Bunyoro gets community seed bank:

The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), with support from Biodiversity International and Climate Change Agricultural and Food Security (CCFAS), has built a community seed bank in Hoima district, Uganda. The facility that cost sh55m, will be used for preserving indigenous seeds, so as to make them available to farmers who may need to grow a particular variety.

Dr. Ambrose Agona, the director general of NARO, said the seed bank demonstrates their commitment to conserving biodiversity. He was speaking during the launch of the seed bank in Kibaire village, Kyabigambire sub-county. The seed bank is located about 13km from Hoima town.

Dr Sylester Dickson Baguma, the director of research at Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (BUZARDI), said the seed bank would ensure that a variety of seeds is conserved for posterity. He said farmers would benefit from the seed bank by crossing their varieties with those in the facility to generate high-yielding ones that are disease-resistant and are able to withstand the effects of climate change.

He said in the event that a farmer gets high quality seeds for planting from the community seed bank, the farmer is expected to return the same variety and the quantities he took, for sustainability. Baguma said that they had received a donation of 30 local varieties from farmers in Mutike, Kyobote, Tintina Basezi, Murungi, Kahunde, Kanyebwa and Kalyongolyongo, among other areas.

Baguma said the seed bank would benefit eight districts including Hoima, Masindi, Kibaale, Buliisa, Kikuube, Kagadi, Kakumiro and Kibale, that constitute BUZARD jurisdiction. He said the seed bank had shelves that are well maintained at a low temperature to keep the seeds from going bad. Construction of the seed bank started in January and ended in June. However, Baguma said they were yet to install electricity and cooling systems to ensure the longevity of the seeds. 

We plan to acquire a generator to address the constant power fluctuations. Once the seeds are well maintained, they can last up to 10 years, he said. 

The head of the Plant Generic Resource Center at NARO, Dr John Wasswa Mulumba, said farmers would be trained in the use and keeping of the seeds in the bank. Catherine Kaija, the Hoima district agricultural officer, said the new seed bank would help farmers access a diversity of organic seeds.