The Seed Resilience Project began in 2023 with partners including the International Seed Federation, Fair Planet, Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and local seed companies. Its goal is to improve access to climate-resilient seeds and raise agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers.
Fair Planet’s field trials and data show fast gains. Tomato production rose well above the national average after farmers began testing adapted seeds. In trials in May 2024 cabbage yields increased from 1,400kg to 7,000kg per 0.1 hectare. Farmers have tested more than 60 hybrid varieties, and some hybrids produced up to five times the yield of open-pollinated varieties. Varieties of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and peppers have reached local markets and export channels.
The project starts with careful nursery preparation and researchers track germination and seedling performance. Fair Planet shares the collected data with seed companies to improve seed quality. Farmers report higher incomes and better ability to save and insure crops.
Difficult words
- resilience — ability to recover from problems
- productivity — amount produced in a given time
- smallholder — a farmer with a small farm
- trial — a test to check how well something workstrials
- hybrid — a plant from two different parents
- germination — when a seed begins to grow
- nursery — place where young plants are grown
- yield — amount of crop produced on landyields
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could access to climate-resilient seeds change life for smallholder farmers in your area?
- What are possible benefits and risks of using hybrid seed varieties for local markets?
- Which steps of the project (nursery preparation, trials, data sharing) seem most important to you, and why?
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