Tublay seed library to open

SEEDS for those who want them will be within reach.

A library for your favourite produce will soon open in Tublay town.

The Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS), a new organization of smallholder, organic farmers, is set to open the province's first Seed Library on May 13.

Jeffrey Sotero, Tublay Municipal Agriculturists said the project is a private public partnership between the municipality and the Friends of ENCA, a non - government organization.

Sotero said Sherry Manning, founder and executive director of the organization was in Tublay in the past as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines from 20062008 and was inspired to work for the community.

The NGO envisions a vibrant and healthy Philippine environment created by the advancement of organic farming and community led environmental conservation.

The library is located at the Municipal Agriculture Office and holds a collection of non-hybrid seeds produced on the organic farms of BASS members.

Sotero said there is an initial 10 vegetable seeds available and will eventually have fruits, wheat and grains in the libary which will be open to the public to enjoy.

BASS aims to save, replant, and share their own seeds just as their ancestors did, while also benefiting from new, ecologically sound technologies.

BASS members are convinced that seed saving is a form of insurance against food insecurity. It is also a concrete way for farmers to counter the loss of food diversity and the environmental destruction that comes with industrial agriculture.