Natural disasters and war wreak havoc on the economies of developing countries. Since 1980, for example, all ten countries in the Greater Horn of Africa have experienced drought or armed conflict. In recent years, people have asked: what is the best form of aid in such situations? Emergency seed provision (ESP) has been developed as one of the answers to the problem in areas hit by drought, flood, hurricane and war. Research by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) aims to increase understanding of ESP to show how it can help improve food security and the genetic diversity of local crops.

Emergencies vary in size and length. There is usually an acute phase followed by a period of settling down and, finally, a rehabilitation phase. Sometimes the situation remains acute for months or years, often due to a chronic political climate. In every emergency, there are two key questions to be asked about ESP. Is it suitable? When should the seed be provided?

ESP usually starts during the settling down period and is suitable only in the short-term. At the start, emergency seed might be distributed to all farmers and, later, only those who need it most. It should be followed by the development of local seed capacity, to help build resistance to future emergencies. The study found that, at present, ESP is often poorly managed. Farmers are frequently given (a) poor quality seed (b) the wrong variety of seed (c) seed for the wrong type of crop.

Research undertaken between 1994 and 1996 in northern Sierra Leone - before and after population displacement resulting from rebel activities - found that, farmers’ local seed systems were very resilient to the short-term effects of war. Farmers adapted to the new situation in the following ways:

• They increased production of rice, a food crop, and decreased production of groundnut, a cash crop.
• Although some of the seed stored by farmers was stolen by thieves or damaged by pests and moisture, farmers were able to acquire seed through local social networks.

The longer-term effects on chronic insecurity on agriculture and seed systems are presently being studied by the ODI in three countries in the Greater Horn of Africa.

The report recommended that agencies should:

• Gain an understanding of (a) local agricultural systems (b) different seed varieties and their relation to local agro-ecologies, (c) patterns of seed, labour and land management and (d) different economic sectors.
• Where necessary, deliver appropriate seeds to farmers on time.
• Help re-establish local production and local seed systems by using (a) existing local pre-disaster patterns (b) activities set up during the ESP phase (c) new activities that have not been undertaken in the local area before.
• Help ensure sustainability by committing to the projects in the long term and facilitating contacts with international seed institutions.

The study also found a need for:

• Greater collaboration among the emergency relief agencies, rural development organisations, farmers' organisations, crop research institutes and seed companies, in order to improve emergency seed provision and agricultural rehabilitation.
• The implementation of global, regional and national strategies to protect and enhance crop diversity, which is potentially threatened by disaster and genetic erosion.

Source(s):
'Seed Provision during and after emergencies' Relief and Rehabilitation Network, ODI by E. Cromwell, L. Sperling, R. Tripp (1996)
‘War and Crop Diversity’ ODI AgREN Paper, #75 edited by L. Sperling (1997)

Funded by: Euronaid 1996, DFID, 1997

id21 Research Highlight: 3 January 2001

Further Information:
Kate Longley
Overseas Development Institute
111 Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7JD
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7922 0300
Fax: +44 (0)20 7922 0399
Contact the contributor: K.Longley@odi.org.uk

Overseas Development Institute, UK

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