ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
For 2018, FPC GAVE $935 FOR THE ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING SPECIAL OFFERING.
Of particular interest to me was the part of the mission in Myanmar (formerly Burma). My son works for a non-profit there and we visited him in February of this year.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) Hunger Program works to address root causes of poverty and hunger with seed programs throughout Southeast Asia, including Myanmar. In Myanmar, current work is having an impact on 300 communities and over 1,400 people through seed ministry built around 4 important truths:
- A rich diversity of underutilized vegetable species function within the rural farming communities in Myanmar and form the background of their locally-adapted food systems;
- Many of these culturally and economically valuable crop species are at risk, facing threats from encroachment, development and neglect;
- Currently, little is being done to identify, conserve or disseminate these important at-risk, indigenous species; and,
- To strengthen and improve the sustainability of this informal seed system and the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers who depend upon it, steps need to be taken to enhance the conservation, utilization and marketing of these valuable seed resources.
Poverty is closely linked to hunger and malnutrition. All of the target villages in Myanmar are facing soil degradation, loss of farmland, loss of natural resources and increased vulnerability to climate change, especially in the form of flooding and soil salinization. These threaten traditional paddy-based farming systems and the production of rice and cash crops, leaving indigenous small holder farmers in a very vulnerable position with regard to food security.
Seeds are a fundamental agricultural input, and access to locally-adapted, quality seed is essential for sustainable crop production. In much of Southeast Asia, informal seed systems are important sources of seeds for smallholder farms. Large regions of Southeast Asia have been identified as “biodiversity hotspots” and represent a valuable resource for the development and improvement of crop species locally, regionally and globally. Improved understanding of the local existing seed systems will enable horticulturists and extension worker to have more effective collaboration with farmers.
Through the work supported by OGHS, Presbyterians join in providing low-input, low-cost and high impact relevant seed saving technologies and seed banks, creating 2 appropriate operational seed banks in this most recent phase (2017).
Dave Pietz