Do smallholder farmer-led seed systems have the capacity to supply good-quality, fungal-free sorghum seed?

Abstract

Local seed systems that are developed, managed and maintained by farmers are a fundamental practice in smallholder crop production, supporting more than 80% of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and feeding more than 70% of its population. The resilience of such systems is under threat from poverty, climate change, drought, increased pests and diseases, over-promotion of modern crop varieties, change of lifestyles and restrictive seed policies. The system continues to be maligned as having inferior quality, yet few studies support this assertion. This study aims to fill this research gap by evaluating 60 sorghum seed samples collected from smallholder farmers in Uzumba-MarambaPfungwe and Chimanimani districts of Zimbabwe. We investigated the effect of farmer-led seed management practices (e.g. seed acquisition and seed storage practices) on farm-derived sorghum seed quality (moisture, germination and fungal incidences). We found farmers using diverse seed sources and seed storage practices. Seeds were typically of good quality in that their storage moisture content was low, their germination was high, and fungal incidences were low. Seed sourced from local markets, non-governmental organizations and other farmers had germination and moisture standards that met the sorghum certification standards in Zimbabwe. However, few samples obtained from the relatives and government failed to meet the germination and/or moisture certification standards. We detected low incidences of fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp.) in sorghum seed samples tested and in particular Fusarium sp., which is the most economic important fungus in sorghum production. We conclude that farmer-led seed systems have the capacity to supply seeds of good quality and recommend that such systems should be recognized and promoted to meet the ever-evolving needs of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Vivo Antifungal Activity of South African Medicinal Plant Extracts against Fusarium Pathogens and Their Phytotoxicity Evaluation

“…This household-based seed system approach is self-sustainable [12,13]. However, it is threatened by microbial infections that often occur during cultivation, transportation and post-harvest storage [14]. Microbial infections can reduce yield, nutritional value of the seeds and negatively affect seed germination [15].…”

Antifungal Activity of Isolated Compounds from the Leaves of Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch.) Sond. and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal against Fusarium Pathogens

“…This purified extract was found to contain kaempferol and other flavonoid compounds, presumably [ 33 ]. Plant-based products that do not negatively affect maize seed germination are of particular importance, since, in smallholder farming, surplus maize seeds are stored and used for planting in the next season [ 34 ]. Further studies are needed to evaluate the bioactivity of compounds A , B and AI on maize growth.…”

Seed Systems in the Four Shallot Producing Areas of Java: A Focus Group Discussion

“…), an output realization will still be determined by the seed. Seed is considered as an integral part of agriculture since it provides the maximum limit of crop yield of all other production inputs [2,3,4]. In shallot particularly, the seed is considered as a very significant input since farmers have to invest about 25-50% of total cost to acquire it [5,6].…”