The year is 1945. In Mexico, stem rust has ravaged wheat harvests. The farmers are unsettled that a U.S. scientist is performing research on the very same crop that nearly destroyed their livelihoods. But he persists, winning their commitment and developing high-yielding, stem-rust-resistant breeds of wheat. By 1963 these seeds effectively eliminated stem rust and increased Mexico’s wheat harvest six-fold.…
The seventh episode from ISSD Burundi’s “Seeds of Hope” series covers the establishment of sample fields for cassava and banana. These fields provide for the multiplication of improved seed to farmers. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to view the rest of the episodes in this series and stay up-to-date with new videos from IFDC. The overall goal of ISSD, funded by the…
The sixth episode from ISSD Burundi’s “Seeds of Hope” series covers the building of warehouses for seed producers. By being able to store seed, these entrepreneurs have been able to sell seed at higher prices than before. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up-to-date with each new episode – and if you’re behind, find all the videos here. The overall goal…
The fifth episode from ISSD Burundi’s “Seeds of Hope” series discusses a group ordering scheme the assists farmer groups in ordering larger quantities of improved seed. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up-to-date with each new episode – and if you’re behind, find all the videos here. The overall goal of ISSD, funded by the Dutch Embassy in Burundi…
The fourth episode from ISSD Burundi’s “Seeds of Hope” series discusses a seed pre-order system which has allowed seed producers to better estimate the size of their market and the needs of farmers. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up-to-date with each new episode – and if you’re behind, find all the videos here. The overall goal of ISSD, funded…
The third episode from ISSD Burundi’s “Seeds of Hope” series discusses improved seed packaging introduced in Burundi. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up-to-date with each new episode – and if you’re behind, find all the videos here. The overall goal of ISSD, funded by the Dutch Embassy in Burundi from 2014 to 2018, is to promote rural economic development…
Most smallholder farmers in northern Ghana lack access to high-quality certified seed. They often use seed that they save from one season to the next. With saved seeds, these farmers barely produce enough to feed their household year-round. However, since the Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture Technology Transfer (ATT) project began in 2013, the situation has started to improve. To ensure that certified seeds get to rural farmers, ATT implemented the Seed Van Initiative. “Through our small grant support program, we provided 22 vans to seed producers that travel to hard-to-reach communities – at the last…
Different soils work better with different fertilizers, seeds and water regimens. Another interesting factor: Soil acts like a living thing. We must prioritize keeping it healthy. One cup of soil contains more than 200 billion organisms. Some of these benefit plants by helping the roots “ingest” nutrients. Others are antagonistic and may hamper plant growth. Yet others react well only…
