This is the foundation of a future seed revolution in Karamoja, nine tones of high-quality, climate-resilient foundation seed distributed to seed actors in Karamoja to produce quality seed in Karamoja for Karamoja. Under a strategic partnership between the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), specifically through the Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Nabuin ZARDI), the “Community Seed Production for Karamoja (CSK)” project is out to undo the cycle of seed dependency.
Historically, farmers in Karamoja have been trapped by a seed gap. Distant suppliers and erratic markets meant that planting seasons often began with poor-quality grain saved from previous harvests or expensive, un adapted seeds from outside the region. “The challenges trace back to a combination of systemic seed supply failures, environmental stress, and logistical hurdles,” explains Dr. Raphael Anthony Ijala, Program Leader Crops and Natural Resources at Nabuin ZARDI. The intervention is a tailor made solution to improve access of quality seed within Karamoja and beyond. To kick start the focus is on four critical value chains, Sorghum (Narosorg2), Maize (MM3), Beans (Nabe 19. NABE 15 and NARO Bean 1), and Green Gram (NAROGram2). These are NARO-proven, drought-tolerant, and short-maturing varieties designed to thrive in Karamoja’s unique ecology, often reaching harvest in just two to three months.
The strategy is simple yet profound, Produce quality seed in Karamoja, for Karamoja. By supporting 58 seed actors—comprising 26 farmer groups and 32 progressive farmers—the project has established 1,394 acres of seed multiplication across districts including Moroto, Nabilatuk, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Kotido, and Abim. Additionally, 20-50 acre block farms for seed production have been established in the districts of Abim, Kotido, Kaabong, Napak, and Nakapiripirit. The CSK project provides tillage, seed, maintenance, and training to farmers; as the farmers provide land, and the output shared on specific percentage.
Unlike traditional seed aid programs, this project diverges from the “handout” model. While the OPM and NARO provide the foundation seeds and technical expertise to seed actors, they provide the labor, the tillage, and the management of the crop. And on block farms the CSK project provides the tillage, seed, maintenance, and training of farmers, then the farmer provides land. This ensures that the seed actors have a personal, direct investment to ensure sustainability of the project. “This is not just giving out seed packages freely,” Dr. Walter Odongo, the Director of Research Nabuin ZARDI, emphasized during the launch in Nakapiripirit. “The farmers have their ‘skin in the game.’ When they own the process, they protect the harvest.” This ownership is visible among the farmer groups, here members of groups like the Nachele Farmer Group are learning that moving away from traditional planting methods like broadcasting towards Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) such as row planting, precise spacing, and timely thinning can result to very good yields.