Rapid Seed Security Assessment Report Somaliland
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Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 The Development Fund Norway Rapid Seed Security Assessment Report Somaliland Elaborated by: Rosalba Ortiz and Bayush Tsegaye Development Fund, Norway Contributors: Hussein Jama –ADO Darod Shabeel -HAVOYOCO Mustafa, Ahmed - MADO Avdi Qani -Candlelight Oslo, July, 2014 1 | P a g e Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 Acknowledgements Thanks to all partners in Somaliland for their support in order to carry-out this rapid assessment. Our especial gratitude to Dudumo Husseien Jama Agricultural Development Organization (ADO); to Avdi-Qani from CANDLELIGHT, Mustafa M.; to Ahmed and Abdirahkam from Modern Agriculture Organization (MADO), and to Darod Shabeel and Omar Sheik Abdilahi from HAVOYOCO. Thank you for gathering background information, providing additional data and working with us during field and planning sessions. We also appreciate field talks with Hibo Warsame from Pharo Foundation. 2 | P a g e Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 Content Pages 2 Acknowledgment List of contents 3 Acronyms 3 List of tables and figures 4 Summary 5 1.Introduction 6 2. Objectives 6 3. Areas and scope of the study 6 4. Agriculture in Somaliland 7 5. Food and cash crops in selected communities 8 6. Mapping diversity of local landraces 11 6.1 Maize and sorghum diversity in Durbur Village 12 6.2 Maize and sorghum diversity in Beerato village 13 6.3 Maize and sorghum diversiy in Haahi village 13 6.4 Maize and sorghum diversity in Doha-Guban 14 7. Seed supply systems for selected community 14 7.1 Challenges with Seeds “Khudrad” I Somaliland 16 8. Stakeholders analysis 18 9. A Community Seed Bank model for Somaliland 19 9,1 Type of services 19 9.2 Infrastructure needs 20 9.3 Associated costs 21 10. Where to pilot a community seed bank in Somaliland 24 11.Conclusions and recommendations 25 12. Annexes 27 List of annexes: Annex 1. List of people interviewed and partner organisations collaborating in field work 27 Acronyms ADO Agriculture Development Organization CSB Community Seed Banks HAVOYOCO Horn of Africa Voluntary Youth Committee MADO Modern Agriculture Organization 3 | P a g e Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 List of Tables and Figures Pages Table 1. Food and cash crops in Lafta Thinka, Durbur, Berato and 9 Dubur, Beerato, Haahi and Doha Guban Table 2 . Sources and prices of seeds for farmers in Lafta Thinka 15 Table 3. List of different institutions “stakeholders” and their roles 18 Table 4. Budget: pilot CSB in Somaliland 21 Table 5. 23 Table 6. 24 Figure 1.Four-cell analysis of maize in Lafta Thinka 11 Figure 2. Four-cell analysis of sorghum in Lafta Thinka 12 Figure 3. Four-cell analysis maize Dubur 12 Figure 4. Four-cell analysis sorghum Dubur 12 Figure 5. Four-cell analysis Sorghum Beerato 13 Figure 6. Four-cell analysis Dooha Gubn 14 Figure 7. CSB design 20 Figure 8. Alternative CSB design 22 4 | P a g e Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 Rapid Seed Security Assessment Report -Somaliland - Summary During 18th- 22nd of June 2014, the Development Fund -Norway carried-out a rapid assessment (RA) related to the seed security situation in five selected communities in Somaliland. Information sources were focus groups discussions with farmers, partners and interviews with relevant stakeholders. The outcomes of the RA provide DF-Norway a good picture regarding seed security among farming communities in Somaliland. The Rapid Assessment justifies the establishment of community seed banks as a necessary strategy to secure enough quantity, diversity and quality of seeds in farming communities in Somaliland. Farmers dependency on external seed of poor quality is a direct threat to food security and increases their vulnerability to climate stresses. Increasing diversity of cash and vegetables genetic diversity is key in the context of Somaliland farmers. After visiting five different communities, Lafta Thinka in Gabiley district seems like the most appropriate for piloting CSB already from 2014. Our partner HAVOYOCO has good technical staff in the field and farmer groups show a better organizational level. However, both farmers and technical staff need specific training regarding community-based seed management systems. CSB are highly needed in other communities, as well as, technical training among DF´s partner organisations. DF-Norway should include CSB as a core strategy for sustainable agriculture within Somaliland country programme. 5 | P a g e Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 1. Introduction The Development Fund-Norway conducted a rapid assessment to identify needs and challenges associated with seed security among rural communities in Somaliland. The purpose of the assessment is to provide field-based information for the implementation of community seed banks in Somaliland. The report contains main findings from fieldwork and concrete recommendations in relation to the type of CSB, services and associated costs; as well as, in relation to capacity-building needed among farmers and partners for an effective implementation of CSB in Somaliland. 2. Objectives and scope of the study Objectives Identification of opportunities and challenges associated with seeds and the establishment of CSB in Somaliland. Identification stakeholders and possible collaboration opportunities for CSB implementation in Somaliland. Recommendations and concrete steps for the implementation for DF implementation of CSB in Somaliland. 3. Area and scope of the study The rapid assessment is based on focus groups discussions carried-out in five different communities in Somaliland. Selected communities are those with on-going projects, implemented by Development Fund´s partners in Somaliland. The information is, therefore, relevant for Lafta Thinka in Gabiley district, Dubur in Sheik district; Beerato and Haahe from Odweyne district. However, seed security situation in Somaliland is similar for most of the farmers according to agricultural officials from Somaliland. So, although the assessment is based in few communities, it is expected to give a representative picture of seed security situation of Somaliland farmers in general (Map 1). Focus groups discussions were used to gather information from farmers, women cooperatives and local Village representatives. During focus group discussion, four-cell analysis1 was applied in order to gather information on relevance and distribution of key crops and varieties of key food crops in selected communities. Interviews were carried out with key informants form the government and FAO. Development Fund partners in Somaliland also participated in generating information and facilitating field visits. A complete list of interviewed people appears in Annex 1. 1 Four-cell analysis: there are two measures to classify each landrace according to whether or not it is widespread (occurring in more than a few fields) versus localized (restricted to a few fields), and secondly whether it is common (grown in large number of farms) versus rare (grown in small fields). Sthapit et all. Good practices for agrobiodiversity conservation. Published by LIBIRD and DF. 2013. 6 | P a g e Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 Map 1. Villages surveyed and implementing-partners. Dohaguban, Berbera district MADO site Lafta Thinka, Gabiley , HAVOYOCO site Dubur, Sheikh District; CANDELIGHT site Beerato&Haahe ADO sites 4. Agriculture in Somaliland One of main agricultural zones in Somaliland is located in the North-western part of Awdal and Gabiley districts2. However, farmers are also cultivating in Odweyne, Burao and Berbera district along Somaliland; most of them depending on irrigation systems. Gabiley and Awdal are the main areas for rain-fed production. The agricultural systems in all villages are a combination of maize and sorghum with cash crops (fruits and vegetables) and livestock herding (camels and sheep). One of the main cash crop in Somaliland is watermelon. All villages visited were harvesting it since it was the end of the rainy season (“Gu Season”). Farmers also produce various vegetables, such us tomatoes, onions, paprika, green chillies, potatoes, okra, parsley, which are minor cash crops sold in local markets (table 1 below). Crop production in Somaliland is determined by bi-modal rainfall. In most of the villages land is mainly communal (70%) vs 30% private. The process of privatization of land is accelerating in recent years (Ministry of Agriculture and partners, personal communications). The two main agricultural seasons in Somaliland are: Gu (rainy season) from April to June and Dayr (Autumn) from September to October-November; the amount of rain during Dayr is not good enough; 2 Gabiley and Awal became main cereals providers for South Somalia previous to the Civil War according to functionaries from the Ministry of agriculture interview. 7 | P a g e Seed Assessment Somaliland: Dudumo 17th to 23th of June 2014 most farmers need irrigation during Dayr Season. Summer time or Xagaa Season is from June-July and Jiilaal “ dry winter season” from December to March. Jiilaal is the hardest Season of the year. Therefore it is recognised as the season of uncertainty and desperation for many Somalis; while Gu is considered the season of abundance of milk, meat and good crops. Drought periods are getting more severe and the majority of farmers are relying in irrigation and water harvesting systems to cope with erratic rains. Many donors, such us The World Bank, FAO, IFAD and many International NGOs are working with water management systems. Development Fund´s water management projects in Somaliland are allowing farmers to have access to irrigation systems during dry seasons, especially during Dayr (Autumn). 5. Food and cash crops in selected communities All communities we visited cultivate maize and sorghum as main food crops; while watermelon, tomatoes, onions, green chillies and hot pepper are main cash crops. Fruits such as papaya, mango, guava and lemon are also good sources of income and food for villagers.