Southern Mountains Association for Rural Transformation and Development

On the 30th of September, we held the 12th edition of the SMARTD Indigenous Seed Annual at Ha Sekake.

In many traditional ceremonies, local indigenous seeds are not just a part of the celebration; they represent our identity, our power, and our security as a community.

The 12th edition was held under the theme "𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆." The festival brought together farmers, farmer field schools, government departments, NGOs, Community Councils, Chiefs and other stakeholders in a colourful celebration of the agricultural heritage that has sustained communities for generations.

Supported by Brot für die Welt BSF-5, the event provided a platform for farmers to share knowledge, experiences and indigenous seed varieties while reflecting on the importance of preserving locally adapted crops and traditional food systems.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Maretšepile Letsatsi, a member of the Ha-Tlhaku seed bank, expressed her excitement over the initiative SMARTD made to bring community seed banks to their communities and lowering the cost of buying seeds every planting season.

“On behalf of farmers, we would like to thank SMARTD through its extension officers. We did not realise that there is a diamond in our country through agriculture. We hope that the community seed banks will endure for a long time, enabling them to transform our lives. As we face a high unemployment rate, the community seed bank reduces expenses of buying seeds,” said Mrs Maretšepile.

The festival comes after the SMARTD bags the 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 from the Farmers Pitso Awards.

So far SMARTD has two community seed banks, one at Maseru District Rural Semonkong, Tšenekeng, and the other at Quthing District, Ha Tlhaku. These community seed banks benefit their members in that the seeds will be available to members at the right time when they need them and, in the quantities, required by them.

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗘𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀
Contact: Thabiso Makibinyane, SMARTD Communications Officer
Phone: +266 6271 8937

Join us as we celebrate the 12th edition of Indigenous Seed festival!

‼️1 Day to Go‼️
𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲.
In order to promote the protection and usage of indigenous seeds, the Southern Mountains Association for Rural Transformation and Development will celebrate its 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 of the indigenous seed festival and traditional dishes exhibition, bringing together local communities, agricultural officers, and development partners.
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‼️2 Days to Go‼️
𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲.

In order to promote the protection and usage of indigenous seeds, the Southern Mountains Association for Rural Transformation and Development will celebrate its 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 of the indigenous seed festival and traditional dishes exhibition, bringing together local communities, agricultural officers, and development partners.

5 Days to Go🚨
𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲.
In order to promote the protection and usage of indigenous seeds, the Southern Mountains Association for Rural Transformation and Development will celebrate its 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 of the indigenous seed festival and traditional dishes exhibition, bringing together local communities, agricultural officers, and development partners.

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗤𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗸!

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Let's keep the buzz going and make a difference together!