SEED SOURCES, ORGANIZATION AND COST

SCC-VIAFP Presentation2 Introduction  SCC -VI Agroforestry promotes Agroforestry as an engine of economic growth.  The development objective is to contribute to “improved livelihood and empowerment of small scale farmers in the Lake Victoria Basin through sustainable management of natural resources and business development  The project has two objectives namely: o Increased firewood, wood, food & nutritional security at household level o Sustainable market oriented production established with emphasis on agro forestry products

SCC-VIAFP Presentation3 Seed Sources Introduction In SCC-VI Agroforestry we are involved in direct germplasm supply to the smallholder farmers. It all begins with the smallholder farmers identifying the species they would want to plant for various uses like soil fertility improvement, surface run-off control, fodder, fuel wood, fruit production, poles and for timber. After identification the information is forwarded to the seed unit by the extension officers who compile the requests for the whole area of operation. We then go ahead and identify the various sources who mainly are: Farmer groups trained in local seed collection KEFRI or Other qualified seed vendors

SCC-VIAFP Presentation4 General Seed Sources Natural forests: Suam forest, Mt Elgon National Park, Saiwa Swamp National Park Farmland Plantations: Cherangany and Endebess divisions The sources are identified through a survey conducted by the project to ensure good quality seeds Both the project staff and the seed collectors establish the seed maturity before collection by observation of flower, seed and carrying out maturity tests. Suam forest: One of the seed sources

SCC-VIAFP Presentation5 Seed collector groups  These are groups composed of women and men who are doing seed collection as a business  They may also own some seedling production nurseries  The project trains them intensively on seed collection and storage and monitors how they do it.  After the training, they are contracted to supply seeds to the project.  There are three major groups; Cherangany, Saboti and Kwanza  They collect, process and sell seed to the project on agreed dates. A group of seed collectors

SCC-VIAFP Presentation6 Seed sources cont. Seeds from fruit consumption For most of these seed farmers get them after eating fruits, either got on-farm or purchased at local markets. E.g. Carica papaya, Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava, passion fruits, Syzigium cuminii. The commercial seedling points around urban areas get most of their fruit seeds from the market centres.

SCC-VIAFP Presentation7 Species supplied Some of the species supplied by the seed collector groups are: Sesbania sesban Grevillea robusta Albizia spp. Casuarina equisetifolia Carrica papaya Cassimiroa edulis Mangifera indica Markhamia lutea etc. Croton macrostachyus Prunus africana Cordia africana Warbugia ugandensis Olea capensis Seed collectors selling seed to SCC-VI Project in Kitale

SCC-VIAFP Presentation8 Other Sources of Seed These include KEFRI and other vendors who supply species not available or are available in limited quantities from the seed collector groups These species include: Leucaena trichandra Calliandra callothyrsus Xanthoxylum gilletti Fallow spps e.g. Crotalaria grahamiana Other Vi-projects We source various seeds from other projects with similar ecological conditions as ours, (Mwanza, Musoma, and Kitale). In these areas activities started much earlier and have established seed sources)

SCC-VIAFP Presentation9 Organization of seed source & supply Viagroforestry project provides starter seed for the various AF species. In the initial stages the farmers with interest are encouraged to form groups where they receive training on seed technology( source identification, flowering and maturation, harvesting techniques, processing, testing and storage and other basic seed technology issues) Individual farmers collect seeds for personal use and for commercial purposes Groups for commercial purposes Umbrella organization has been established in some parts of the project (lower Nyakach), where seed dealers share issues of sourcing, marketing and capacity building.

SCC-VIAFP Presentation10 Organization of seed source & supply Request Supply Field Officers Seed unit: Seed procurement, storage, distribution Seed vendors (Women groups), dealers, collectors (seed sources) Collaborators, Institutions, Individuals Farmer s (Farmer groups)

SCC-VIAFP Presentation11 Cost Pricing The seed purchase prices are set based on the KEFRI pricing policy and adjusted according to the local market. Pricing of seed is dependent of the market forces, availability of the species and the amount of work and time involved in the collection and processing. We are re-adjust prices once per year to take into account the realities.. Some of the seed are costed by the specific harvesters basing on the input cost of the seed/germplasm, that is time spent, labour cost etc. When selling to external buyers the prices are set higher than the purchase price from farmers

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