ABSTRACT
The community seed bank's main role is storing seed of local and domesticated varieties of staple grains produced by member farmers. Other functions include supplying seed during the planting season, promoting and conserving associated knowledge, developing technical capacities for seed management and fostering community organization. The technical committee, with support from collaborating members, is in charge of seed handling. Farmers clean, select and dry the seed to the required moisture content for storage on their farms before delivering it to the bank. Achieving sustainability without external aid is the biggest challenge faced by the community seed bank. The seed bank could venture in a more proactive way into local and national markets. To become part of an international system, farmer groups must be familiar with management and distribution of information and materials and be able to sign agreements based on international treaties.
