Strengthening Seed Systems and Farmers' Rights for Improving Food & Nutrition Security in South Asia

Access to improved seeds to the smallholder farmers in the rural areas is intertwining and enduring challenge in the developing economies. Lack of access to improved quality seeds makes the agriculture system less productive and competitive making the rural people more vulnerable, marginalized, and food insecure. This paper has been prepared adopting secondary information and literature review aiming to assess the seed system, particularly the Community Based Seed System (CBSS) and its relationship with economic development and food security. It also briefly outlines status of seed and agrobiodiversity related national and international policies and farmers rights issues including recent SAARC initiatives made in strengthening the seed system in South Asia. The authors also recommend several policy interventions.