10 Seed savers and farmer researchers group and 3 woreda experts from lode hitosa woreda travelled for experience e sharing visit in Ejere town, Lume woreda of Eastern Shoa zone. The visit was organized by PELUM Ethiopia in collaboration with seed savers and multipliers association located in Ejere and held on October 29, 2022. The visit aimed to gain ample knowledge on how to save local seeds and the good practices of establishing similar association in Lode hitosa woreda.
At first, the achievements and the existing situation of the seed savers and multiplier association was briefed by the founders and committee members of the association.
The next session was visiting filed crop trials located alongside the offices. More than 100 varieties of different cereals and grains are available and the research is led by Ethiopian Organic Seed Action (EOSA). Next, participants headed to the organization’s compound to visit the well-equipped gene bank. Orientation on How seeds are collected, labeled and stored inside the gene-bank is well explained. in During their visit, participants raised different questions and are well replied. The total number of particicpants were 21, pelum staff(3), ejere farmers(5) and lode hitosa woreda farmers and experts(13).
After the visit, visitors gathered at a meeting hall for a short discussion. On the occasion, the seed savers and farmer researchers from Lode Hitosa woreda shared their experiences on participatory research and the progress of newly introduced local seeds to the area. The discussion was led by Dr. Regasa , executive director of Ethiopian organic seed action (EOSA). During his he was delighted that his dreams of saving local seeds concerned stakeholders and community is becoming true. During his speech, he reiterated the importance of saving our diversified wealth of seeds. At last, he appreciated PELUM Ethiopia’s commitment in supporting communities to safeguard their local seeds as well as its closeness to the grassroots community. Both the farmers from lume and lodi hitosa woreda, agreed the importance of working on organic markets, use common social media plat form, visit in the future.
After concluding the discussion, the farmers from lode hitosa gathered separately and evaluated their participatory crop trials back in their woreda. At the end of their meeting, they selected three committee members to facilitate next meeting to establish savers and multipliers association and every member will collect local seeds and to contribute to the future seed bank