HOMEF Urges Federal Government to Protect Indigenous Seeds and Farmers' Rights on World Food Day
HOMEF calls on the federal government to protect indigenous seeds and farmers' rights, warning that industrial agricultural practices could undermine food sovereignty and biodiversity.

In Brief
- •HOMEF calls on the federal government to protect indigenous seeds and farmers' rights, warning that industrial agricultural practices could undermine food sovereignty and biodiversity.
- •The organization argues that hunger and malnutrition persist in resource-rich countries due to political and economic choices that disadvantage smallholder farmers.
- •HOMEF calls for policies that protect local seed varieties, promote ecological farming, and give farming communities greater control over agricultural production.
- •Nnimmo Bassey, HOMEF's executive director, highlights the importance of indigenous seeds in adapting to climate change and preserving genetic diversity.
- •Joyce Brown, HOMEF's Director of Programmes, calls for a review of policies that privilege industrial exporters over small-scale farmers.
Why It Matters
The call by HOMEF to protect indigenous seeds and farmers' rights is significant as it addresses the broader issue of food sovereignty and the impact of industrial agricultural practices on food security. By advocating for policies that support local seed varieties and ecological farming, HOMEF aims to ensure that smallholder farmers have greater control over their agricultural production. This is crucial in the context of climate change, economic instability, and the need to sustain biodiversity and ecosystems. The organization's call also highlights the importance of recognizing farmers' rights and ensuring that communities closest to the land retain meaningful authority over their resources.
Key Details
- World Food Day
- 16 October
- Organization
- Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
- Key Issue
- Protection of indigenous seeds and farmers' rights
- Policy Concern
- Nigeria's Plant Variety Protection Act, 2021
Context & Background
The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) is an environmental advocacy organization that has been calling for policies that protect local seed varieties, promote ecological farming, and give farming communities greater control over agricultural production.
Original Reporting & Sources
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