How Vihiga's seed banks are helping farmers adapt to climate change

 

Several farmer groups in Vihiga County are thriving after establishing community seed banks that promote the cultivation of traditional crops, boosting nutrition, livelihoods, and climate resilience. 

These seed banks are preserving indigenous plant varieties, restoring biodiversity, and providing farming families with an additional source of income.

One such initiative is the Vihiga Nutrition and Community Seed Bank, established in 2014 to revive indigenous leafy vegetables, herbs, and other traditional crops that were nearing extinction.

In a region where monoculture farming has led to the rapid disappearance of native crops, these seed banks are reversing the trend. Monoculture has reduced the land’s resilience to climate shocks and exposed farming households to volatile prices and unstable markets.

The seed bank has a huge focus on African leafy vegetables (ALVs). 

The bank has successfully preserved and multiplied seeds of various African leafy vegetables, including amaranth (dodo/mchicha), black nightshade (managu/lisutsa/osuga), cowpeas (kunde), and jute mallow (mrenda). Other resilient species include Vigna membranacea (shikhubayeka), Commelina spp. (linyolonyolo), Erythrococca bogensis (esirietselo), esinatipa, and lirunde.

Priority has also been given to spider plant (Cleome gynandra), mitoo (Crotalaria brevidens), and pumpkin leaves (Cucurbita maxima).

Many of these crops had nearly vanished due to modern agricultural practices, despite their high nutritional value and resilience to drought and pests.

Methal Lisuza, one of the group leaders, says the seed bank has helped farmers return to sustainable traditional farming systems that had been deeply affected by climate change.

“We are multiplying over 30 traditional vegetable varieties, 18 fruit species, 30 bean varieties, 13 sorghum varieties, and more,” she says.

The group’s main objective is to secure climate-resilient seeds vital for smallholder farmers in the county.

“It’s all about diversifying diets, improving nutrition, and adapting to climate change,” adds Lisuza.

To grow their seed collection, the group sources seeds from the National Gene Bank in Nairobi and exchanges with fellow farmers for multiplication.

Members also receive training through seminars and field visits on how to produce high-quality planting materials.

“During multiplication, we thin the crops one to three weeks after planting to retain only the healthiest. We then monitor each plant closely to select the best for seed saving,” explains Lisuza.

Through these efforts, the group has revived 13 traditional sorghum varieties, five millet types, and more than 10 types of beans.

Seed prices vary: a tablespoon of spider plant seeds sells for Sh30, while a kilo goes for Sh2,000. Golden-brown amaranth, used in food fortification, fetches Sh1,500 per kilo. African amaranth is the most expensive at Sh4,000 per kilo, while jute mallow sells for Sh1,200.

Beyond seed sales, the seed bank has enabled members, many of whom are also farmers, to earn a living from planting and selling indigenous vegetables.

Wycliffe Ngoda, 70, from Kegoye village in Vihiga Constituency, has grown ALVs from the seed bank for over a decade.

“I grow traditional vegetables like amaranth, black nightshade, spider plant and pumpkin. I sell them to vendors, neighbours, and relatives—the demand is high,” says Ngoda.

His monthly income has increased from around Sh4,000 to Sh18,000 through the sale of vegetables and seeds.

Studies confirm that traditional African leafy vegetables are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, especially when preserved and grown through proper practices like those used in seed banks.

Several other seed banks have been established across Vihiga County. The Esalwa Seed Bank in Emuhaya Sub-county, for instance, has been operational since 2019 and is actively multiplying seeds.

Once overlooked in modern agriculture, seed banks are now recognised as vital infrastructure in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

These banks have emerged through partnerships between the Vihiga County Government and organisations such as Bioversity International, International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Biovision, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), and the Seed Savers Network. 

Their shared mission is to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools for seed production to enhance food and nutrition security in Vihiga and beyond.

In a landmark policy shift, Vihiga in April launched its Agroecology Policy 2025, becoming the second county in Kenya—after Murang’a—to officially commit to agroecological practices. 

This marks a significant move toward climate-smart agriculture that values biodiversity, community involvement, and environmental sustainability.

As part of the policy, the county is investing in community seed banks and promoting the cultivation and consumption of African leafy vegetables to enhance food security, resilience, and cultural heritage.

The policy outlines a strategic plan to conserve local germplasm by establishing and empowering seed banks and multiplication centres.

According to Governor Wilber Ottichilo, the initiative aims to ensure farmers have access to climate-resilient, locally adapted seeds.

“It emphasises reducing chemical inputs, enhancing soil health, promoting local seed use, and supporting food security through traditional, nutrient-rich crops,” said Governor Ottichilo.

The government also aims to support cultural practices such as seed saving, food festivals, and indigenous knowledge systems as essential pillars of sustainable agriculture.

To implement the policy, the county will offer farmer training programs, improve market access through branding and certification, and integrate indigenous knowledge into formal extension services.

“By combining scientific innovation with traditional wisdom, Vihiga aims to create a resilient, self-sustaining food system that benefits farmers, consumers, and the environment,” Ottichilo said.

Dr Betty Mulianga, Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, praised the policy’s collaborative foundation.

“Seed banks are a gateway to food sovereignty and by preserving our indigenous germplasm, we empower communities to control their food systems, reduce dependence on commercial seeds, and strengthen climate resilience,” said Dr Mulianga.