small-scale farmer in Ecuador © Graham Freer/ Progressio

Sowing the seeds of a better harvest

Spring brings new life and hope to many people. In the UK, it is the time for those with gardens or allotments to think about planting their vegetables and flowers. These plants may be grown from seed, bought from a local market, or - for the more committed gardeners amongst us - sown from seeds harvested in previous years. For those who save seeds, seeing new vegetables grow from them is especially satisfying! But however you get your seeds, we all know that a good harvest brings good news for all.

In Ecuador, the situation is similar for many of the small-scale farmers that Progressio's partners work with. The big difference is that these farmers grow food to provide for their families. It is this kind of traditional farming that supports whole rural communities; not only by providing food for them to eat, but also by supplying them with produce to sell. In turn, this income allows rural communities to buy the essentials they can't grow. We want to be able to continue to support farmers who work in this way, not just in Ecuador but in every country we work in. That's why I am writing to you today, to ask you to make a donation to support our work.

Rosa Jara is a small-scale farmer in the Azuay Province of Ecuador. She is part of a group of farmers who want to produce healthy food, care for the environment and provide for their families.

An essential element of this organic farming method is to stop the use of chemicals- both fertilisers and pesticides - It also promotes traditional farming methods that unite the needs of the community and their natural environment.

The soil quality is poor on the land that farmers like Rosa own, so the challenge is even greater. One of the ways to surmount these challenges is by using local seeds. These seeds have developed naturally over hundreds of years, making them suitable for the local environment. They are also naturally resistant to many of the region's plant diseases. This system not only provides food and a surplus to sell, but also generates seeds for subsequent years.

Northern countries pose a huge threat to this way of life by demanding ever-greater volumes of cash crops from countries in the South. This is made worse by global corporations who seek to make profits from the sale of chemicals and seeds.  At Progressio we recognise the dangers of this combination, which is why we continue to work with farmers like Rosa. She has a right to farm her land in the tried and tested ways her ancestors have used for generations. Yet, the actions of corporations, consumers and governments in the North are putting that at risk.

Our experiences in Ecuador and other countries have shown us that small-scale farmers are vulnerable to the greed of others. That is why we continue to campaign against the development of Terminator seeds.

As you may know from the 'Say NO to Terminator Seeds' campaign, we fear that the production of genetically modified plants that produce sterile seeds could have a long-term impact on Rosa's way of life. Currently this Terminator gene is still a science, locked away in the laboratory, but what if, once in use, it cross pollinated with Rosa's plants? The contamination would reduce the number of seeds that grow, and Rosa would be forced to use what little cash she earns to buy seeds. By the time she realises what has happened it will be too late. This is why we want Terminator seeds to remain out of reach.

Over the last year our 'Say NO to Terminator Seeds' campaign has received lots of support, both from Progressio members and supporters and the general public. We want to continue to support Rosa and people like her as they face ever-greater challenges to their way of life. We can only do that with your help. By sending us £25 today, we can continue our work on behalf of Rosa and all her fellow farmers around the world.

At Progressio we work to unite our partners' experiences with advocacy work to challenge attitudes in the North. We have got to take our experiences of working with people like Rosa, and united with our partners and their communities to challenge the corporations, institutions and governments that create the policies that perpetuate poverty.

Help us by supporting our work now.