STRENGTHENING RICE SEED SYSTEMS AND AGRO-BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN WEST AFRICA: A socio-technical focus on farmers’ practices of rice seed development and diversity conservation in Susu cross border lands of Guinea and Sierra Leone Florent Okry Thesis committee Thesis supervisors Prof. dr. P. Richards Professor of Technology and Agrarian Development Wageningen University Prof. dr. ir. P.C. Struik Professor of Crop Physiology Wageningen University Thesis co-supervisors Dr. ir. E. Nuijten Researcher, Technology and Agrarian Development group Wageningen University Dr. ir. P. Van Mele Formerly Program Leader Learning and Innovation Systems Africa Rice Center, Cotonou, Benin Currently Director Agro-Insight, Belgium Other members Prof. dr. ir. C. Leeuwis, Wageningen University Prof. dr. ir. J.C.M. van Trijp, Wageningen University Dr. M.P. Temudo, Tropical Research Institute, Lisboa, Portugal Dr. ir. L. Visser, Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen This research was conducted under the auspices of Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS). STRENGTHENING RICE SEED SYSTEMS AND AGRO-BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN WEST AFRICA: A socio-technical focus on farmers’ practices of rice seed development and diversity conservation in Susu cross border lands of Guinea and Sierra Leone Florent Okry Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor at Wageningen University by the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. dr. M.J. Kropff, in the presence of the Thesis Committee appointed by the Academic Board to be defended in public on Wednesday 21 December 2011 at 1.30 p.m in the Aula. Florent Okry Strengthening rice seed systems and agro-biodiversity conservation in West Africa: A socio-technical focus on farmers’ practices of rice seed development and diversity conservation in Susu cross border lands of Guinea and Sierra Leone 208 pages Thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NL (2011) With references, with summaries in English and Dutch ISBN 978-94-6173-111-1 Abstract Okry, F. (2011) Strengthening rice seed systems and agro-biodiversity conservation in West Africa. A socio-technical focus on farmers’ practices of rice seed development and diversity conservation in Susu cross border lands of Guinea and Sierra Leone.” PhD thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 208 p. Some decades ago it became clear that formal agricultural research institutions - and hence formal interventions in agriculture - were somehow missing their targets for African farmers, mainly because their proposed solutions, and the ways these solutions were developed and introduced to African farming communities, did not match the realities of peasant life. It was recommended that the formal research should consider the wider contexts within which farmers operated to formulate better solutions. These solutions are essential for low-resource farmers facing many (socio-economic and cultural) constraints and having to cope with uncertainties (climate change, market variations, soil degradation, political and social unrest). The research presented in this thesis analyses the functioning of West African rice seed systems with regards to this recommendation. It starts with a regional focus (seven West African coastal countries) and then focuses on specific in-depth field studies undertaken in Guinea (with some comparison from neighbouring Sierra Leone). The study is based on an interdisciplinary approach combining methods from social and natural sciences. Findings show that despite efforts from governments, policy makers and formal agricultural research, the informal seed system still predominates, largely because it is the seed system closest to low- resource farmers. The objective of replacing the informal seed system by a formal seed system exclusively promoting improved varieties is a distant prospect. The research shows that local varieties are, to a large extent, superior to improved varieties in the sub-optimal conditions facing most farmers. It is also shown that even when improved varieties suit farmers’ conditions they are often channeled through inappropriate institutional arrangements that block access by low-resource farmers. Formal seed projects often lack follow-up to sustain actions. Innovations are lost between research planning, donor requirements to demonstrate adoption and the realities of peasant coping strategies. It is argued that success indicators in the formal seed system need to be redefined based on a clear conceptual divide between variety dissemination and bulk seed supply. The formal seed system merges these two activities whereas the informal seed system pursues a different path and addresses different procedural constraints. We suggest seed projects should concentrate on variety dissemination and leave bulk seed supply to local seed dealers. The thesis demonstrates that local dealers are effective and more closely in tune with farmer needs. The major finding of this thesis is that the informal seed system is closer to farmers, and works well, because it reflects (and is integrated with) local ideas about food security and social solidarity. This social dimension is missing in the formal system, designed and funded by experts who neither live by planting rice nor share in the local sets of assumptions about social reciprocity and obligation. Guinea may be undermining its long-term food security if it continues to seek to replace a social seed system with one driven solely by abstract ideas of economic rationality. The better option, supported by the weight of evidence in this thesis, is to seek complementarity and synergy between the two systems. Keywords: Oryza sativa, Oryza glaberrima, food security, formal seed system, informal seed system, varietal diversity, sub-optimal agriculture, small-scale farmers, farmers’ practices, Guinea, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Acknowledgements At the end of this PhD process, I finally have the opportunity to express my gratitude to the persons and institutions that make it a reality. Mentioning everybody is impossible. I will therefore list a number of them as an indication. I would like to express my gratitude to The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) that funded this research. The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) provided additional funds for field activities. The Institut de Recherche Agronomique de Guinée (IRAG) and the Association pour la Promotion Economique de Kindia (APEK) assisted in practical organisation of the field activities. My sincere thanks go to the brave farmers of Guinea and Sierra Leone. This work would have not been possible without their enthusiasm and willingness to spend their valuable time to answer my endless questions. This work would have not been completed without the constant support of my wife Vicentia and my daughters Foumilayo, Omonlola and Marotan. I left you alone for months and months. You found ways to cope with my absence and gave me the necessary support to continue this PhD research. Please see this piece of work as an expression of my love. My deep gratitude goes to Paul Richards, Paul C. Struik, Edwin Nuijten, Paul Van Mele and Roch L. Mongbo who guided my steps throughout this process. I enjoyed working with you. The large and rich supervision team you composed because of your diverse backgrounds has been my chance in this ambitious adventure of combining the natural and the social sciences in a single piece of work. I highly appreciated your invaluable inputs and the offered learning opportunities. At an advanced stage of this work, I had the difficult task to drop one member of the supervision team because of administrative reasons. Roch Mongbo kindly understood the situation and accepted to leave the team. I would like to say a big thank you to you for your understanding. My thanks go also to Harro Maat. You first introduced me to TAO group and to Paul Richards in 2003; I was then a Master student. Paul Richards accepted me in the group after his reading of my rejected PhD proposal submitted to ZEF (Born) a year earlier. Since then it has been an enjoyable experience with the TAO group and its staff. My gratitude goes to Dominique Hounkonnou. I remember our chats months before I started this work. You said a lot to me and shaped my carrier by offering me "Jonathan Livingston le goeland". Please see this work as a first trial. Ramon Sarró and Marina Temudo gave me the first insights into the Guinean culture and agriculture. I still remember your hospitality when I visited you in Lisboa at the beginning of this work. Sincere thanks for your constant support and critical comments. Special heartfelt thanks go to my mother Thérèse Somadjè Okambawa. Please see these pages as a result of your sacrifice and commitment to the education of your kids. My best thoughts go to my late father Placide. I was about to start this work when you passed on. I still remember the last chat we had about me embarking on a PhD work. This is the result. I extend my sincere thanks to Victorin Adjakou, Victor Akoto, my brothers and sisters, my sisters and brothers in-law, Patrice and Roseline Dangbemey and my extended family. I cannot list you all. You have been very supportive; many thanks! My appreciation goes to the TAO staff and students for the scientific environment offered and the scientific discussions during the Lunch Seminars and other informal gatherings. I have appreciated being part of you. I owe special thanks to Conny Almekinders for inspiring scientific discussions and support and to Inge Ruisch for her invaluable help. Inge, without you my stay in Wageningen would have not been as enjoyable as it was. I would like also to say a big thank you to A. Mokuwa and B. Teeken for the good moments we shared as members of the research team on African rice (TAO group, Wageningen University) and also during informal get together. I will remember you. My gratitude goes also to my PhD colleagues A. Amele, Chen R., Sabarmattee, Jacintha V., A. Barraza, Sen D., A. Castellanos N., Doreen M. and all the rest for the friendly working atmosphere we created and the scientific discussions we had.