A representative of the Canadian non-governmental organisation SeedChange, Dr. Pratap Shrestha, says seed fairs play a vital role in preserving indigenous seed varieties and protecting the food heritage of farming communities.
Speaking at a seed fair organised by SeedChange in partnership with Trax Ghana and the Beela Project, Dr. Shrestha expressed concern about the growing loss of local seed varieties as commercial and corporate seeds become more dominant in agricultural systems.
“We are losing our indigenous local seeds because commercial and corporate seeds are displacing them,” he said. “Yet these local seeds are the foundation of our food culture and the livelihoods of farming communities.”
According to Dr. Shrestha, seed fairs provide a platform for farmers from different communities to showcase, exchange and conserve indigenous seed varieties while raising awareness about their importance.
He identified four key benefits of seed fairs: promoting seed diversity, creating awareness about indigenous seeds, facilitating seed exchange among farmers, and influencing policies that support the conservation and use of local seed varieties.
Despite increasing pressure from seed companies, Dr. Shrestha said many farmers continue to preserve a wide range of indigenous seeds.
“The surprising thing is that farmers are still maintaining and conserving a large variety of seeds despite the pressure from companies to use commercial seeds,” he said.
He noted that farmers possess extensive indigenous knowledge about seed cultivation, nutritional value, climate resilience and the cultural significance of traditional crops, knowledge he said must be safeguarded alongside the seeds themselves.
“These seeds are part of the identity of the people,” Dr. Shrestha said. “They must be protected, conserved and continuously cultivated for the future.”
The seed fair brought together farmers, agricultural organisations and community stakeholders to celebrate local seed diversity and encourage the continued use of indigenous varieties as part of efforts to strengthen food security and agricultural resilience.
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