News from: Planting Materials Network, Pacific - Solomon Islands

Relief Provided by Seed Network

07 June 2001

Appropriate seeds of locally adapted varieties of vegetables are being produced by the Planting Materials Network in the Solomon Islands for people displaced by the ethnic unrest in 2000.

Mary Timothy is coordinating the "Seed Production by Local Farmers for Displaced People" Project. Mary was trained by Emma and also received training from Seed Savers. This is a practical and meaningful way for rural farmers to assist other Solomon Islanders in need in other provinces. They are also gaining valuable skills in high quality seed production with careful training from the PMN. It is expected that some of the 5000 families who receive seed will go on to join the PMN, strengthening a sustainable and long term solution to maintain crop diversity. In what is proof of the efficacy of a grass roots seed network, the PMN was commissioned by a relief programme to produce 20 000 packets of vegetable seeds for distribution to internally displaced families as a result of the civil war that erupted in the middle of 2000. They are being grown both at the PMN gardens and by PMN members in four provinces. At the PMN "central link" where seed and communication is sent out to the network members, 381 packets a month on average are made up. The seed has a high germination rate - usually over 90%.

For further information