Stimulating a Chimanimani District Seed Exchange

Network

Towards Sustainable Use of Resource Organisation (TSURO) Trust Presentation

By Roseline Mukonoweshuro

Background Situation: Eastern border with Mozambique, Unique geography (5

natural farming regions TSURO dzeChimanimani association with 147 TSURO Village Groups

(TVGs), reaching over 2500 households. Vision: Empowered, peaceful and united communities of

Chimanimani district with sustainable resources, healthy and food secure as well as productive food processing and marketing initiative.

Impact of Conversional Farming questioned! AE coming as a solution. Prior dotted, disconnected efforts not widespread and continuous. SKI Intro: Financial, organisational capacity building, identification of

strategic entry points., supporting and taking seed and agro ecology work to a higher level-promoting access, availability, quality, seed saving, sharing, exchange, trade and capacity building

Four main focus areas have been Strengthening Farmer Seed Producers, Seed Exchange & Trade, Seed & Knowledge Fairs, Information & Advocacy, and Climate Change Response

Strengthening capacity of seed custodians/producers

Exchange visits Open days Field days TrainingsOnsite monitoring Study groups

Responding to Climate Change through promotion of AE and farmer saved seeds

Joint District Climate Change Policy and StrategyAdvocacy and Promotion of AE practicesFarmer Seed Varieties production & savingBio fertiliser trainings Natural farming methods

Comprehensive documentation of processes

Seed inventories Production of Newsletters, MSCs, testimonialsMedia coverageSeed and AE Advocacy material- TSURO website www.tsuro-chimanimani.org.zwIndicator Monitoring and Reporting

Seed sharing, Exchange, Trade and Networks

Seed fairs Seed Market daysWork on distribution centre Seed bankGood Food Festival