Informal Seed System

In a local or informal seed system, farmers themselves produce, disseminate and access seed directly from their own harvest or through exchange and barter from within their communities or nearby ones. The seed may be of variable quality and the distinction between seed and grain is not always clear. The local system is rarely monitored or controlled by government policies and regulations. The informal seed system plays a critical role in many African countries, including providing seed for minor and women’s crops. However, with changing markets, reduced rainfall and new pests and diseases, farmers need a wider diversity of crops and varieties that are not always available from the informal seed system.