Seeds of Survival 2015-20

Funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by USC Canada, the “Seeds of Survival 2015-20” project aims to increase seed, food and economic security for 26,046 small-scale farm households, enhancing the availability of diverse quality food for 153 601 women, men and youth. The regions targeted by the project are the Dry Corridor in Central America, as well as Burkina Faso (Soum, Boulkiemde, Bazega and Boulgou Provinces), Mali (Bamako, Douentza and Mopti regions) and Ethiopia (Amhara and Oromia regions). Project activities include: 1) training farmers (women, men, and youth), to select and utilise improved local open-pollinated seed varieties and to carry out participatory research on their own farms with technical assistance; 2) establish their own community seed banks and field gene banks to preserve the biodiversity of local crop material and build community seed self-sufficiency as a basis for food security; 3) providing information materials and agricultural extension support to small-scale farm households on agricultural best practices, including water and soil management, agroforestry and also supporting women and youth in leading their own sustainable small enterprises focused on high-value agricultural products; 4) seed marketing support; and 5) supporting government agencies, civil society organisations, and research institutions in the six developing countries by promoting the adoption of agro-ecological, participatory research and seed multiplication practices nationally, as well as regionally.

Global objective

Increase seed, food and economic security for 26,046 small-scale farm households, enhancing the availability of diverse quality food for 153 601 women, men and youth

Expected results

Increased availability of nutrient-rich food in quantity and quality for 153 601 women, men and youth
Sustainable economic growth for rural women, men and youth through creation of 154 women and youth-led sustainable small enterprises
Seeds of survival practices and policies (such as participatory research to develop new crop seed varieties adapted to different agro-ecological zones and that are more productive and nutritious
Strengthened linkages with relevant government ministries and agencies involved in crop variety registration and official release, seed certification, etc.

Duration

5 years : 26/05/2015 - 31/08/2020

Localisation

The project is conducted in the provinces of Bazèga, Boulgou, Boulkiemde and Soum of Burkina Faso, and in the regions of Bamako, Douentza and Mopti of Mali.

Beneficiaries

26 046 farmers’ households, or 153 601 women, men and youth

Budget

CAD 15 million

Implementation

USC Canada

Partenaires

Association pour la protection de la nature au Sahel (APN Sahel)
USC Mali
Conseil accompagnement des initiatives à la base de Demeso

Find out more

Country

Burkina Faso
Mali

Topics

Agriculture & value chains
Climate, climate change & adaptation
Employment & revenues
Environment
Food security & zero hunger
Local actors & livelihoods
Markets, prices & trade
Natural resource management
Poverty

Targets

Poor households
Vulnerable small-scale farmers
Women
Youth

Agir Pillars

Pillar 3: Sustainably improve agricultural and food productivity and the incomes of the most vulnerable households and improve access to food

Scales

Local
National