Seed Saving in Cuba

07 June 2002
Report on The Havana Seed Savers Network (La Red de Semillas) from Pam Morgan

In January 1996, in collaboration with the Department of Urban Agriculture, The Seed Savers' Network trained sixty seven agriculture extensionists in how to locate, gather, multiply and disseminate local seeds. The Havana Seed Savers' Network encourages and teaches city farmers and gardeners to produce high quality seeds, to conserve them and to share them.

A Cuban community organisation, Fundacion de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (Foundation for Nature and Man) has initiated an awareness program using their newsletter, Se Puede (?it is possible?). They have also published a two year calendar with seed saving hints for each month.

A problem has been that urban farmers and roof top gardeners are used to getting their seeds from the government at subsidised prices, even if they are of poor germination and unsuitable varieties.

Havana people were able to hear about the issues and the FNH food production training programme has a seed production aspect to it. The actual exchange between seed producers is not very active at the moment but more trainees from the Seed Savers? Network in Australia would boost seed exchange techniques.