The National Reference Group (NRG) recommends that Agriculture policymakers should make sure that the growing seeds industry is inclusive of representatives of smallholder farmers and their associations in order to design a sustainable seed system managed by farmers whereby they will not have to buy seeds from agro-dealers every planting season. To this endeavor, our endogenous seeds must be protected and promoted as a national heritage within the seed industry in Rwanda. The NRG is a think-tank made of different stakeholders in agriculture value chain including farmers, agribusiness companies, researchers, members of parliament, media, civil society organizations among others.

Samples of endogenous seeds at the national dialogue
According to Francois Munyentwari, Country Director of the Association for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) that organizes NRG dialogues, “Our traditional seeds are a national common heritage and must not disappear. For food security, our wish is that research be carried out on these seeds to keep what they have positive to enrich by an external contribution. These traditional seeds are exchangeable, sustainable, qualitative, nutritious and tasty. They have medicinal and cultural values, they are resilient to climate change and fitting in the local agroecological environment. Furthermore their productivity can be improved to become commercial and marketable”

He added that “today, seeds are becoming commercial commodities and the market is dominated by corporates and private companies whose immediate interests are productivity and profits. In this regards, a farmer managed seeds system is central to escape the dependency from foreign corporates, to access resilient, affordable and timely quality seeds”

Group photo of participants at the national dialogue
For smallholder farmers to get involved in the seeds chain, “Farmers and their associations should be empowered for effective influence and participation in decision-making in relation to peasant seeds recognition, productivity, certification, management and control. This should no longer remain the exclusivity of private foreign companies in search of profit,” said Munyentwari.
Even though the Director of ACORD acknowledges that cooperatives are involved in seed multiplication, their role is very limited. “These cooperatives exist and work with the multipliers. In other words, these cooperatives are the workforce for investors. Currently, farmers donate their land, their labor, and work for money. This is different from farmers who work in their fields for themselves, who cultivate what they are going to harvest, and save seeds that they will use during the next farming season. Those who now manage these seeds are profit oriented,” Mr. Munyentwari noted.

In September 2018, The UN adopted a declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas and in relation to seeds, land, and farming practices on peasant rights. The Law governing seeds and plant varieties in Rwanda open a wide window to the privatization of seeds with a large scope of the plant breeder’s right and dictate how seeds can be marketed and intellectual property laws, which give monopoly rights to breeders. But the fact is that up to 75% of all seeds used in Rwanda today still come from farmers who save seeds from previous harvest even if this is changing rapidly to a situation where farmers are obliged to buy seeds each planting season. In this regard, the seeds system is a growing industry that need to be monitored to better respond to the needs of farmers who otherwise will depend on a seed industry dominated by corporates.

1. The NRG made the following recommendations
   The design of a sustainable seed system inclusive of smallholder farmers, managed by farmers whereby they will not have to buy seeds from agro-dealers every planting season (Minagri and stakeholders);
2. The need of both quality and quantity seeds, but eat and die should not be an accepted fatality: We should not solve the problem of the plate in danger to face the danger in the plate (Minagri and stakeholders);
3. The coordination of the many policies related to food policy and food system that are working in solos, towards a national accountability for a coherent food policy (Minagri, Minicom and Minisanté)
4. Farmers and stakeholders should be informed of ongoing programs and opportunities offered by MINAGRI/RAB in seeds production, multiplication and distribution (Minagri and stakeholders)
5. The review of the role and place of farmers groups and cooperatives in the current governance structure of the seed system, towards more inclusion and responsibilities (Minagri)
6. A national baseline study to design a farmers-managed seeds system, its rationale, its feasibility, sustainability and policy gaps for advancing a farmers managed seeds system (FMSS) with endo seeds on board; the baseline should be jointly initiated by CSO and Government (ACORD and stakeholders)
7. Who is accountable for the food policy? Its coherence and implementation? Laws and policies related to food and food system need to be streamlined trough MINAGRI, MINICOM, MINISANTÉ , different institutions for coordination and accountability (Minagri and stakeholders)
8. Markets of Organics seeds and products: More efforts needed for the traceability of organics seeds and products: recognition, production, multiplication, certification and marketing (fields, farmers, dealers..). (Minagri and Minicom)
9. Transition to agroecological production model: More efforts in capacity building of farmers in organic production, particularly the leverage use of organic compost and industrial inputs; As farmers are also consumers, take into consideration their experience, wisdom, and knowledge of climate change realities in sustaining the efforts of promoting agro-ecological farming; (Minagri and stakeholders)
10. Traditional seeds are part of the national heritage: MINAGRI should invest in the cultural values of seeds and food. Agribusiness is not only about intensification (chemical fertilizers, exotic seeds…. ) but also our seeds are to be protected as a national wealth; (Minagri and stakeholders)
11. Traditional knowledge and know-how of Farmers: MINAGRI should put more efforts in promoting Endogenous seeds and conciliate agricultural research with farmers cultural background in food system ; (Minagri and stakeholders)
12. A joint specific study by MINAGRI and MINISANTÉ on the direct links between non communicable diseases on increase and the massive use of agrochemicals and microbials in agriculture (Minagri and Minisanté)
13. Impacts of conventional agriculture on the environment and climate change: Minagri should conduct regular surveys and studies in order to monitor any side effects of crops intensification (use of industrial fertilizers and pesticides ) on the environment (health and NCD, biodiversity, water..); (Minagri and stakeholders)
14. Timely seeds near the farmers: Strategic stocks of Seeds established in all agro-climatic zones to guarantee their development and availability to farmers (RAB level); (Minagri and stakeholders)
15. Change the mindset about hybrid seeds, as many of them are produced without resorting to transgenic engineering and can improve the production significantly. Gutubura (seeds multiplication) doesn’t necessarily mean to produce “Ibituburano” (bad quality food); (Minagri and stakeholders)
16. A better assessment of the organic market for both national and exports: An opportunity to seize if it makes the difference for the smallholder farmers who use endogenous seeds (Minagri and Minicom)
17. A national extension program led by MINAGRI/RAB towards farmers producing and keeping certified endogenous seeds or doing organic farming, for the improvement of their seeds; (Minagri and stakeholders)
18. Public mobilization and promotional messages: Reinforcement of advocacy, networking and mobilization, promotional activities in favor of a sustainable farmers-based seed system (media, open-days, as done for Tubura); (ACORD and stakeholders)
19. Public private partnership is possible in organic farming with endo seeds and should be encouraged; (Minagri, RDB and stakeholders)
20. Fundraising for the recommended baseline research on farmers-based seed system to be conducted as soon as possible, without relying on the Govt to do it. (ACORD and partners)
21. Pushing recommendations to the highest macro-levels of the country institutions, for a better follow-up and implementation. (ACORD and NRG members)