Building seed sustaining households: Defining seed security through informal seed systems and intraspecific diversity on semi-arid, resource poor farms in Kenya
Notice bibliographique
Résumé
In resource poor farming systems, particularly those subject to environmental stress, crop biodiversity is an important aspect of local livelihoods, food security, and seed security. The objectives of this thesis focus on understanding how access to different types of crops and varieties, through informal and formal seed systems, can contribute to reversing chronic household seed insecurity and support food production in semi-arid Kenya. In doing so, the research also aims to highlight local crops, varieties, knowledge, management strategies, and social organizations related to seed systems in Tharaka-Nithi County. A quantitative study used a household survey and the polytomous Rasch model to measure household chronic seed insecurity in three semi-arid counties in Kenya. Households were sorted into four categories ranging from seed secure to severely seed insecure. There was no statistically significant difference between seed secure households and the other three categories of increasing seed insecurity for crop richness, variety richness, varieties per crop, and the Shannon-Wiener Index. A mixed methods study presents a detailed appraisal of local and regional seed exchange and seed saving that have contributed to seed security since time immemorial in Tharaka-Nithi County. Historical migrations to and from, and within, Tharaka have been key for introducing new seeds, establishing patterns of variety clustering, and mediating climatic stress. Over-time, local markets have replaced the need for long distance seed trade and are used by farmers to obtain lost or new varieties during times of acute stress, and are often relied on seasonally for legume seeds. A qualitative study of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), an important traditional food preserved through the informal seed system in Tharaka, documented ten pearl millet varieties maintained by farmers and two extinct pearl millet varieties. Farmers in Tharaka manage risk of crop failure and heterogeneous rainfall patterns by mixing early and late maturing varieties of pearl millet, a practice followed since time immemorial. However, over time introduced varieties that mature earlier and introduced varieties that provide more yields have replaced the old indigenous varieties. Seed selection practices focus on long panicles and big seed as well as rogueing out off-types called mathara.A qualitative study identifies contemporary challenges of formal seed sector participation and access to seed of modern varieties in Tharaka. Results are discussed in relation to national seed policy, formal seed sector development, and seed system integration in Kenya. Thirty-nine percent of surveyed households reported that they had not grown seed of a modern variety originating from the formal seed sector in the last four seasons. The majority of modern varieties were accessed through reoccurring distribution of free seed, while maize seed was the only crop commonly accessed through agroshop purchase. Most farmers recycle seed that they receive from the formal seed sector. This research presented a novel measurement of chronic seed insecurity and documents important social aspects of seed systems which contribute to the conservation of crop biodiversity. The results will be useful to local and regional evaluations of seed security and national seed policies seeking to represent and integrate the challenges and realities of resource poor farmers. The results may also aid special efforts focused on in-situ conservation of the unique cultural and ecological diversity preserved by farmers in Tharaka.
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Comment cette classification a été obtenuedéplier
Prédiction machine sur la base complète
Imitation des enseignantsNi prévalence calibrée, ni vérité terrain. Validation humaine à venir. Le volet Gemma est une étiquette directe du modèle pour chaque travail de la base, lue sur la notice réduite au titre. Le volet Codex est un classifieur appris des 10 348 étiquettes directes de Codex et calibré sur les taux pondérés de l'échantillon; les champs sans appui suffisant ne portent aucun appel Codex. Le mode candidate est l'union des deux volets; le consensus est leur intersection. Ces sorties portent le statut machine_predicted_unvalidated et ne sont pas des étiquettes humaines.
Scores du classifieur distillé par catégorie (deux têtes)
| Catégorie | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Métarecherche | 0,000 | 0,001 |
| Méta-épidémiologie (sens strict) | 0,000 | 0,000 |
| Méta-épidémiologie (sens large) | 0,000 | 0,000 |
| Bibliométrie | 0,001 | 0,001 |
| Études des sciences et des technologies | 0,002 | 0,001 |
| Communication savante | 0,001 | 0,001 |
| Science ouverte | 0,000 | 0,001 |
| Intégrité de la recherche | 0,000 | 0,000 |
| Charge utile insuffisante (le modèle a refusé de juger) | 0,002 | 0,000 |
Scores machine (provisoires)
Les deux têtes enseignantes du modèle étudiant, lues sur ce travail. Un score ordonne la base pour la relecture; il n'affirme jamais une catégorie, et le statut de validation accompagne chaque rangée tel quel.
Scores de référence d'un modèle non mature (critères de maturité non atteints, 7 itérations). Un score ordonne; il n'affirme jamais une catégorie.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · tel quel depuis la passe de notation : score_only signifie que le nombre peut ordonner les travaux, et qu'aucune étiquette de catégorie n'en découleClassification
machine, non validéePrédiction automatique; un appel candidat d’une seule source (Gemma direct ou Codex distillé), pas un consensus.
Le détail, modèle par modèle et score par score, se trouve en fin de page sous « Comment cette classification a été obtenue ».