Work is being done on the conservation and sustainable use of native crops through encouraging self-consumption farmers to better select and conserve their seeds.
As part of the National Seed Plan 2020-2024,the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service developed the Manual instrument for the design of local seed systems, integrating into the core objectives of the Plan, which among them highlights raising the productivity of the field and promoting scientific research and technological development tasks to produce sufficient food for an increasing population.
The following strategies are established with the Manual for the Design of Local Seed Systems:
Seed selection for self-consumption using the masal selection method.
This strategy promotes the use of airtight containers for seed storage and the layered visual masal selection method, which will achieve a greater increase in grain and seed production on the plot of each of the farmers
Community seed banks for the protection of farmers themselves, in a safe place, of local building materials.
Here it is proposed to establish Community seed banks in ecological niches where the seed is at risk, where the guidelines established to obtain the highest seed quality from harvest, to improve it through conditioning[1]ment and to preserve it during storage should be addressed.
Selection of outstanding varieties, through the participatory improvement method and their artisanal production.
A strategy for genetic improvement in ecological niches in regions of interest, which considers participatory improvement schemes and artisanal seed production, is proposed with the goal of achieving an increase in food production by leveraging the local plant genetic diversity contained in native populations
Improved varieties of native materials and their multiplication and certification for agroecological niches.
To develop it, it is envisaged to improve outstanding native varieties by means of genotechnical methods, and then to register, produce and certification seed through farmers' companies in each agroecological niche.
With its application, it will achieve:
Provide an increase in production, therefore it will be possible to generate surpluses, which can be captured by specific markets.
Contribute to the country's food self-sufficiency and sovereignty.
Promote rural, local or regional endogenous development.
It is through this Handbook that, in a coordinated manner, farmers, advisory technicians, plant breeders, suppliers and institutions will be developing local seed systems. ■