Nakuru: As unpredictable rainfall patterns slash harvests in the wake of climate change, smallholder farmers in Nakuru are turning to indigenous knowledge and agroecology to stabilise their food systems.
According to Kenya News Agency, for 53-year-old Francis Ngiri, the value of indigenous crops is clear: they require minimal rainfall and are naturally resistant to pests, making them ideal for semi-arid regions. His work involves multiplying assorted indigenous seeds in a controlled environment to prevent contamination after collecting them from elderly farmers who have carefully preserved them over the years. Ngiri is part of a community of smallholder farmers in Kiptangwany village within Gilgil Sub-County who are confronting climate change effects such as erratic rainfall through agroecology, which emphasises indigenous seed banks, soil health, environmental conservation, biodiversity, and reduced reliance on expensive chemical inputs.
Ngiri’s involvement with the Eden Indigenous Seeds Network has transformed his life and sparked a broader movement toward sustainable agriculture in his community. He highlights a recent High Court ruling that declared key provisions of the Seed and Plant Varieties Act, 2012, unconstitutional, effectively decriminalising the traditional practice of saving, sharing, and multiplying indigenous seeds. This ruling is seen as transformative for small-scale farmers, paving the way for enhanced conservation efforts and affirming that Farmer-Managed Seed Systems are a protected constitutional right.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Rhoda Rutto, removes restrictions that previously imposed fines and potential jail terms on farmers for dealing in uncertified seeds. This decision is hailed as a victory for food sovereignty, reducing the dominance of large commercial seed developers and conserving genetic diversity needed for climate resilience and adaptation.
Gideon Muya from the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya underscores the importance of preserving indigenous seeds as a strategy for food security and climate resilience. He points to the Kenya National Agroecology Strategy for Food System Transformation 2024-2033, which supports practices that improve soil health, conserve water, enhance biodiversity, and reduce reliance on harmful chemical inputs.
Mary Wambui, a member of the Seed Savers Network, emphasizes that sharing seeds will protect the country’s food sovereignty and biodiversity. She advocates for the establishment of an indigenous seed bank to encourage the propagation of such varieties and the practice of organic farming to reduce food production costs.
Mercy Chepkemoi from Slow Food Kenya notes the necessity of exchanging and sharing seeds among farmers who cannot afford certified seeds. She stresses that integrating the farmer seed management system into the law will enable farmers to share and exchange indigenous seeds, enhancing food security and adapting to changing weather patterns.
The Court ruling is seen as a pivotal step in supporting farmer-managed seed systems, ensuring the sustainability of food systems and natural resources, and protecting biodiversity in the face of climate change.
