Unleashing the social capital of self-help groups for strengthening seed systems in Uttar Pradesh, India

Pooja Trivedi,Samarth Singh,Walter S De Boef,Sampath Kumar,Kripal Singh Yadav,Krista Isaacs,P.S Mohanan,Jagdish Prasad Yadavendra

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100522

Abstract

Women's empowerment and varietal replacement of crops are often unconnected domains in agricultural development; an experience connecting both in India has global potential. Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana, a women's empowerment and poverty reduction program in Uttar Pradesh, embedded seed practices within the collective structure of women's self-help groups. Through collective efforts, women became successful in the production and dissemination of quality seed of new rice and wheat varieties, reaching more than 30,000 small-scale farmers. They appropriated several components of the seed value chain; their social capital became instrumental in varietal replacement. The self-perception of women as knowledgeable farmers changed, as did the perception of household and community members; therefore, seed activities contributed to intrinsic women's empowerment. • The social capital of SHGs is an asset for inclusive and effective seed systems. • SHG involvement in seed systems increases access to new varieties for poor farmers. • Early generation seed supply hinders seed producers' access to new varieties. • Development organizations working with SHGs can contribute to varietal replacement. • Seed activities of women SHGs contribute to instrumental and intrinsic empowerment.

Highlights

The purpose of public plant breeding and seed systems is to develop new, improved varieties of food crops, e.g. public goods, and make them accessible to small-scale farmers, women, thereby contrib uting to the alleviation of rural poverty and adaptation to climate change
An opportunity has emerged to address this challenge in seed systems through the social capital of women farmers organized in self-help groups (SHGs)
Governments (e.g. India), multilateral, bilateral and philanthropic donor organizations have invested heavily in both South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa in the social capital of such SHGs or likewise groups, as well as in their asso ciated collective structures at neighborhood and village levels for the purpose of women empowerment, and issues related to livelihood development, health, family planning, sanitary, nutrition and other topics

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of public plant breeding and seed systems is to develop new, improved varieties of food crops, e.g. public goods, and make them accessible to small-scale farmers, women, thereby contrib uting to the alleviation of rural poverty and adaptation to climate change. The objective of public support for plant breeding and seed systems in the developing world is to ensure that poor, small-scale farmers gain access to and use quality seed of new and improved varieties, which are more productive and adapted to changes and variations in growing conditions. Public and private organizations provide funding for the plant breeding of food crops in the developing world with the purpose of increasing and securing the productivity of small-scale farmers, espe cially women, in times of climate change. Driven by such goals, gov ernments support plant breeding by public organizations, but they remain dependent on a predominantly private sector for the delivery of quality seed of these publicly developed varieties. In sub-Saharan Africa, the production and supply of early generation seed of a di versity of crops and varieties, by public and private seed-sector stake holders, is increasingly seen as a way to foster varietal replacement (AGRA, 2016)

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion