Community Seed and Food Fair: A Milestone in Upholding Farmers’ Rights and Agrobiodiversity Conservation
On July 1, 2024, over 500 farmers and community members gathered at Lura Trading Centre in Ntchenachena, Rumphi District, under the auspices of Senior Chief Mwalweni, for a significant event focused on promoting the conservation and exchange of local seeds. The Community Seed and Food Fair was a resounding success, underscoring the vital importance of protecting and preserving local seed varieties.
Senior Chief Mwalweni, addressing the assembly, highlighted the crucial role that local seeds play in ensuring food diversity and sustaining income for communities. He passionately urged the community to view these seeds as a treasure and a vital part of their cultural heritage that must be conserved for future generations. His speech demonstrated the essential role that local leaders play in supporting the preservation of underutilized and endangered farmer varieties.
The event was made possible through the support of Norwegian Church Aid Malawi and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) under the TRANSFORM 2.0 programme, with financial backing from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi. The fair stands as a testament to the collective efforts in promoting farmers’ rights and conserving agrobiodiversity, ensuring that local seeds remain a cornerstone of community resilience and food security.
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