EALA Pressed to Act: CEFROHT Highlights Rising Threats to Indigenous Seeds and Regional Food Security.

During a high-level plenary session at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Tanzania, the Executive Director CEFROHT delivered a powerful call to action on the future of East Africa’s food system. With urgency and conviction, he challenged regional lawmakers to enact robust policies that safeguard indigenous seeds, regulate agrochemical use, and strengthen agroecology as the foundation of a resilient, healthy, and sovereign food system.

“He who controls seed controls the entire food system,” Dr. Kabanda stated, underscoring the geopolitical importance of seed governance. He warned that East Africa risks losing its agricultural independence if it allows multinational corporations to dominate seed breeding, distribution, and ownership. “True sovereignty begins with seed sovereignty,” he emphasized.

Drawing from historical experience, Dr. Kabanda reminded legislators that East African farmers once relied entirely on locally adapted seed varieties, shared freely and replanted season after season. Today, however, many farmers depend on commercial seeds that cannot be replanted, locking them into perpetual purchase cycles that undermine both autonomy and biodiversity.

Discussions further highlighted the cultural, ecological, and nutritional value of indigenous seeds, noting that they carry generations of knowledge and are uniquely adapted to local climates. “Indigenous seeds are not just planting material, they are our heritage, our biodiversity, and our guarantee of climate resilience,” he said.

He further raised alarm about the rapid increase in highly hazardous agrochemicals across the region linked to GMO seed use. “We cannot ignore the health implications of chemical-intensive farming. Our soils are degrading, our water sources are contaminated, and even pollinators like bees, critical to our survival, are disappearing,” he warned. Drawing from personal experience, he spoke about practicing chemical-free farming, choosing long-term health and ecological sustainability over short-term yields.

Throughout the session, Dr. Kabanda reiterated the urgent need for a comprehensive regional Agroecology legal Framework for the EAC, a policy roadmap that would guide member states in transitioning toward sustainable farming practices, strengthening seed sovereignty, and protecting ecosystems. He stressed that agroecology is not only an environmental necessity but also a pathway to stronger rural economies and community-led food systems.

He also reminded legislators that controlling food ultimately means controlling people. “If we depend on seeds that cannot be replanted, we lose the very essence of independence,” he cautioned.

Please see full discussion here: https://youtu.be/8MrVOHpQCCE?si=svZ6ijbMZ1l-hLfR