVID-19 Crisis and the Seed Sector in Africa: Impact, Options for Actions and Recommendations

Author: African Union, 2020
Topics: Access to seeds, COVID-19, African Union, Dialogue, Seed Sector, Africa

Last year over the course of one month, the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission engaged with non-state actors, academia, the private sector, research and development seed sector stakeholders including the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) as well as Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI).

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03 Feb 2021
© Michigan State University

Week 16 – Policy Brief: Seed Security Response to COVID-19: now and beyond

Authors: Louise Sperling, Niels Louwaars, Orlando de Ponti, Melinda Smale, Julie March, Dieudonne Baributsa and Jacob van Etten; Michigan State University
Topics: smallholder farmers, covid-19, emergency, seed system security assessment

COVID-19 brings new challenges worldwide, including to smallholder farmers and their seed systems. In response, an escalating number of seed projects are being planned to deliver immediate aid or to alter current seed production programs. This Brief aims to steer both the immediate aid and more developmental planning towards wiser, better and more informed practice – and to stop unproductive or even harmful decisions.

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24 Jul 2020
Covid-19 and seeds

Week 3 – Guidelines: “Covid-19 and Seed Security”

Author: seedsystem.org (2020)
Topics: Policy / Planning / Emergency / Covid-19

Covid-19 is bringing new challenges, including to farmers, seed systems, and to seed security response. This brief is part of a set of guidance notes that aim to help humanitarian practitioners think through the possible effects of Covid -19 on farmers’ seed security – and then to offer guidance on possible response options, if needed.

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