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Farmer Managed Seed Systems in Africa
Farmer Managed Seed Systems in Africa Ambakisye-Okang Dukuzumurenyi 25 Views • 5 years ago

ORFC Global 2021 Session

Farmer Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) have, for hundreds of years, played a crucial role across the African continent in ensuring a diverse diet for millions of people and sustaining biodiversity. However, there is no continental law governing seeds in Africa and corporates have taken this as an opportunity to grab resources from the agricultural sector - which still occupies 70 % of the population into Africa - and sell them seed, fertilizers and pesticides. In some regions various stakeholders such as seed companies and their allies, are promoting uniformity in the name of high yield seed and food security. 

Despite the push of multiple legal-political instruments to install industrial seed systems as the vehicle of African agriculture, 80% of seeds used by farmers in Africa come from their own reserves.  In this panel, organised by AFSA, we will learn about two levels of resistance to the African seeds takeover by industry: first is led by civil society organisations at sub regional level, engaging the push of seed law revision favourable to hybrid seeds and GMO’s. Second is at national levels where farmers’ organisations break the law by organising seed festivals; sharing indigenous seed, knowledge and practices.

Speakers:
Jean Paul Sikeli
Mr. Sougalo Soulama
Fassil Gebeyehu Telemtu
Bright Thamie Phiri

Chair:
Famara Diédhiou

#ORFCGlobal​
https://orfc.org.uk/

Songhaï : Agroecologie et La Renaissance Africaine (Eng subtitles)
Songhaï : Agroecologie et La Renaissance Africaine (Eng subtitles) Ambakisye-Okang Dukuzumurenyi 25 Views • 5 years ago

[English below]

Songhaï est avant tout motivé par le bonheur ! Le désir de bonheur est l'impulsion pour un développement socio-économique durable. Il n'y a pas de bonheur dans l'insuffisance alimentaire, l'actuel exode rural africain et la fuite des cerveaux, une économie dépendante des importations, la dégradation de l'environnement, la perte d'espoir pour l'avenir chez les jeunes, l'agriculture de subsistance et la dévaluation de l'opportunité qui vient avec une croissance démographique excessive.
Le père Godfrey Nzamujo, est un prêtre dominicain, titulaire d'un doctorat en électronique, microbiologie et sciences du développement. Le père Nzamujo s'est associé à un groupe d'Africains et d'amis de l'Afrique qui partagent la vision de rendre à l'Afrique sa dignité, trop longtemps bafouée.
En 1982-1983, les médias ont fourni de nombreuses images de la famine africaine et de la grave sécheresse qui ont frappé l'Éthiopie en particulier. Ces images ont dépeint l'Afrique comme un continent ravagé par des guerres sanglantes, la famine, les crises et la pauvreté - un continent où l'espoir n'était pas permis. Le père Nzamujo, qui était alors professeur d'université aux États-Unis, a débarqué en Afrique avec la ferme conviction de changer les choses. "Au début, personne n'y croyait, ni mon ordre religieux, ni ma famille et mes amis. Mais j'étais convaincu que demain serait différent, parce que Dieu allait nous aider et que l'injustice pouvait être repoussée. ("Songhai When Africa stands up", p.28).

Quatre ans après sa création, Songhai a commencé à former de jeunes entrepreneurs agricoles. La formation de longue durée a commencé à Porto-Novo en 1989. Le Centre a étendu sa mission à tout le Bénin et à la sous-région occidentale de l'Afrique.

http://songhai.org/
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[English]

Songhai is motivated primarily by happiness! The desire for happiness is the impetus for sustainable socio-economic development. There is no happiness in food insufficiency, the current African rural exodus and brain drain, an import-dependent economy, environmental degradation, loss of hope for the future among young people, subsistence agriculture, and devaluation of the opportunity that comes with excessive population growth.
Father Godfrey Nzamujo, is a Dominican priest with doctorate degrees in electronics, microbiology, and development science. Father Nzamujo joined forces with a group of Africans and friends of Africa who shared the vision of giving back to Africa its dignity, which has been scorned for far too long.
During 1982-1983, the media provided abundant images of African famine and severe drought, which struck Ethiopia in particular. These images portrayed Africa as a continent ravaged by bloody wars, famine, crisis, and poverty -- a continent where hope was not permitted. Father Nzamujo, who was then a university professor in the United States, landed in Africa with the firm conviction to change things. "At first, nobody believed it, neither my religious order, nor my family and friends. But I was convinced that tomorrow would be different, because God was going to help us and that injustice could be pushed away. (“Songhai When Africa stands up”, p.28).

Four years after its creation, Songhai began to train young agricultural entrepreneurs. Long duration training began in Porto-Novo in 1989. The Centre expanded its mission throughout Benin and western sub-region of Africa.

http://songhai.org/

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