Do farmers need relief seed? A methodology for assessing seed systems

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Disaster Management
• Socio-economics

Background:

• Current seed needs assessments in disaster-affected regions like Somalia and Mozambique face challenges in identifying affected crops and households.
• Existing procedures often overlook the critical difference between seed availability and actual farmer access, hindering effective relief.
• There is a recognized need for earlier planning of interventions to support agricultural recovery post-disaster.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a robust methodology for assessing seed relief needs in disaster-affected farming communities.
• To introduce the Seed Systems Profile (SSP) as a tool for understanding the socio-economic and agro-ecological dimensions of farmers' seed systems.
• To propose a five-step framework for evaluating seed systems during disaster situations.

Main Methods:

• Review of current seed needs assessment procedures in southern Somalia and Mozambique.
• Development of the Seed Systems Profile (SSP) framework.
• Proposal of a five-step framework for assessing seed systems in disaster contexts.

Main Results:

• Identified limitations in current seed needs assessment, including crop/household specificity and access issues.
• Proposed the Seed Systems Profile (SSP) to integrate socio-economic and agro-ecological factors.
• Developed a five-step framework for disaster seed system assessment, currently under refinement in Mozambique.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive understanding of farmers' seed systems is crucial for effective disaster relief and rehabilitation.
• The proposed methodology and tools aim to enhance the resilience and reduce the vulnerability of agricultural systems post-disaster.
• Early and informed interventions, based on a better understanding of seed systems, can significantly improve farmer recovery.