Kenyan court declares law banning seed sharing unconstitutional
6 days ago
- #Seed Law
- #Food Security
- #Kenya
- A Kenyan high court ruled that sections of a 2012 seed law banning farmers from sharing and selling indigenous seeds are unconstitutional.
- The law had imposed penalties of up to two years in prison and fines for sharing seeds through community seed banks.
- Justice Rhoda Rutto declared that government raids on seed banks and seed seizures were also unconstitutional.
- The law was initially introduced to combat counterfeit seeds, granting exclusive trading rights to licensed companies.
- Fifteen smallholder farmers, members of long-standing community seed banks, filed the case against the law.
- Farmers and food campaigners celebrated the ruling as a victory for food security, culture, and resilience.
- Indigenous seeds are valued for being drought-resistant and better adapted to local climate conditions than hybrid seeds.
- Kenya has faced issues with counterfeit seeds, causing significant financial losses in its rain-fed agricultural sector.