Making Farmer-Managed Seed Systems Work
Shalini Bhutani
This article was originally published on the RLS Geneva Office’s website. With the closing of the Geneva location, all posts have now been migrated to and are available on the RLS-NYC website.
A comparative study between Tanzania and India
Shalini Bhutani is a legal researcher and policy analyst. This publication was a joint project of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, TOAM—Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement, and TABIO—Tanzania Alliance for Biodiversity.
The study is available in English language only!
Photo: United Nations Photo/Ray Witlin © 1974
This publication by our Southern Africa, South Asia, and East Africa Regional Offices aims to generate a better understanding over the seed landscapes in Tanzania and India. It compares the concepts, policies, actors, and existing strategies over seed systems in these two countries. Findings show that farmer-managed seed systems cannot function on their own without a strong public sector supporting them. In India, for instance, the Biological Diversity Act supports local-level conservation work and a framework for benefit sharing exists. In Tanzania, on the other hand, the Quality Declared Seed (QDS) model is a good starting point to support farmer-managed seed systems. In both countries, growing corporate power and its influence over policy makers poses a fundamental challenge. Based on its findings, the study lists five key recommendations for civil society actors and social movements that seek to strengthen farmer-managed seed systems: conceptual clarity; local action; public rebuilding, national advocacy, and international solidarity.
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