ICRISAT and ISRA-CERAAS Host Landmark Training to Strengthen Climate Adaptation through Community Seed Production

June 30, 2025

On June 25th and 26th, 2025, ICRISAT, in partnership with ISRA-CERAAS, successfully organized a landmark training workshop titled "Strengthening Climate Adaptation Strategies through Community Seed Production for Dryland Crops." As part of AICCRA, this event was a crucial step toward empowering smallholder farmers by enhancing their ability to withstand climate variability through resilient seeds.

The two-day event marked a significant milestone in empowering smallholder farmers in AICCRA intervention communities, enhancing their resilience to climate variability through improved seed production techniques.

The workshop brought together 40 participants (35 men and 5 women), including agricultural experts, extension agents, cooperative representatives, and lead farmers from 24 villages across four clusters under the AICCRA (Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa) initiative. The focus was on equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills to produce high-quality seeds of millet and groundnut, crops vital to dryland communities, tailored to their specific agro-ecological contexts. Also, participants received practical, hands-on training on seed production, storage, conservation practices, and certification procedures essential for successful community seed systems.

Building on Four Years of Innovation and Impact

This workshop is a culmination of four years of collaboration between ICRISAT and ISRA-CERAAS (Centre d'Etude Régional pour l'Amélioration de l'Adaptation à la Sécheresse (CERAAS) and Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA) in promoting agricultural innovation through the establishment of four Technology Parks and over 300 demonstration plots in Koumpentoum (Tambacounda region), Thiel (Louga), Daga Birame (Kaffrine), and Méouane (Thiès). These initiatives have introduced climate-resilient, high-yielding crop varieties, tested under harsh dryland conditions to address challenges such as drought and soil degradation.

In parallel, the development of community-based seed production and certification systems has been prioritized to ensure farmers' access to quality seeds, a key to sustaining productivity and resilience in the face of climate change. Through these integrated efforts, the AICCRA project is enabling farmers not only to adapt but to thrive amid climate uncertainty.

Key Outcomes: Seeding the Future of Resilience

A major highlight of the workshop was the distribution of mini-seed packs containing improved millet and groundnut varieties to 150 farmers. These packs are designed to launch community-level seed multiplication, ensuring a sustainable local supply of high-quality seeds.

In addition, 25 farmers received larger seed quantities to establish community seed plots, which will serve as both demonstration sites and local hubs for seed multiplication and knowledge exchange.

To enhance productivity while minimizing manual labour, 20 lead farmers were equipped with an improved millet seeder disc—a locally engineered, small-scale device crafted by artisan Lamine Willane from Mbeuleup village. This innovation, developed under the expert guidance of Dr. Akinseye Folorunso, Senior Scientist at ICRISAT, enables more efficient and dense planting, ultimately supporting sustainable yield increases and resource conservation.

"Innovation thrives where tradition meets science. By empowering local ingenuity with research-driven insight, we create lasting solutions that put power back in the hands of farmers," said Dr. Akinseye Folorunso, Senior Scientist, ICRISAT

Further, a presentation by Dr Mamadou Ndoye, Director of the Seed Unit at MASAE, provided detailed guidance on the certified seed production process, empowering farmers to meet formal quality standards and access wider markets.

Participant Insights

During the workshop, participating stakeholders shared their reflections and hopes for the future. Dr Aliou Faye, AICCRA Project Coordinator at CERAAS, emphasized a key challenge: the need to increase seed availability for promising new varieties of millet, groundnut, and cowpea. He explained:

“Seeds produced in technology demonstration parks will be multiplied and distributed by selected lead farmers in each community. This will gradually expand access to high-quality seeds. Mini-packs of pearl millet and improved groundnut, sufficient to cover a quarter hectare for millet, will be distributed in target zones ahead of the rainy season.

“We have long faced poor seed quality and lack of access to new varieties used in our technology parks and demonstration plots. The seeds received will be well used, especially now that we’ve been trained and equipped with the necessary tools for quality seed production,” shared Mr Gora Sèye, a farmer from Méouane.

“The training confirms all the good that the AICCRA project has brought to our communities over the past three years. We received high-performing varieties and complete technological packages, from compost use to seeding density for millet. Thanks to the project, I was recognized as the best producer in my region,” commented similarly, Ms Ami Ndao from Kaffrine.

Looking Ahead: Cultivating Climate-Resilient Communities

Through the AICCRA project, ICRISAT and ISRA-CERAAS are advancing climate-smart agriculture by building stronger community seed systems. These efforts not only increase farmers’ resilience but also support regional food security and sustainable rural development.

The success of this workshop underscores the potential to scale up community seed production initiatives across other dryland regions. By combining innovation, capacity building, and community leadership, these approaches are helping turn the tide against climate risks—one resilient seed at a time.