Amuria Farmers Turn to Indigenous Seeds to Strengthen Food Security

Small-scale farmers in Amuria District are preserving indigenous seeds, particularly traditional groundnut varieties, as they seek to protect harvests and strengthen household food security amid increasingly unpredictable rainfall.

The farmers shared their experiences with central government officials, local government leaders, researchers and civil society representatives during a visit to Orungo Farmer Field School, where they highlighted the performance of local groundnut varieties, including Obino and Egoromoit.

They said the varieties had adapted to local growing conditions, with some performing better than improved varieties during periods of drought.

Sarah Akello, a small-scale farmer in Amuria, said preserving traditional seeds was important because farmers needed crops that could withstand difficult weather conditions and provide food for their families.

“Our traditional groundnut varieties have helped us cope with difficult weather conditions. When rainfall is unreliable, we need seeds that can adapt to our environment and still give us a reasonable harvest. Preserving these varieties will help us protect our food supply,” Akello said.

Peter Ocen, another groundnut farmer in the district, said indigenous seeds remained valuable because of their adaptation to local conditions and their potential contribution to household food security.

“We have seen the value of our local groundnut varieties, especially when the weather becomes unpredictable. Farmers should not abandon traditional seeds without understanding their benefits. Preserving them gives us more options when choosing what to plant each season,” Ocen said.

Christine Amongin, a member of Orungo Farmer Field School, emphasised the need to pass indigenous farming knowledge to younger generations to prevent traditional crop varieties from disappearing.

“Our parents and grandparents relied on these seeds, and we have continued growing them because of their benefits. We need to teach young farmers how to preserve and multiply indigenous seeds so that future generations can also benefit from them,” she said.

To support community efforts to conserve traditional seeds, the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF Uganda) established a seed bank at Orungo Farmer Field School.

The facility is intended to preserve indigenous seed varieties and provide farmers with access to planting materials when needed. It also offers a platform for farmers to exchange knowledge about seed conservation and sustainable agricultural practices.

The initiative comes as small-scale farmers face weather-related challenges, including drought and unreliable rainfall, which can reduce crop yields and threaten household food supplies.

Maintaining access to locally adapted seeds can give farmers more planting options and help them manage climate-related risks. Conserving different varieties also helps protect crop diversity, which can be important when weather conditions change between growing seasons.

The seed bank could further support collaboration between farming communities, researchers and agricultural stakeholders to document indigenous varieties, share conservation techniques and improve sustainable food production.

The experience at Orungo Farmer Field School highlights the role community-led seed conservation can play in protecting traditional crops and strengthening resilient farming systems.

Farmers say preserving indigenous seeds, alongside appropriate farming practices and continued support, will be important in safeguarding food supplies as rainfall patterns become less predictable.