Seeds are critical for addressing the dual challenges of food insecurity and climate change. Farmers depend on quality seed of appropriate varieties to attain food security. However, in recent times, natural disasters, such as droughts, floods and hurricanes, and human-caused disasters, such as wars and civil conflicts, have had an increasingly devastating impact on rural livelihoods and crop production systems, by halting crop production, destroying agricultural assets, hindering farmers’ access to agricultural inputs and decreasing food security. Addressing the seed security of disasteraffected households, through relief operations, is a frequent response undertaken by national governments, UN organizations and NGOs to facilitate their recovery.
This publication is a step towards improving the quality and effectiveness of seed provided in emergency operations. An understanding of the major technical aspects of seed and related aspects is necessary for planning and conducting seed security assessments, as well as for providing quality seed to vulnerable households. This handbook is aimed at providing the field staff involved in such operations with the basic technical knowledge required for such operations. The handbook will assist emergency staff in identifying seed quality problems that can occur during seed relief activities and in taking appropriate action to maintain seed quality standards. Availability of practical information can increase the speed and effectiveness of seed relief operations.
出版物详细信息
- 已出版: 2010
- 出版者: FAO