Farmers' practices in tree seed handling and their future role in tree seed supply: an exploratory survey carried out in the Kakamega-Kisii, Siaya-S. Nyanza, Kitale and Nakuru regions, Kenya.

Abstract

The results of the study on Farmers practices in tree seed handling is presented in this report largely as an explorative and descriptive study from information gathered from 4 regions in Kenya. The 4 regions are similar in that farmers are already known to be handling a sizeable amount of seeds. The study explains farmers knowledge which is recognised as another pool of knowledge in tree seed beside the professional knowledge largely being practised by Kenya Forestry Seed Centre. The study evaluates the farmers practices and checks the quality of seed farmers collect. The farmers conduct is contrasted to the expert's recommendations on tree seed handling. The results show that this other pool of knowledge is not radically different from the professional seed handling and overlap on the general ways that seed is collected, extracted, dried and stored. But some specific results are contradictory like the timing of collection of Calliandra calothyrsus and storage of Prunus africana. These issues should be revisited to establish the rationale of farmers practices as it would have a lot of implication on the way the experts recommend about the species seed handling. The trial carried out on seeds of Calliandra calothyrsus vindicates the farmers opinion that the seed can be collected a few days before the pods dry up. Some practices emphasised in professional seed collection like the issue of basing seed collection around the provenance concept and maintenance of a broad genetic base in seed collection receives little attention from farmers. The quality of seeds from farmers strictly speaking is thus found to be of little genetic quality relative to expectation of a sound seed program. The germination capacity of stored seeds of most species is also low and only a few seed samples had acceptable germination capacity. The moisture content and purity of seeds farmers collect and process compares favourably with the recommended ranges. Another category of results suggests farmers have knowledge in tree seed handling that non exists yet. Their knowledge on propagation of some fruit trees, the propagation of Fagara macrophylla and Maesopsis eminii should be considered by experts in seed collection as well as being shared through extension to other farmers. In recognising the role farmers play in tree seed provision which in turn plays a major role in their livelihood the study recommends that the farmers position in tree seed supply be strengthened in the most weak area which is in the genetic quality of the seeds farmers collect. The physiological quality (germination) of seeds from farmers should be addressed too, by carrying out research in conditions that are close to the farmers environment. Farmers involvement in research is desirable particularly in areas where they have some knowledge that yet exists.