AFSA officially launches “Seed Is Life” campaign to uphold farmer-managed seed systems
KAMPALA, April 26, 2024 – The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa [ AFSA ] has launched its “Seed is Life” campaign, an initiative aimed at promoting farmer-managed seed systems [FMSS] and countering the encroachment of chemical intensive, monoculture industrial agriculture on the continent.
The campaign coincides with International Seeds Day celebrated on April 26th every year, amplifying the voices of those advocating for patent-free seeds, farmers’ rights, and the preservation of traditional seed systems, the heart of Africa’s agricultural heritage.
For centuries, small-scale African farmers have been the backbone of the continent’s agricultural success, nurturing a system that supports over 80 percent of the population with diverse, nutritious, and resilient crops. However, these traditional practices face increasing threats from industrial agriculture and multinational seed corporations, influenced by the legacies of colonisation and commerce.
In response, AFSA’s “Seed is Life” campaign aims to empower communities to reclaim and protect their agricultural heritage and ensure food sovereignty for future generations.
Dr. Million Belay, General Coordinator of AFSA, emphasised the urgency of the situation: “Governments are capitulating to pressures that favor corporations and the industrial seed system through regional agreements on intellectual property and trade.”
He added: These agreements prioritize industrial seeds and commodity production, sidelining the vital diversity of farmers’ seeds and their expertise in seed management. It’s time to shift the focus. We must advocate for policies that support local seed systems and agroecological farming, empowering our farmers within the framework of food sovereignty.”
The “Seed is Life” campaign seeks to galvanise widespread support and action for FMSS across Africa, advocating for their recognition and protection as the cornerstone of food sovereignty and biodiversity in the face of challenges posed by industrial agriculture and GMOs. The campaign’s specific objectives include:
Elevating FMSS as pillars of biodiversity and food sovereignty across Africa; advocating for policy reform and legal support to ensure FMSS are recognised and supported, protecting farmers’ rights to save, exchange, and sell their seeds; and building a strong continent-wide movement that educates on the importance of FMSS for ecological health, food security, and nutrition.
“Farmers’ seeds are not merely a resource but the lifeblood of Africa’s food sovereignty. They embody reliability, affordability, the ability to adapt to changing climates and stands all stresses,” said Hakim Baliraine, Chairperson of AFSA. “Through the ‘Seed is Life’ campaign, we are championing the resilience and diversity of indigenous farming practices, ensuring that African food systems remain in the hands of those who have nurtured them through the ages.”
Further, on the occasion of the “Seed is Life” campaign launch, the AFSA issued a powerful statement and call to action, urging African policymakers to prioritise FMSS in their agricultural policies. This call for action demands the integration of FMSS into national frameworks, strengthening legal protections for small-scale farmers, investing in agroecological research, promoting seed diversity through banks and exchanges, and ensuring FMSS principles are upheld in international agreements. The statement read, “by adopting these recommendations, policymakers can help forge a sustainable, biodiverse future where African food systems are resilient, culturally rich, and free from corporate dominance, aligning with global commitments to uphold farmer rights and food sovereignty.”
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