Farmer Seed Production

1. Farmer Seed Production James M. Roshetko ICRAF & Winrock International

2. Sub-Project Strengthening Germplasm Security for NGOs and Smallholder Farmers in Indonesia Sub-project objectives, to: i) strengthen the technical awareness and skills of NGOs and smallholders regarding tree germplasm; and ii) increase the availability and use of quality germplasm by NGOs and smallholders Objectives target the expressed needs of NGOs and farmers Also experience in the Philippines

3. International research organizations Quality International seed companies National research organizations Large private plantations National NGOs National extension organizations Small private nurseries Quantity Farmers and Farmer Groups Farmers and NGOs have weak linkages to tree seed resources They need to develop their own seed security – seed production one part

4. Local (farmer & NGO) pathways Farmers/NGOs acquire seed from informal sources * Collect from local forests, woodlots, or farms * Exchange with family or friends This local pathways operate in recurrent isolation – * Seed collected repeatedly from the same sources * ‘New seed’ only occasional enters the local population Farmers/NGOs do not follow suitable seed collection protocol * Collect seed from 1-5 trees * Collect from trees that are easy to access * Quality of mother tree rarely considered * Distance between trees not considered * Origins of trees not considered (unknown or small population) Locally collected seed is often of suspect quality

5. Why Farmer Seed Production ? Seed quality and quantity !!! • Problem for all partners • Seed shortages are common • Use whatever seed is available • No direct access to quality seed

6. Seed Sources (Indonesia) • 75% of seed from local stands • Local stands questionable quality • No seed collection criteria !! • NGOs, farmers and dealers have limited knowledge • 25% of seed donated by INGOs, government, universities, etc • Donated seed – often from local sources – quality questionable • 63% of partners collect seed!! – • This is a valuable opportunity!! • Conclusion • Local seed management capacity must be improved • Tree seed collection & management training / information • Inflow of quality seed to establish on-farm stands / seed sources • Assist NGOs/farmers develop seed enterprise (linked to gov & private sec)

7. Training and information needs: • Only 5% of partners have received seed related training • Yet 63% of partners collect seed • And 30% of partners sell seed • All requested training • Appropriate documents should be ‘how to’ guidelines and manuals.

8. Participatory Training & Documents: • Step 1: Training curriculum written by ICRAF/Winrock • Step 2: Technical accuracy reviewed by IFSP and seed technology centers • Step 3: Implement a series of four ‘participatory’ training courses with NGOs and farmer groups • Step 4: Input from participants: i) is course effective, ii) is technical information practical to local conditions • Step 5: Develop curriculum into a field manual and test with farmers not previously involved with training • Step 6: Develop mini-training for farmers to be implemented by NGOs and farmer groups – advantage is mini-trainings are inexpensive and can reach a large number of farmers – scaling-up activity & enhanceimpact

9. Comments from training participants “Previous to the training courses I was not aware of the importance of mother tree selection nor the need to collect seed from many trees.” Petrus Tilis, Seed collector/dealer (Kupang) “ We collect most of the seed for our planting programs, because we can not afford to purchase all the seed required. Before the training we did not practice proper cleaning, sorting and storage.” Sophia, Yayasan Tananua (Flores)

10. General Farmer/NGO Seed Collection Guidelines • Appropriate for natural forests, plantations and smallholder seed sources • Collect seed from the best stands (hopefully fairly uniform). • Collect from the best trees, compared to neighbors:above average height & diameter; insect & disease free; mature and ample quantity of seed; good characteristics for timber, fruit, or fodder etc. • Not from isolated trees (separated by more than 100 meters). • Minimum 30 trees. If less quality mother trees are available, neighbors should combine, mix and redistribute their seed. • Recommended distance 50 meters between mother trees (not necessary in hedgerow orchards). • Only collect mature seed. • Collect seed from multiple location on the crown – pollinated from different trees. Appropriate role for NGO or Community Group 1. Facilitate activities between farmers, and 2. Coordinate with technical agencies and private seed companies

11. Seed Orchards • Research / Industrial Seed Orchards – • Sole purpose to produce seed • In general monocultures • Management excludes production of other products • Objective: produce seed of the best possible quality • Smallholder Seed Orchards (Stands) – • Integrated into existing multi-species, multi-product, risk adverse farming system • Management flexible to address farmers land, labor, capital and time limits • Seed is one of many products from trees (fuel, timber, fodder, fruit, etc) and whole system (agriculture products) • Objective: produce seed of above-average quality compared to other locally available seed – secure local access to quality tree seed • Linkages with technical agencies and private seed companies

12. Models - Farmer Seed Orchards • 3 Models • Plantations • Hedgerows • Mixed Tree Gardens • Plantations • One or a few species, often timber species • Design: blocks, strips or border plantings • Segregated component of farming system(intercrop during establishment or in understory) • Products: seed (major), timber, fuel, others

13. Models - Farmer Seed Orchards (2) • Hedgerows • One or a few species, often legumes • Design: contour rows, other strips • Integrated with annual or tree crops • Products: seed (major), fodder, fuel • green manure, stakes, food & tree • products • Services: soil & water conservation & enrichment

14. Models - Farmer Seed Orchards (3) • Mixed Tree Gardens • Multiple species, not all intended for seed production • Design: traditional garden design, with standardized spacing deliberate management and fewer species • Integrated fully with other tree crops and possible annuals • Products: seed is one many tree or annual crop products

15. Status • Under development at multiple sites in Indonesia • Collaboration with farmers, NGOs, & technical agencies • Farmer/NGO feedback crucial to evaluate models & • develop innovation Extrapolation Domain Farmer Seed Orchards are appropriate for areas with limited tree resources, strong demand for tree products (including tree seed) and farmers who are interested in tree planting.

16. Concluding Remarks Farmer Seed Orchards as discussed here is not meant to replace Seed Orchards, Seed Production Areas, or Seed Stands. Management of Farmer Seed Production is intended to improve the quality of the seed used locally compared to existing conditions. • Key activities are • Improving seed collection and management skills • Enhancing access to technical information • Promoting the use of technically sounds collection guidelines • Establishing local seed sources and tree plantings with quality seed • Strengthen linkages between farmers/NGOs and formal seed sector (government, forest industry, seed suppliers) These measures will make it possible for NGOs and farmers to improve the seed quality of the seed used at the local level!!!