In the hills of Elementaita -Gilgil, Nakuru County, a quiet revolution is underway. The Kasambara Youth Community Seed Bank has taken root, and its impact reverberates far beyond the fertile soil.The Kasambara Youth Community Seed Bank is not merely a collection of seeds; it is a testament to our commitment to seed sovereignty, food security, and cultural heritage. Here’s why it matters:
- Indigenous Seeds: Our ancestors sowed seeds that have weathered storms, droughts, and changing seasons. These seeds carry stories—the whispered wisdom of generations. By preserving them, we honor our past and secure our future.
- Empowering Farmers: The seed bank is a beacon for our youth. They are the custodians of our agricultural legacy. Their hands cradle seeds, their hearts nurture resilience. Together, they cultivate abundance.
- Local Wisdom: Elders share their knowledge—the art of seed selection, the rhythm of planting. In this exchange, tradition thrives. The seed bank becomes a living classroom, bridging ancient wisdom with modern techniques.
How It Works
- Seed Collection: Youth fan out across the individual family gardens, gathering seeds from heirloom crops. Maize, millet, sorghum,African leafy vegetables among others. Each seed carries the promise of sustenance.
- Cataloging and Preservation: The seed bank meticulously records each seed’s origin, traits, and sometimes organoleptic qualities. We safeguard biodiversity, one seed at a time.
- Community Access: Farmers, gardeners, dreamers—they borrow seeds to plant. The seed bank fosters interdependence. As crops flourish, so does our community.
Harvesting Resilience
- Biodiversity: Indigenous seeds adapt to local conditions, resisting pests and climate shifts. In their resilience, we find strength.
- Food Sovereignty: Choosing what we grow and eat is a fundamental right. The seed bank empowers communities to reclaim this sovereignty. Our plates mirror our heritage.
- Unity: Communities gather during planting seasons, sharing stories, laughter, and knowledge through events such as seed and food fairs,to exhibit the rich diversity within.
Due to the numerous threats that biodiversity continues to face, the value of ex situ conservation is increasingly being recognized.Seed banks are a pragmatic and effective approach to the conservation of plant genetic resources (PGR). Currently, there are more than 1750 seed banks conserving some of the world’s most important PGR . In addition to playing a complementary role to in situ biodiversity conservation efforts, ex situ seed banks can directly support such efforts by contributing to habitat restoration through provision of germplasm, data, expertise and specialist facilities.
Seed banks are especially important in supplying plant material of native and wild species which are not commercially available, and for which seed growers may be reluctant to produce due to uncertain market demands. In order to ensure profitability, commercial nurseries and independent seed collectors often deal with a limited set of market-preferred species. This makes it difficult for a market-based seed supply system to meet the seed and intraspecific diversity needs of a restoration program, particularly where the goal is to enhance species diversity.Seed banks can partner with development agencies to enhance the availability of this wide diversity for biodiversity conservation.
