Supporting local seed systems in southern Somalia: a developmental approach to agricultural rehabilitation in emergency situations.

Concerns have been raised by both implementing agencies and donors over the effectiveness of relief seed inputs and the sustainability of continued seed distributions in emergency situations. Based on a study undertaken in southern Somalia, this paper describes the impacts of insecurity, shocks and stresses on agriculture, and examines whether relief seed distributions are the most appropriate way of providing assistance to farmers affected by disaster. The paper shows that by developing a better understanding of the ways in which local seed systems function it is possible to identify how these local systems can be supported and developed. Rather than providing seed itself, the study highlights a number of ways in which the capacity of local seed systems can be strengthened as part of a strategy for agricultural rehabilitation. Suggested interventions include (i) facilitating farmers’ access to seed; (ii) the introduction of appropriate agricultural technologies; and (iii) enhanced input/output marketing. Research findings • Although there are certainly some situations when an absolute shortage of seed exists (i.e. seed is simply not available) and the distribution of relief seed is an appropriate response, such situations tend to be the exception rather than the rule. • Rather than an overall lack of availability, problems relating to seed are more often than not likely to be caused by a lack of access to seed by some farmers. • Since seed multiplication is an integral part of crop production, addressing production constraints will promote increased access to own-saved seed. • The relative lack of crop and varietal diversity and the problem of pests (both on-farm and in storage) pose major constraints to agricultural production in southern Somalia which can be addressed by the introduction of appropriate agricultural technologies. • A very well-developed seed marketing system exists in southern Somalia and this should be supported, not undermined by aid interventions.