Seed banks for smallholders to combat climate uncertainty

Farmers in the Gulf of Mottama region of Myanmar have taken matters into their own hands by locally producing quality seeds of climate-resilient and market-oriented seed varieties. This eliminates the need to purchase seeds and allows them to sell the surplus for profit.

“In the last decades, many farmers around the world have moved from using their own grown seeds to buying high-yielding hybrid seeds, often genetically modified varieties,” says Alexandra Rieder, an Advisor for Agriculture & Inclusive Food Systems at Helvetas Switzerland. “Those seeds might seem very efficient due to high yields, but they bear a wide set of risks due to the high dependency of farmers on large multinational seed companies. Farmers using such hybrid seeds will have to buy them every year for the rest of their life since hybrid seeds cannot be reliably saved and replanted. This dependency, combined with crop failures from floods, pests, or drought, can cause debt cycles, leading to even more poverty.”

To kickstart the establishment of seed banks, local farmers initially formed groups at village level, with support from the “Gulf of Mottama Project”. This initiative, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Helvetas, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Network Activities Group (NAG), laid the groundwork for collaboration.

Recognising the need for long-term sustainability, the farmers understood the importance of amplifying their collective voice with key stakeholders — market players, development agencies, and national and local governments, including the national seed certification department. In 2019, they united on a regional level to establish the Coastal Area Farmers’ Development Association (CFDA).

Helvetas and its partners prioritised support for this initiative, reaffirming their commitment to sustainable results that go beyond the project’s duration. Now, five years later, the CFDA represents 60 villages across eight townships, demonstrating the effectiveness of collective action in addressing climate challenges.

How does seed production in the villages in Myanmar work?
 

The association purchases seeds initially from government seed banks or private companies. Then, each village seed bank committee selects two or three champion farmers to multiply the quality seeds. These farmers carefully monitor growth, removing weaker plants at the key stages of branching, flowering and ripening. The seeds from the strongest plants are then stored in the seed bank, which is designed to be rat- and bird-proof while maintaining good air circulation.

But that’s not all. To distribute and sell the seeds, farmers must first inform their local township agriculture officer, who oversees the field inspection, and send seed samples for testing. If the seeds pass, they receive a yellow label tag, certifying them for distribution and sale. Typically, farmers sell surplus seeds through the association, leveraging its trusted brand.

“The goodwill of the association is well recognised,” explains Rakesh Munankami, Helvetas’ Chief Technical Advisor based in Myanmar. “When farmers buy from the association, they get a guarantee of good germination. And during the season, these seeds are selling like hotcakes.”

Seed diversity matters
 

There is another success factor in the story of farmers in the Gulf of Mottama. Local varieties of crops, which are rich in genetic diversity, are essential for adapting to climate change. According to the "Community Seed Banks" publication, issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the widespread use of high-yielding varieties since the 1950s has led to the loss of around seven per cent of plant genetic diversity. This diversity is crucial for surviving unpredictable conditions like droughts, floods or new pests.

The Gulf of Mottama region is vulnerable to climate-induced hazards such as cyclones, tidal surges, floods, saline intrusion and droughts. It’s not possible to just use one variety that would be equally resilient to all of these threats.

“Farmers are very smart,” says Rakesh. “They know their fields, understand the problems and recognise the strengths of each variety. That’s why they grow multiple varieties — usually three to five.” Some varieties may excel in salinity, while others withstand floods or endure droughts. The use of certified rice seeds of locally adapted varieties, together with good farming practices, has helped the farmers in the region increase their rice yield by 15-25 per cent. 

Seed banks alone are not sufficient to build true climate resilience. Effective water management, soil conservation and sustainable farming practices are equally vital in ensuring long-term positive outcomes. These techniques work hand-in-hand with farmer-led seed banks, embedding them into a broader strategy for sustainable farming.

(Helvetas/wi)

More information:

Read the full article on Helvetas’ engagement in seed banks

Fact sheet of the Gulf of Mottama Project by SDC and Helvetas

Video on seedbanks in Myanmar