| dc.description.abstract | The Seed and Plant Varieties Act is undergoing revision to reflect the developments in
the international seed industry. Though the proposed Act will benefit the private sector to
appropriate profits from plant breeding and the government in trade related matters, it is
not known whether the Act meets the interests of farmers as far as their on-farm
diversification strategies are concerned. Thus the objective of this study was to identify
factors that enhance on-farm crop diversity, estimate implications of the proposed Act on
the level of on-farm crop diversity, and finally, determine the relative importance of
relevant attributes of the proposed Act on farmers.
Using the proportional sample formula, a total of 399 farmers were sampled from 5
divisions in Machakos District, namely, Kangundo, Matungulu, Ndithini, Masinga and
Mavoko. Poisson regression was used to determine factors that enhance on-farm crop
diversity as well as measure the implication of the proposed Act on on-farm crop
diversity. In addition, empirical application of conjoint analysis was used to measure
relative importance of the relevant attributes of the proposed Act.
It was found that the formal education level, total area cultivated, use of fertilizer, use of
organic manure, farmers' group membership, commercialization index, agro-ecological
zone, mass media, and extension contact influenced on-farm conservation of crop genetic
resources in the study area. It was also found that the proposed Seed and Plant Varieties
Act had no impact on on-farm conservation of crop genetic resources in Machakos
District. This was due to the fact that most farmers in the study area grew farmers'
varieties rather than protected varieties. Finally, it was established that "the right to use farm saved seed of protected variety" was the most valued attribute to farmers, followed
by "right to sell and exchange farm saved seed of protected variety", and lastly
"restriction of seed companies by the proposed Act to use terminator technology".
Recommendations include the need of governments and development agencies to support
local market networks, encourage and arrange seed biodiversity fairs, support farmers by
making organic and inorganic fertilizers available and affordable, and harmonise the
relevant policies relating to extension services so as enable farmers to continue
conserving as much crop diversity as possible. The documentation of indigenous
knowledge to safeguard and utilize crop genetic resources is also recommended. Finally,
it is recommended that, the proposed Act should be able to preserve farmers' rights to
use, sell and exchange farm saved seed of protected variety and give freedom to seed
companies to use the terminator technology. This will take care of the concerns of
farmers and local communities as well as the interests of seed sector and biotechnology industries. | en |
