Community Seed Bank (CSB):

Community-based Seed Production,

Seed Reserve and Seed Vending

Prepared by:
Maria Pilar C. Pablo
24 June 2019
Rice image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rice_diversity.jpg
 Content

Rationale

Objective

Definitions

Prospects of CSBs in addressing CC

CrFS Season-long Training and CSB

Setting – up a CSB

Benefits
 Rationale

Seeds is an important factor to agriculture
production.


Achieving and maintaining seed security is always
a concern – especially in the Philippines:
 Agriculture-based
 Geographically vulnerable
 Archipelagic attributes
 Objectives

Attain SEED SECURITY, through
- a dynamic organic seed production/
distribution system
- improved farm diversity (crops, varieties)
- established institutional system that provides
a. good quality seeds of farmers’ preferred varieties
b. locally available seeds – on time
c. adaptive and tolerant varieties
 Seed Security
FAO defines seed security as a situation when men and women farmers
have sufficient access to quantities of available good quality seed and
planting materials of preferred crop varieties at all times in both good and
bad cropping seasons.

Seed security can be measured in terms of four distinct elements:

- Seed Availability: the absence or presence of seed supply.

- Seed Access: the means to obtain seeds through cash, loan, barter,
or gift.
- Varietal Suitability: extent to which crop varieties are preferred and
adapted to farmer
- Seed Quality: physical, physiological attributes and seed health.
 Community Seed Banks (CSBs)

Community Seed Banks (CSBs) are evolving but certain commonalities
in objectives, services, elements and processes govern many models.


This system is defined as an informal arrangement wherein a farming
community or a group of farmers has established a scheme or collective
system of producing and exchanging or selling good-quality seeds,
especially in times of disasters or seed shortages.


This arrangement can vary from simple exchanges with agreed terms
and conditions to a more systematic selling or trading of seeds within
the locality or even outside the community forming a “seed network”.

https://www.slideshare.net/consortiumforunfavorablericeenvironments/establishing-communitybased-seed-systems-a-training-manual
 Informal Seed System
- are systems wherein the farmers themselves produce, disseminate, or
access seeds directly through exchange, barter, or purchase from within
their communities or neighboring villages through relatives, friends,
neighbors, and community organizations. The seeds may be of variable
quality and the distinction between seeds and grains is not always clear
(Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 20 Series of 2011).
This may include non-government organization (NGO)-supported seed
multiplication and supply programs, community seed production, CSBs,
seed fairs, farmers’ associations, farmer-to-farmer exchanges, and
participatory plant breeding.

- these in many developing countries, supply more than 80% of their seed
needs (Redona 2011).

https://www.slideshare.net/consortiumforunfavorablericeenvironments/establishing-communitybased-seed-systems-a-training-manual
 CSB as adapted by the Department of Agriculture

Memorandum Order No. 20 Series of 2011 signed by DA Secretary Proceso J.
Alcala on 15 September 2011 -


Subject: Guidelines on the implementation of CSBs


An extension tool that aims to increase farmers’ access to quality seeds,
controlled and operated by farmers within the community, which encourages
seed production and exchange among farmers within and outside the
community and between farmers and breeding institutions for greater diversity.


“Installed community seed banks ensure seed availability at the right time and
place.” - Sec. Alcala, Food Security Startegic Forum, 14 March 2012

https://www.slideshare.net/consortiumforunfavorablericeenvironments/establishing-communitybased-seed-systems-a-training-manual
 Good Seeds

Good seeds underpins more sustained rice
production and livelihoods. Thus, securing
goods seeds means securing farmers’
livelihood.

https://www.slideshare.net/consortiumforunfavorablericeenvironments/establishing-communitybased-seed-systems-a-training-manual
 
Good Quality seeds refer to seeds produced in either formal or
informal seed systems that pass a set of standards (formal) or their
equivalent (agreed purification standard for an informal system).


As differentiated from a formal seed system, good quality of seeds is
ensured under a “community-established guarantee” system that
approximates seed certification under a formal system. In different
countries, good quality seeds are oftentimes labeled or referred to
as “truthfully labeled seeds”, “extension seeds”, R3 seeds”, “farmers’
quality seeds”. Or “quality seeds”, as differentiated from formal or
commercial “certified seeds”.

https://www.slideshare.net/consortiumforunfavorablericeenvironments/establishing-communitybased-seed-systems-a-training-manual
 Prospects of Community Seed Banking (CSB)
in Addressing CC

https://www.slideshare.net/seeagainmaharjan/community-seed-banks-in-nepal-and-climate-changeshree-kumar-maharjan/6
CrFS Season-long Training & CSB Establishment
 Benefits of Establishing CSBs

Contributes to in-situ conservation – Biodiversity

Local seed resource that are adapted to the community – preference, seasonality

Available good seeds – seasonality, disaster-preparedness

A 10-15% yield advantage can be gained by adopting seed health management
practices (Mew et al , 2004)

Using good-quality seed as opposed to “farmers’ own seed” of same variety showed
increased rice yield by nearly 20% (Diaz et al, 2001)

Farmer-friendly technologies - seed drying and preservation gave a 20% increase in
germination rate and 41% reduction in required seedling rate (Mia et al, 2008), SRI
can increase production through seed and water conservation and management

Diseases reduction from genetic diversification contributes to 5 – 7% yield increase.

Contributes to the conservation of diverse genetic resources in a diversified farming
system – improves systems resilience.
 Benefits of Establishing CSBs

Promotes stewardship

Promotes self-reliance, participation and organization

Ensure networking among farmers and communities

Adoption of strategies that enable farmers to have voice in
the development process

Promotes equal participation of all genders and different
age group in the access, development and control of
resources

Diversification of agri-based livelihoods