Across the North Rift region, smallholder farmers are the backbone of food production. They work tirelessly to feed communities and sustain livelihoods. Yet, many face recurring challenges: unpredictable weather patterns, rising input costs, and shrinking access to quality seeds. In response, ADS North Rift is championing an innovative yet deeply rooted solution — Seed Banking.
What is Seed Banking?
Seed banking is the practice of saving, storing, and sharing quality seeds for use in future planting seasons. Farmers select the best seeds from their harvest, carefully store them in safe conditions, and make them available for planting or sharing in subsequent seasons.
This simple but powerful approach ensures that farmers have reliable access to high-quality, diverse, and climate-resilient seed varieties even when markets are unstable or prices soar.
Why Seed Banking Matters
For smallholder farmers, seeds are not just inputs; they are the foundation of their livelihoods. Seed banking:
Preserves Indigenous and Improved Varieties – Protecting valuable genetic diversity that is often lost when farmers rely solely on commercial seed markets.
Reduces Production Costs – Farmers save money by reusing stored seeds instead of buying new ones every season.
Ensures Timely Planting – Stored seeds mean farmers can plant on time, avoiding delays that often lead to lower yields.
Strengthens Climate Resilience – Seed banking builds community capacity to adapt to droughts, pests, and erratic weather conditions.
ADS North Rift’s Role in Promoting Seed Banking
ADS North Rift has integrated seed banking into our community-driven projects, working hand-in-hand with farmer groups to:
Establish and strengthen community seed banks that store and distribute indigenous and improved seed varieties.
Train farmers on seed selection, handling, and storage techniques to maintain quality and viability.
Facilitate knowledge sharing among farmers through farmer field schools, exchange visits, and #FarmerTuesday platforms.
Support climate adaptation efforts, ensuring farmers are better prepared for future shocks.
Through these initiatives, ADS North Rift is not only helping farmers secure their future harvests but also building sustainable and resilient food systems that benefit entire communities.
Looking Ahead
Seed banking is more than a farming practice; it is a movement of resilience. As more farmers embrace this approach, they are preserving biodiversity, reducing dependence on external seed suppliers, and ensuring that no season catches them unprepared.
Together with farmers, partners, and communities, ADS North Rift is planting resilience — one seed at a time.
