Asian Transformations in Action - Api-fellowships.org

COLLAGES OF BETTERMENT 193officials. …Our farmer partners have shifted fromgrowing traditional varieties to developing their ownseeds… I think we have gained some victories...”(Interview, Alywin Darlen Arnejo, coordinator ofCBDC Bohol Project, 13 December 2006).The objectives and work plan of this project are toolsthat can solve the problems of farmer-partners. Themain impediments that keep farmers from acceptingthe technologies that SEARICE advocates are a lack ofaccess to superior genetic material, a narrowed geneticbase for the major crops in the community (few varietiesavailable, specific demand for traits that the seed marketcannot supply), a reduced number of crop speciesavailable to the community, limited individual skills tomanage genetic resources, and a lack of collaborativeefforts to manage plant genetic resources.Most of the technical/scientific activities, especiallyPPB/PVS, organic farming and farmer field schools, areconcrete activities that farmers can put to use on theirown farms. Moreover, SEARICE is a non-governmentalorganization that has worked and campaignedcontinuously on the issue of plant genetic resourcesand seed for ten years. SEARICE’s goals are to workwith every sector, including farmers, academics, civilsociety, businesses and government. For that reason,every sector is always welcome to any events, seminars,or campaigns that it organizes.Efficient organization administrationSEARICE has an efficient administration. Theorganizational structure has four parts: administrationand finance, information and communication, policyadvocacy and technical work. This structure is the keyto SEARICE’s success because each part has its ownwork plan and clear mechanisms. For this reason, thestaff in each part can deeply develop their specific skills.For example, the technical staff can concentrate on theirwork in the field without worrying about fundraisingand sending reports to the funding agency because theexecutive director and policy staff are responsible forthose tasks. Thus, the field staff can continue to workwith and closely monitor farmer-partners, while thepolicy staff can disseminate useful information to theirtarget group and closely monitor policy developments.Attitudes of farmer-partnersWhether the project fails or succeeds depends onthe attitudes of the farmers. The six focus groupdiscussions show that farmers accepted this projectbecause it taught them techniques they did not knowbefore. Furthermore, the new methods developedand strengthened farmers’ own abilities to breed newvarieties and minimize their expenses. Because thefarmers themselves see the usefulness of this project,they have changed from growing the rice varietiesthat the state agencies promote to planting traditionalvarieties that they have developed themselves.“Participatory plant breeding is useful because withit, we do not need to buy high-cost varieties of seed,and at the same time, we preserve the traditionalseed. The Farmer Field School imparts knowledgeabout sustainable agriculture.” (Participant of afocus group discussion with farmer-partners inCansumbol, Bilar, 6 December 2006).Status of farmer-partners in societyIn general, farmers are poor. When they decide toplant a specific variety, they must buy the seeds at themarket. Often, these seeds cost more than they canafford. Since SEARICE introduced organic farming tothem, farmers have been able to spend less than they didwith the conventional farming that the Department ofAgriculture promotes. Accordingly, they have shifted toorganic farming.Vast networksSEARICE has networks that push for the recognitionof farmers’ rights to biodiversity at many levels, such asa network of NGOs that work at the grassroots level,and an international people’s network that campaignsagainst free trade, genetically modified organisms(GMOs) and patents. Since 2001, the project has beenvery productive in terms of mainstreaming and policyadvocacy through linkages with other NGOs and POs.Collaborative activities undertaken with other civilsociety organizations have also been conducted. In2001, SEARICE provided orientation and training onsustainable agriculture development to the membersof the Wahig Sierra Bullones Irrigator’s Associationin Sierra Bullones, Bohol. Moreover, the MontevideoFarmers’ Association in Carmen, Bohol, through thePeoples Fair Trade and Action Center; the OmjonFarmers’ Association in Valencia, Bohol, throughthe Soil and Water Conservation Foundation; andthe Calangahan Farmers’ Association and KabasakenFarmers’ Association in Sagbayan, Bohol, through Feedthe Children, Inc., requested trainings on sustainableagriculture development, particularly participatory ricevariety development.Asian Transformations in ActionThe Work of the 2006/2007 API Fellows