Climate shocks: Indigenous seeds now take centre stage

Francis Ngiri was born and raised in Elmenteita, Nakuru County, an area that had received very little rainfall for many years.

True to its name, derived from the Maasai word for “dusty place,” Elmenteita remained dry for most of the year.

As a result, Ngiri and other local farmers traditionally relied on drought-resistant indigenous seeds suited to the arid conditions.

However, with the onset of climate change, rainfall patterns in the region began to shift. Ngiri explains that, while other areas started to experience prolonged drought between 2018 and 2023, Elmenteita surprisingly began receiving significantly more rainfall.

At first, he said, the unexpected changes left farmers confused, uncertain about their next move.

“There was confusion all over. We were used to planting drought-resistant seeds. But with the persistent rains, we had to move away from what we knew and start using seed varieties that thrive in wetter conditions,” he explained.

However, through agroecology training forums and seed saving networks, farmers were advised that using indigenous seeds would make adaptation easier. Ngiri admitted that the transition was not as bad as they thought. “Initially, we thought it would be very difficult for the new seeds to adapt to the changing environment. In the first and second seasons, the crops did not perform well. But by the third and subsequent seasons, they adapted and remained productive,” he said.

Ngiri was speaking during the 2nd National Agroecology Symposium organised by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya, held in Nairobi, with the theme, Scaling Ap Agroecology Initiatives For Soil Health, Climate Resilience, Economic Stability and Sustainable Healthy Food Systems.

Over 600 stakeholders from across the country and internationally, including farmers, civil society organisations, academics, researchers, and government representatives, came together to contribute to the advancement of agroecology. It also involved an exhibition where various organisations, farmers, and farmer groups showcased a wide variety of indigenous seeds, including cereals, bananas, sweet potatoes, as well as produce and value-added products.

Speakers advised that as Kenya and the rest of the world grapple with the increasing impacts of climate change, including erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and declining soil fertility, the best option for farmers is to invest in indigenous seeds.

Rosinah Mbenya, PELUM country coordinator, explained that the purpose of the symposium was to promote and position agroecology at the centre of Kenya’s agricultural and food systems transformation.

“The symposium aims to catalyse transformative dialogue and action towards a sustainable and healthy food systems transition in Kenya through inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships,” she explained.

Rosinah said the traditional seed varieties cultivated and preserved by Kenyan communities for generations are proving to be essential tools for agricultural resilience. “Indigenous seeds are naturally equipped to withstand the stresses of a changing climate while promoting sustainable farming and food security,” she explained.

She added that one of the defining features of indigenous seeds is their rich genetic diversity, which is a result of centuries of adaptation to local conditions, including variations in rainfall, temperature, and soil types.

Nicholas Mutua, and member of Utooni Development Organisation, said Makueni County is dry most of the time, and farmers there rely on indigenous seeds for planting.

“Here, if we want to harvest, we must plant indigenous seeds like sorghum, millet, pigeon peas and cowpeas, which are naturally drought-tolerant with climate-smart traits,” he said.

Mutua further noted that these indigenous crops have deep roots that can access water deep below the soil surface, mature early and at times are tolerant to poor soil fertility.

Once you plant indigenous seeds, he noted, they will require little or no chemical fertilisers or pesticides, meaning lower production costs and reduced environmental impact, contributing to more sustainable and self-reliant farming systems.

Speaking at the same event, Daniel Wanjama, the coordinator of the Seed Savers Network, emphasised that indigenous seeds are extremely important and must be protected from being lost.

Research done by the Food for Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in 2010 estimated that 75 per cent of crop diversity was lost between 1900 and 2000.  

“Saving seeds is an important activity for farmers since it is the only way they can access seeds any time they want, and ensure continuity of production without depending on commercial or hybrid ones,” Wanjama explained.

He guided farmers on the best practices for selecting and storing indigenous seeds to achieve better yields.

The first step, Wanjama noted, is to select quality seeds. Good seeds should be clean and free from diseases and pests. Secondly, the soil must be fertile to enable any farmer to produce high-quality seeds. He also warned that not everything farmers plant qualifies as seed. Seed selection begins while the crops are still growing in the field.

“You observe which plants are growing faster, which maize tassels first, or which vegetables flower earlier, the seeds that do not attract pests and diseases in the farm. These are some of the key characteristics to consider,” he explains. Wanjama emphasised that farmers must follow all recommended agronomic practices, including timely and early planting, proper watering, minimum tillage, maintaining hygiene in the field, and proper post-harvest handling.