COMMUNITY SEEDBANKING: A STRATEGY TO PROMOTE

FOOD SECURITY AND AGROBIODIVERSITY

Aurelio de la Cruz

Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (SIBAT) 1

This paper attempts to focus on the ground experience of the B'laans in 4 communities in South Cotabato according to documentation report outline demanded by the conference. But in so doing,  experiences and reflections of other community seedbanks always come into fore, moreso, in instances that would tend to validate, substantiate and enrich the sharing. Also it is difficult to limit the scope to the locale whenever context, approaches, methodologies and lessons learned in implementation are concerned. Thus, some historical accounts of SIBAT engagement  in  genetic resource conservation work were also mentioned or integrated to provide justice on the historical accounts that made possible the current status and experience of community seedbanks now being shared to you.The S. Cotabato community seedbanks is a joint effort of ASPD, SIBAT and the B'laans.

DESCRIPTION OF THE AREAS

The History

The B'laans of yore are renowned hunters and food gatherers in the once vast open space of cogonal land known as kolon datal (where its present name "Koronadal" originated).  At the beginning, this nomadic tribe hunts wild fauna and reaps the available grains, rootcrops, fruits and herbs in the wild.  Oftentimes, the goods they collected they barter with Muslim traders who provide them silk, exotic food, farm implements and other domestic items.   

A fulong or chieftain heads the tribe, a title acquired chiefly by inheritance and which mainly explains the patriarchal structure to family and society.   He commands over the land, which is communally owned and where production is collectively undertaken.  "Slash and burn" farming system is the norm where staple crops such as rice and corn are planted in small patches, left to grow and harvested when ripe for picking.

Trickles of migrant settlers from the Visayas - the Ilongos arrived in Koronadal after the middle of the century.  Good news of bountiful lands and generous B'laan people soon spread out and in the 1950's, massive settler migration occurred.  Ilongos, Cebuanos, then the Ilocanos came in throngs - slowly driving the B'laan tribes further into the hinterlands.

Religious influences from the settlers immediately began to take root and through benevolent assimilation, the B'laans were converted to Christianity.  The phenomenal influx of migrant settlers similarly resulted into permanent production although - though, still at the individual level.  The large hunting grounds that were once vast and boundless became constricted and disappeared, limiting the B'laan community settlement.

Making the matter worse is the entry of Green Revolution in the 70s, which nearly wiped out the traditional farming system of production.  Chemical farm inputs (i.e., seeds, pesticides and fertilizers) were widely introduced.  Taking advantage were the unscrupulous trader-usurers who thrive on the simple and unsuspecting people to instill greater control and amass profit.   B'laan agriculture - which is premised purely on self-sufficiency, faired poorly because it is commercially inferior comparatively.  They became the main suppliers of upland crops such as corn, rootcrops, bananas and bamboo.  Rice remains the staple crop and although considered supplement crop, corn is produced with traditional high regard.

This led to widespread food insufficiency brought in by factors such as entry of cash economy and diversification of needs and wants; a perennial cycle of debt; an incorrigible depletion of bio-diversity resources; land encroachment and deception; and cultural vulnerability.  The direct contact with settlers has sadly created unwanted competition for food, land and a radical change of lifestyle.

The Four Communities

As implemented, the Integrated Community Seedbank Project was piloted first in two project sites: Sitio Salkan, Bgy. Paraiso and Sitio Lam-alna in Bgy.Saravia; and expanded to two other adjacent sites: Sitio Takilay, Bgy. Saravia and Sitio El Nalam, Bgy. Assumption - all in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.  The sites cover B'laan communities still producing basically for subsistence and supplemental cash crops.  And in contrast to what the project seeks to preserve - local biodiversity resources, indigenous farming systems are sadly, vanishing in these areas.

SITIO SALKAN, BGY. PARAISO

Lying at the southwestern foothills of the Roxas mountain range, Sitio Salkan is home to 106 B'laan households.  It is located 6.8 kilometers southwest of Koronadal City and can be reached within 20 minutes (2 kms) uphill walk from Bgy. Paraiso Proper. 

The rolling and uphill terrain provides limited yet favorable site for upland crop production.   Of the 103 has. total land area, 67 has. have been devoted to planting mainly rice (60%), corn (25%) and bamboo (15%).  Bananas, coffee and coconut count as secondary crops.  Agroforest trees notably Gmelina, have been introduced by the DENR through its Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) and now provide additional raw materials for charcoal making.

"Salkan" is a B'laan name for a local creek, which traces its origin from the sitio.  The same creek weaves through the 4 adjoining sitios of Bgy. Paraiso and is utilized for irrigation by the neighboring barangay of San Felipe. 

The existing community site tells a story of bittersweet land struggle for the B'laans of Salkan.  In 1953, the provincial governor had negotiated a lease agreement with elders for 103 hectares of land (the entire Salkan) to be used as pastureland for goats and cattle.  No formal or written agreement/documents however, were made to this effect.  To legitimize his claim, the same governor applied for Pastureland Lease Agreement (PLA) with DENR and was awarded a 25-year contract.  This was extended for another 10 years by the department when the contract expired in 1979.

In 1987, tired by the prolonged deprivation, deception and exploitative schemes of the governor, the B'laan community formed Kahugpungan ng mga Mangungumang Lumad (KAMLU).  This is a community-wide organization set-up traditionally by the council of elders.  They planned and initiated a dramatic re-occupation of the sitio by several batches (started by 37 families out of 83 then).

Because of this unexpected move, the community became a vulnerable target of harassment by the military and local officials marked by a series of confrontations between KAMLU leaders and the provincial council.  Later that year, 6 ranch guards or cowboys allied with the organization leading to a successful eviction of the governor's family from the property.

In 1994 and 1995, the women and youth organizations (KASALGAD) and (KASBAKAS) were established respectively.  Currently, the major community projects are supervised and coordinated by KAMLU, which is very active up to this time.

SITIO LAM-ALNA, BGY. SARAVIA

One of the 8 sitios comprising Bgy. Saravia, Lam-alna lies in a narrow, secluded valley southeast of the Roxas mountain range.  In B'laan dialect, "lam-alna" literally means a land that had submerged and therefore hidden from public view.  Today however, Lam-alna is accessed through a 5.5-kilometer uphill walk from the barangay proper after a 20-minute (15 kms.) jeepney ride from Koronadal. 

Local topography is characterized by steep undulating terrain with 60-75 degrees uphill slopes.  Clay loam soil is highly arable suitable mainly to staple crops such as rice and corn.  Bananas, bamboo and other agroforest species are similarly grown as supplement crops. 

The community is populated by 28 B'laan households with around 7 members per household.  Most families live through subsistence farming or through other economic activities including charcoal making, bamboo by-products (e.g., materials for fence, floor, wall and barbecue sticks) making. 

Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) of the DENR was introduced to the 1974, which led to an extensive cultivation of Ipil-ipil, Gmelina and bamboo tree species in the area.  Individual farmers were enticed to 20-year contract for reforestation and watershed protection. Despite the ISFP's modest goal, arable lands once devoted to staple crops dwindled as they competed with Gmelina species for water and soil nutrients.  Worse, whatever residual forest is now gone to unscrupulous chainsaw business and logging operations in the area.   Forest near the watershed area however, remains intact.

A community organization was formed in 1998 and is currently in-charge of safeguarding Lam-alna's decreasing natural resources as envisioned in their community seedbank project.  The traditional leadership structure led by the community's respected elders or fulong still exists.  Two clans, lord over the community, namely; the Daye and the Fong clans.

Figure 1.  Map Showing the Location of the Project Areas

SITIO TAKILAY, BGY. SARAVIA

Along with Sitios Lam-alna, El Gawel, Cabuling, Dungan Lehek and Nga Bunga, Takilay encompass Bgy. Saravia.  The sitio is accessible only by foot from Sitio El Gawel, which is 7 kilometers south of Koronadal, South Cotabato.  From El Gawel, it takes 1.5 to 2-hours semi-vertical ascent along steep footpaths to the community.   The community is percehed on a narrow plateau (780 meters above sea level) in the Roxas mountain range.

Twenty-four families all belonging to the B'laan ethnolinguistic group of South Cotabato live in the sitio.  About 110 population is distributed in 24 households, at an average of 5 per household.

Steep slopes (60-78 degrees) characterize the mountainous terrain surrounding the sitio.  The sandy-loam soil in the upland area provides fertile ground for farming.  Of the over 300 hectares total land area, roughly over a hundred is planted to corn, bamboo, bananas, coffee, coconut, rice and fruit trees.

Implementing socio-economic projects is not uncommon to this B'laan community as they have successfully shown in their PV-solar water pump project and the integrated crop-livestock farming system in the past.  These efforts made the community a prime choice for Phase II of the community seedbank project.

The community was at the crossroad of the intensified Christian-Muslim conflict in 1973, which terrorized and displaced the community for years.  The prolonged displacement has taken its toll in the community physically, economically and culturally. Ten years later, the B'laan leaders reclaimed their land from a few settler-families occupying the sitio.  

Currently, the local community organization of Kahugpungang Mangungumang B'laan sa Takilay (KAMABTA) is coordinating all socio-economic projects in the community.

SITIO EL NALAM, BGY. ASSUMPTION

The community is atop a narrow mountain ridge facing southeast of Koronadal at an elevation of 300 masl.   El Nalam is bounded by Bgy. Mambukal in the north and Bgy. Paraiso on the eastern side.   Nearby sitios Ulo Klofe, Ladol and Lubon comprise the main barangay.  From the city, Bgy. Assumption can be reached after negotiating 11 kilometers of dirt road on a single motorbike, aptly called "skylab."

The name El Nalam literally comes from two B'laan important words: "E-el" (meaning water), and "Nalam" (down).  Thus the name actually refers to their potable water source, which is located far downhill.  Sadly to date, water remains an utmost need in the community.

Twenty-seven households reside in the sitio, at an average seven per household.  Almost all households are engaged in production which is the primary source of livelihood.  Secondary sources include charcoal making, bamboo by-product production, backyard gardening and forest product gathering.

Corn is grown as a major staple (32 has.); bananas (7 has.) and rice (3 has.) are likewise cultivated as cash crops.  A single rice cropping, mainly rain-fed, is practiced in general.  However only about 30% are planted during the planting season because of the insufficiency of irrigation water and preference to corn production.

The local barangay council wields influence over the entire barangay.  However traditionally, people still look up to the council of elders (fulong) in resolving cases and community problems.  The Paandat and Pundo clans dominate this B'laan community.

PROGRAM CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

The Developmental Context

            Food security and community self-reliance have been the developmental underpinnings ever since SIBAT carried out its Organic Agriculture and Appropriate Technology  programs.  The ill effects of the Green Revolution Program and the failure of  modern farming technologies to concretely translate into productivity and upliftment of  living standards of the farming sector already spelled disaster for the Philippine agricultural landscape. The clamor for alternatives as a recourse by the affected sector led to further definition of the systemic and confluencing problems that have beset and tied farmers to a farming system characterized by external dependency on farm inputs and technology. 

The introduction of hybrids and the technological package has considerably weakened farmers' control on their very important  food resource base which is the seed. Farmers are tied up to high input and chemical-based farm production resulting to cyclical indebtness and qualitative deterioration of their agro-environment. In many cases, the farmers are increasingly being dispossessed of their land.  Equally alarming yet is the impending legal protection for private seed companies on their equally controversial genetically-altered cultivars.  A scenario where seeds are no longer within the control of farmers runs contrary to the developmental tenets of  community self-reliance and security in food. Thus, community-based and managed seedbanking has been defined as a strategy and  an arena for organizing collective efforts for the control of a vital agricultural and food resource base which is the seed. 

Historical Development in Relation to the Employed Strategies

SIBAT as a national network of institutions which have concerns on  Appropriate Technology and Organic Agriculture since it started its operations in 1984. It was in 1987, in the aftermath of the First National Genetic Conference that on the ground community seedbank initiatives were started by local network agencies and expanded in at least six (6) regional clusters such as Bukidnon, Mindoro, Negros, Cebu, Butuan, Panay and North Cotabato.  Most of this pilot seedbanks were carried out in demonstration farms that carried out the tasks of retrieval of traditional rice varieties, adaptability  and performance tests, and dispersal.  

It was in 1995 that the shift to an Integrated Community Seedbank concept was started as the assessment of earlier seedbank efforts yielded the need to closely integrate the Community Seedbanks with Sustainable Agriculture efforts in the community. Community seedbanks were intended to serve as the core activity around which the sustainable farming system is built; and strengthening its purpose towards enhancing crop diversity and food productivity in the community.  Three more community-based seedbanks were successfully piloted within this conceptual framework in North Palawan.  It was also during this period that the Second National Conference in Genetic Conservation was held in which experiences were articulated and shared. It was within this activity that the need for Advocacy and Networking to complement the grassroots seedbank activities was significantly voiced out by the participants. Coincidently it was during this period that developmental aggressions such as the implementation of the Medium Term Development Plan in the countrysides that took shape into ecotourism, mining explorations, land conversions, economic zones, etc.  which posed as threats to genetic conservation efforts were at its peak.

Hence, succeeding conferential and consultative activities constantly carried the element of sharing and exchange of information and actual seed exchanges.

SIBAT deemed it proper to systematize and provide continuity to conferential resolutions which concern genetic conservation work through a Three-Year National Genetic Conservation Program: Community Seedbank Expansion starting 1997. 

It emanated from the consistent response of the SIBAT Network as well as with the other advocates and conference participants to continuously address the problem on genetic erosion it has begun for almost two decades of its work on sustainable agriculture and appropriate technology development among the marginalized rural communities. Past efforts of the institution along this major issue have in so many ways contributed both in community and national levels in concerted efforts at highlighting the issue and concretizing local actions on biodiversity conservation along the framework of Sustainable Agriculture.

As designed, the Program is fundamentally geared towards Resource Management  and Networking and Advocacy on Agrobiodiversity. The South Cotabato Community Seedbanks which falls under Resource Management component were carried out as an expression of pushing food security on the ground or at the community level.   Generally, efforts are endeavored at preparing the four (4) community seedbanks to sustainability and self-reliance. Community Seedbanking is a Resource Management scheme to promote agrobiodiversity and food security at the community level.

Complementing and reinforcing this component is Networking and Advocacy strategies directed at contributing to the protection of genetic seed resources and preservation of ancestral domains. National level activities targeted include national genetics conference, national genetics trainings, and revitalization of the seed exchange and seeds databank and information. The main aim is to gather valuable lessons and insights gained on the ICSBs to help formulate/influence policies on seed conservation both at the local and national levels.

Main Program Goals

P       Promote food crop diversity and conservation at the community level within the framework of SA and food security through strengthening and expansion of ICSB communities.

P       To advocate genetic conservation, consolidation and strengthening of national initiatives that will assert farmers’ rights over seed genetic resources via joint formulation of a National Resource Protection Guidelines, upscaling of capability-building efforts and exchanges of seeds and information.

Specific Objectives of the Resource Management/ Community Seedbanks

1.                   Acquisition by farmers of sufficient knowledge and understanding of various genetic-related issues through trainings and technical support and formulation of a common stand to address the issues in their respective communities;

2.                   Enhance agro-biodiversity and consequently, the availability of seeds and food sources in the coverage communities through the establishment of community seedbanks;

3.                   Identify and popularize appropriate technological intervention in the identified farming communities in support of the indigenous seed campaign initiatives through participatory approaches and strategies;

4.                   Document the seedbanking experiences, indigenous CSB practices, as well as the varietal collection for purposes related to the protection of the farmers' intellectual and resource rights and facilitation of exchanges of seeds and information;

5.                   Formulate long-term and short-term plans to systematically operationalize their biodiversity conservation work;

6.                   Establish active and fully functional farmers organization with well-defined roles and responsibilities. Likewise, achieve organizational competence on project and campaign management and resource management, necessary to sustain their seedbanks and expand to others;

7.                   Installation of in-situ retrievals and seed production system for food staples such as grains, rootcrops and vegetables. Also included is to establish agroforestry nurseries and outplanting schedules/targets;

8.                   Integration of bio-intensive production of diversified food crops particularly vegetable home gardening;

9.                   Adopt technological measures to improve the bio-resource conditions such as soil fertility regeneration and conservation.

Specific Objectives of Advocacy and Networking

1.                   Advocate for community-based seedbanking efforts at the national level, utilizing policies formulated from the pilot experience;

2.                   Participate in the formulation and promotion of a people-based resource protection mechanism as basis for national advocacy work on genetic conservation;

3.                   Conduct  National Conference- Workshop on Genetics to serve as a venue to formulate people-generated resource protection mechanisms at the local and national levels;

4.                   Installation of the Seed Database and Information directory of  traditional rice varieties that will aid facilitate seed exchanges and information;

5.                   Hold regional training workshops to help upscale efforts on genetic resource conservation through input- sharing of experiences and modalities of on-the-ground conservation initiatives by advocates and farmer-seed stewards;

Strategies and Approaches  and Methodologies on

Genetic Conservation and Community Seedbanks

As a program strategy, the directional approach is technically oriented at a two-prong systematization and actualization of conservation activities, namely: advocacy and networking at the national level and resource management at the community level.

A.         Advocacy

            This component aims to consolidate and strengthen seedbanking efforts into policies that will assert farmers’ rights over genetic resources at all levels (local and national), seed exchanges and building up ICSB information resources through systematic documentation, promote CSB application and expansion to other communities and at the same time learn and act on the pressing issues that has bearing on the implementation of agrobiodiversity conservation efforts.

Specifically, this advocacy work was designed to be articulated in the following activities and objectives:

1)       National Conference/Workshop on Genetics and Community Seedbanking SIBAT have already held three of such conference to continuously provide an avenue for issue/ policy discussion and formulation, national assessment of community-based genetic conservation initiatives of farmers and advocates.

r      Develop a workable and common Resource Protection mechanisms or community rules or policies on property rights on plant varieties. This is now being pursued, as the key take off points were already laid down by participants during the July 2001, National  Conference Workshop on Genetic Conservation.

r      Work-out and sustain unity-building efforts among diverse conservation initiatives in terms of technical capabilities and framework, policy advocacy work, seeds and information exchanges. These enabling activities will promote the control of farmers over their seeds as basis for national advocacy work.

2)       Seed Databank and Information Exchanges have already started and will integrate and systematize data of  accessions into a national database. Meanwhile policies for exchange and collection are yet to be worked out;

r      Develop a central seed databank for purposes of seed exchanges and information sharing among farmer and advocates.

r      Systematize seed characterization and protection of retrieved traditional and improved cultivars to the benefit of farmers.

r      Provide a print medium for the exchange of information and ideas, popularization and dissemination of genetic conservation efforts.

Plant characterization being integral activity in community seedbank operations. SIBAT currently has a Seeds Directory and Database  of more than 500 Traditional Rice Varieties listing the retrievals/ accessions even of community seedbanks started in the past.

3)       Seed Exchange Network was conceived since 1995 to provide an avenue for sharing of promising and tested cultivars for adoption and trials, as well as sharing of experiences and insights in genetic conservation work to various groups and communities within and outside SIBAT network. This was not worked upon on the institutional intention to let it evolved later in the process. Bilateral linkages were however opened up as an option to facilitate seed exchanges among participants to the National Genetic Conference-Workshop held last July 2001.

4)       National Training On Genetic Conservation SIBAT have already conducted several of these events as its continuing effort.  It has the objectives of identifying gaps and upgrading capabilities of participants through joint sharing of experiences and expertise on various aspects and topics related to dissemination and popularization of various genetic conservation measures among the farmer sector such as orientation on seed collection and retrieval, selection, propagation, storage and preservation. In recently held regional trainings, also addressed were skills-needs on enabling components like policy critiquing and formulation, campaign management, information and databank on genetic resources. Likewise, tackled were genetic conservation extension approaches and modalities. These  aimed at stirring farmers’ and advocates’ potentials to draft and articulate policy guidelines on genetic conservation/ protection and management.

r      Identify and fill-in gaps in technical capability building related to on-the-ground popularization and dissemination in genetic conservation.

r      Enrich and upscale capability building (content and process) efforts on genetic conservation through exchanges of experiences and expertise.

r      Raise the technical skills and policy drafting capability of participants and, consequently widen community-based conservation efforts of various groups involved in genetic conservation.

Carried out on regional basis this year, the Regional Training Workshops served as knowledge and capability upgrading activity to the participants who participated

B.      Resource Management

This component aims to conserve genetic resources and promote bio-diversity and ecological balance at the community level within the framework of sustainable agriculture and in the context of providing for the food security and increasing productivity.  It has the following sub-components:

1)       Radiate Implementation and Operation of ICSB’s at the community level to increase the number of ICSB farmer cooperators and communities; as well the genetic varieties and seed stocks for “in situ" propagation and conservation. Implementation strategy is for a single pilot area community snowballing to nearby communities adopting similar ICBS implementing principles, methods and guidelines. At the project onset, each of the community seedbanks have their designated radiation sites.

2)       Community Organizing Component. Though the CSBs are strategically implemented in organizationally established PO communities, certain organizing work is still necessary particularly to ensure smooth implementation and sustainability of CSB. This is fundamentally premised in the notion that PO communities are dynamically evolving. Changes and challenges have to be organizationally addressed through new organizational dimensions, systems and procedures.

Practically the CSB organizing work entails mobilization of members to constitute the CSB working committees that will work on the updating of area information and its analysis, structure, CSB management, coordination and policies within the organization and adjacent farmer organizations.

Likewise the CSB organizing work would accentuate the assertion of community rights over access and control of genetic resources, advocacy efforts and consolidation of CSB gains. Required organizational skills necessary for efficient organizational management and coordination will be prioritized as necessary in the course of implementation. For a realistic match up of skills and needs required, organizational skills training components are identified after area validation of information and analysis of situation particularly to new expansion areas.

Fig 2.  Steps in Establishing a Local ICSB

Conversion Approach to Genetic Conservation

The basic conversion approach adopted by ASPD and SIBAT to Sustainable Agriculture and genetic conservation is basically a consultative one. It is also comprehensively participative on social and technical orientation in relation to its farmer partners.   In framework, the process operates in cyclical loop, and hence a constantly evolving mix of technical and social dynamics. 

Fundamentally, the first phase to SA conservation proceeded from a comprehensive environmental scan, or analysis of context or situation in four basic areas,  (1) assessment of the socio-economic political situation of the community (or comprehensively from macro to micro levels) (2) inventory of the needs and capacities of primary stake holder which is the farming household and as well as (3) the service provider or intermediary NGO and (4) a more detailed assessment of the farm/field focused on all the various agricultural determinants  required  for farm conversion planning.

Various socio-economic and agricultural information are then organized and jointly analyzed to come up with significant socio-agricultural trends. Major problems and needs are prioritized, focusing on the significant enabling components that could support the conversion design.  Referring to the identified needs and gaps, the community goals and targets are formulated. The different conversion component and activities are embodied in the drafted community and farm plans.

Technically, the conversion approach proceeds gradually with the orientation of the farmers on SA coupled with trainings on different SA technologies.  The primary tasks in the field conversion plan is regeneration of the fertility of the soil through various SA soil fertility methods and techniques and the adoption of improved basic food crop cultivars through varietal trials and continuous seed selection. Various SA technological practices will then be integrated in the succeeding conversion activities.

This technical design for conversion may not be grossly different from standard approaches but may differ in the process for which it was established.   It has been SIBAT and ASPD's experience of giving premium to consultative and consensual processes of project implementation as a higher degree of commitment and greater prospect of project sustainability is achieved.

Results of the Program

The community seedbank areas covered by the presentation are primarily anchored within SIBAT's program  Three-Year National Genetic Conservation Program: Integrated Community Seedbank Expansion. But to further enrich the discussion-presentation, other significant experiences on seedbanking among other community seedbank areas will also be included in the sharing from this point onwards.

Awareness and Capability-Build up on Genetic Conservation and Community Seedbanking

A systematic training to include orientational and technological build up were provided to the CSB members. Yearly project planning implementation started with an assessment of the current technical and management status of  the Community Seedbanks.  This were timely tabled during the Technical Debriefing Workshop  participated in by four (4) farmer-leaders from each sitio.  In particular, gaps on the technical and management aspects of project operation were identified and systematically addressed by the concerned POs, ASPDI and SIBAT.  Concrete operational plans per area were likewise jointly formulated and discussed at the respective communities.

Last year, a workshop focused on Surveying and Planning for Action against Threats was next conducted as facilitated by ASPDI and the provincial wide organization of indigenous people (KALUACO).  The workshop was meant to heighten the B'laan farmers' understanding of genetic resource issues affecting their seed conservation efforts and safeguarding earlier gains of ICSB program and strengthen their hold to their resources and ancestral domains.  A draft analysis of the B'laan history of struggle and the identification of current threats, issues and options has been evolved from this workshop

Establishment of Community Seedbanks

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Carryover activities, basically devoted to the establishment of the local ICSB structure per community have been reiterated and strengthened. The accompanying basic infrastructures of ICSBs were put up like the seed storage facilities, nurseries and logistical support.  With these, the seed resource conservation efforts to restore bio-diversity and ensuring food availability through full retrieval/collection and in-situ propagation of rice, corn vegetable, fruit and forest tree seedlings has taken off.

From Table 1, modest targets have been attained with seed collection/retrieval activities in the four target sites.  In the span of three years, Salkan and Lam-alna have respectively collected 10 and 15 traditional varieties of rice; and 6 and 4 traditional varieties of corn respectively.  These varieties have each passed the rigorous process of seed collection, field trial and characterization, and propagation.  Moreover, the overall target of 10 kilograms of each variety available for seed multiplication and propagation have been more than achieved in these two sites.

Table 1.  Seed Collection Output in 4 Areas

For over a year in the adjacent expansion areas, Sitio Takilay faired better in terms of seed collection/retrieval with 12 traditional varieties of rice and 5 traditional corn.   The collection has gone through varietal selection improvement at their designated demonstration farm.  El Nalam, meanwhile, recovered only 2 native species of rice and 3 traditional corn varieties.  This is attributed to the poor water and soil condition and the expanding influence of chemical production brought in by growing migrant-settler population in El Nalam.  

Further reinforcing the seed conservation targets, was the cultivation of bio-intensive vegetable and rootcrops for production and food security purposes.  Initial inventory and collection of traditional fruit and forest seedlings have also been initiated. There is now widespread planting of vegetables as long as the agroenvironment conditions would warrant. Vegetables also served as food and income source.

Pre-feasibility studies on the water potentials of two ICSB sites namely, Sitios El Nalam and Takilay, which are mitigated by drought and the water scarcity, have been explored.  The water surveys and explorations are deemed highly integral to helping local capability and efficiency in food production.

Necessary capability measures on project management and Skill trainings for farmer-trainers were likewise conducted.  Twenty farmer-participants received inputs on training preparations and extension work as well as project management and technical implementation requirements

And while Year 1 focused on the establishment of the ICSBs, Year 2 worked on the strengthening of initial ICSB communities and expanding them to adjacent areas, Year 3 thrusts the advocacy component of the ICSB program composed of two national level activities.  

            Advocacy and Networking

The Regional Training Workshops on Genetic Conservation for Luzon and Visayas-Mindanao have been conducted in April this year.   The activity forged unity among the farmer, NGO and academe participants to confront various genetic-related issues in their spheres of work while drawing up lessons or insights on improving community-based conservation efforts.  Specific plans related to extension work, seed exchange, campaign and information building mechanisms related to genetic conservation and protection have been borne out of these workshop series.  More importantly, the training-workshops focused on technical skill development and policy drafting capability of the more than 60 participants from various organizations doing conservation work. 

Finally, cognizant of the numerous efforts and the wealth of insights from ground experiences, a National Conference on Genetics and Community Seedbanking was launched in July 2001 to tie up these experiences.  The main goal achieved was the united position of various sectors on genetic conservation/protection campaigns towards coming with a start-up formulation of the  Community Rules on Property Rights on Crop/Plant Varieties.   At the conference, participants assessed the current work of community-based genetic conservation based on agreed methodologies and indicators; and later recommended policies for inclusion in the protection of community rights to their seed resources.

In a happy note for conservation work, anti-GMO peoples' actions that took place in Isabela and South Cotabato have somehow been an offshoot of this advocacy events.

Problems and Challenges

Setting and meeting quantitative target for seed availability on every variety for each community seedbanks encountered difficulties i.e. securing the volume of one-half sack of seed materials for every variety of rice and corn as extra seeds.   Owing to the factors of rat infestation and prolonged drought of the previous year nearly wiped out the seed retrieval outputs of the communities - Sitio Takilay, in particular.  The long dry spell affected adequacy of farm produce to the extent that some farmers were forced to use their reserved planting materials for food consumption.  Thus, seed retrieval for some areas had to start literally from scratch, which consequently affected the project timetable.

External situations, as in the case of Sitio Takilay being declared by the local government as part of a watershed protected area and barred farmers from engaging in production work, also derailed project operations on the concerned community.  The challenge remains for the community to orient the local government on the compatibility of the biodiversity project to watershed management initiative. Mining and ecotourism remains as potential threats.

In terms of management support, concerns on systematizing community plans with the macro issues of Bt corn intrusion and field applications in the vicinity of South Cotabato has to be further strengthened and continually monitored.  This concerns upscaling of community awareness and heightening of people's participation in safeguarding their rights on seed resources. 

Lessons Learned in

 Agrobiodiversity and Community Seedbanking Efforts

1.       Need for a broader approaches to genetic conservation, and the need to simultaneously address the conditions of under productivity . Experience proved that the inadequacy of food production defeats conservation (i.e. seeds are consumed to make ends meet for the rural family, rather than put in reserve for propagation and subsequent planting ); and

q     Food  productivity similarly should be approached through sustainable agriculture. This is the only means to thoroughly and meaningfully address this problem. Otherwise, the roots of low productivity are not arrested and thereby merely perpetuated;

q     The concern for the environment should be integrated in the peoples' overall struggle for their  lands / ancestral domain especially for the indigenous people. Resource conservation should not be treated as purely environmental and conservation work but should advance the rights and welfare of the inhabitants as stewards and protector of  genetic resources and biodiversity.

2.       Genetic conservation and agrobiodiversity conservation should always be framed and

waged at the local community level and at the national-global level because of the roots and magnitude of threats which usually are usually manifested at policies promulgated and enforced on a non-consultative manner and to the detriment of the people.

Many  farming communities are not aware of the various issues posing threat to

sustainability of farming systems and conservation efforts. And likewise at the national level public awareness and sentiments are not concerted enough to provide a rallying support for resource protection and enhancement initiatives of farmers. Thus the framing of SIBAT's genetic conservation efforts that complements on ground resource management initiatives with networking and advocacy.

3.       Community organization is a crucial requisite for the successful implementation of community seedbanks. The presence and quality  of farmers' associations can either expedite or hinder the multifarious operational requirements of  community seedbanks.

4.       Legal work and assistance to study policy effects and implications ant at the same translate this into informational critiques where people can easily understand learn and translate to appropriate actions are significant but not solely decisive in the struggle for agro-biodiversity protection. But in some cases, direct peoples' actions as done by the indigenous people and farmers would weigh most and are more decisively successful as experienced in the community seedbanks in South Cotabato. Examples to cite include the reclaiming of the Salkan people of their ancestral domain through land occupation and ultimately establishing their seedbank thereafter. The uprooting of Bt corn fields experiment by South Cotabato farmers is also an example of direct  people's action on resource protection.

5.       Undertaking community resource conservation such as building-up of community seedbanks entails greater sensitivity, deeper understanding and immersion on the cultural aspects. As a community intervention the aim is to enhance and complement  resource conservation which usually are already embedded in the culture of most of the indigenous peoples. Increasing their resource stake and development of resource protection measure especially from external threats such as developmental aggressions where they are more vulnerable would most likely succeed.

6.       Furthermore, It is still necessary to re-emphasize community conservation and protection through community seedbanks among indigenous people even if already integrated in their culture. This is for reasons that external threats are already increasingly affecting their resources and their lives sometimes without them being aware that it is already happening. Such would include the gradual introduction and adoption of the indigenous people of the conventional farming and concomitant cash orientation and monocropping of their farming system. Not to be discounted is the tenacity of agricultural technological packages now in the offing for Filipino farmers. 

7.       Building up farmers' motivation towards agro-biodiversity conservation varies according to their experiences and state of agro-environment. This usually starts with the realization that their community resources are not infinite and on understanding of the complex agro-environmental issues as they relate to their food production and everyday living. To a greater extent, farmers are deeply aware of their situation and what is only needed are options on courses of actions to take especially on production-related technologies. What also propel farmers to act are the awareness and skills build-up and forging of unity required in community seedbank operations. Thus various trainings that enhances the knowledge, skills and attitude are essential in CSB undertaking.

8.       Documentation is necessary activity in resource conservation and community seedbanking. Such will serve as materials for sharing of experiences and promotion of conservation efforts.

1 #28 Road 5 GSIS Hills, Novaliches Quezon City, Philippines, Tel. Nos. [632] 9831947[632] 9831953, Fax No. [632]9831947, Email: sibat@info.com.ph