Ugandan farmers growing indigenous seeds want government recognition

Farmers growing and producing indigenous seeds are calling for support from the government to increase production. Although smallholder farmers produce the indigenous seed informally, these are not recognized by the formal seed systems. Farmers argue that indigenous seeds account for 30% of seeds sold and planted by farmers in the country. According to Joseph Magezi, a farmer also chairperson of the Mityana District Farmers Association, indigenous seeds have better food values unlike formal seeds, which he said can be adjusted to introduce some nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, and iron among others. He cited goose berries (Entuntunu) which he said have natural elements that detoxify the kidney but its seed production is limited due to lack of support from the government. The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Seed Inspection and Certification in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Teddy Mary Asio assured the meeting that the government has plans of training those producing ...