Planting Materials Network

Over its five years, the PMN has recorded, multiplied and distributed hundreds of local varieties of vegetable seeds and staple crops such as yams and taros. The Department of Agriculture has allocated funds to the PMN and offered the use of four of its provincial training centres.

PMN seed banker, Mary Timothy, with Jude

The PMN was set up in 1995 as part of the APACE Kastom Garden Programme to improve regional self-reliance concerning seed supply for village gardeners. The programme focuses on both vegetatively-propagated, like taro, and seed-propagated food crops, like eggplant and snake bean.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

- maintaining 4 demonstration & seed garden sites,

- publishing bi-annual seed exchange newsletter,

- running a community awareness campaign about dynamic seed banks and conservation of local food varieties and

- organising farmer to farmer training.

- producing seeds for the relief of displaced people.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PMN

An Australian, Tony Jansen, led the PMN as project manager from 1995 until 1999 when he handed over to a local committee and coordinator.

Seed Savers has taken a special interest in the PMN over the years. Emma Stone, was trained by Seed Savers in 1997 and 1998 and worked on the PMN for two periods of several months. While there in 1999, Emma wrote a Community Seed Banking Manual which has recently been laid out in readiness for publication.

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