A farmer’s open-air grain store in rural Zimbabwe. Photo: Xavier Vahed

Having just submitted his thesis for examination, PhD candidate Bulisani L. Ncube examines the dynamics of the relationship between seed security and food security in Chimanimani District, Zimbabwe.

Many smallholder farmers in southern Africa rely on agriculture as their main source of livelihood, however, they often suffer from a lack of adequate and appropriate seed as well as high levels of food insecurity. Seed interventions such as community seed production, seed aid, and input subsidies have been used to address these concerns, and while many studies link crop production to food security, there is a dearth of information on the relationship between seed security and food security. This study sought to enhance understanding about the conceptual linkages between the dimensions of seed security, which include availability, access, and utilisation; and those of household-level food security, which include dietary diversity and food consumption.

Fieldwork informing the study was conducted across two sites in the south-eastern district of Chimanimani, utilising both quantitative (household and agro-dealer surveys) and qualitative (in-depth life history interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions) methods.

A key finding was that the relationship between seed security and food security is not direct or uni-directional, but rather complex and contextual. The thesis argued that it is important not only for seed to be available in close proximity to farmers at the right time, but also to be affordable and of acceptable quality. Combined, these factors ensure better crop productivity and improved food access. The data showed that informal seed sources were more reliable than formal seed sources in ensuring that seed was available on time and in closer proximity to households. Informal farmer seed sources showed comparable quality standards to that from commercial sources, based on physical purity and germination standards.

Seed security does not necessarily equate to food security, nor does seed insecurity necessarily lead to food insecurity. The findings confirmed that although timeliness and proximity of seed affected seed availability, their effect on accessing food was not direct. When comparing access to seed and food security, the relationship was complex and non-linear. For example, although the cost and affordability of seed had an effect on accessing certain types of seed, the relationship to accessing food was not obvious. Similarly, having household assets and income correlated with having a better food-security status, but did not always ensure access to seed. This is because farmers’ seed sources included self-provision and social networks, which were predicated on social relations.

In terms of seed utilisation, the results revealed that the quality of farmers’ seed was essential in ensuring that farmers acquired adequate food from their production. Quality seed was assessed in terms of physical purity and acceptable germination. Quality seed led to healthy crops that would ensure better crop yields, if other complementary measures of crop production were adhered to.

The study served to highlight how household determinants such as assets, farming practices and geographical characteristics, as well as the broader context such as weather, climate and social, economic and political factors affect and influence the relationship between seed and food security. It demonstrated that household access to seed and food extends beyond their provision and is profoundly affected by local and meta-level processes that have a historical influence as well as a continuously evolving effect on farmers’ seed and food security.