Shaping Seed Regulation in Nepal: The Role of Networks, Community and Informality
Date
2016
Authors
Adhikari, Kamalesh
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Abstract
Scholars often discuss the ramifications of seed regulations for
customary dynamics of conservation, use and exchange of local
plant varieties in three streams of scholarly writing. These are
formality and informality of the seed system, commons and
property notions of plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture, and community seed banks. This thesis makes an
important contribution to these literature, exploring how seed
regulation is being shaped and what has been the role of
networks, community and informality in the governance of the seed
system in Nepal.
The thesis shows that Nepal’s formal model of state-led,
private-sector supportive seed regulation has failed to address
customary dynamics of seed use and exchange and promote
farmer-to-farmer seed exchange networks. A key argument is that
the role of informality needs to be duly recognised in view of
its significant contribution to protect local plant genetic
diversity and the rights of farming communities to save, use and
exchange seeds. The role of informality is also important in view
of Nepal’s legislative initiatives to implement the global
agreements such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights, the Convention on Biological
Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
for Food and Agriculture. Nepal offers an important site of
network confrontation as various actors and networks from
government, non-government and private sectors have been engaged
in promoting their own visions of property and commons. A key
finding of the thesis is that Nepal needs to consider these
different visions of commons and property and adopt a networked
model of regulation to create a seed system that addresses local
needs.
The thesis shows that Nepal is also an important site of
community seed banks. What makes Nepal’s case interesting is
the emerging typologies of community seed banks that interact
with both formal and informal seed systems. The thesis argues
that if community seed banks continue to tilt towards becoming a
formal actor like a local seed trading enterprise, there would be
implications for local initiatives to conserve native plant
genetic diversity and promote customary practices of seed use and
exchange.
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Keywords
Seed Regulation, Informal Seed System, Networks, Community, Intellectual Property
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Thesis (PhD)
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