How Seed Testing Competitions Boosted Seed Quality
Farmer engagement with seed testing experiments drives collaborative learning and climate resilience in Northeast Syria.
What unsustainable behaviour needs to change:
In northeast Syria—once hailed as the “breadbasket of the Middle East”—years of conflict, political instability, and recurring droughts have devastated agriculture. Farmers face a mounting set of challenges: collapsed subsidies, lack of scientific support, war-driven inflation, and intensifying climate shocks. Together, these factors are accelerating the decline of seed quality. The widespread use of low-quality wheat seeds has resulted in poor yields. With each season, this cycle worsens—further eroding seed quality and food security.
High-performing wheat varieties –adapted to drought and heat– are urgently needed. But in the absence of functioning institutions or reliable supply chains, farmers are left with few options to access suitable varieties. This isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a behavioural and systemic one. Without trusted mechanisms for learning and adoption, farmers understandably stick with what they know, even when it’s failing. Reversing this trend means rebuilding both confidence and capacity at the local level.
Seed Testing Competitions, where farmers ran small-scale trials over a season;
Seed Multiplication, where promising varieties were grown on farmers’ land to improve local seed supply.
Farmers tested different wheat seed varieties, soil types, inputs and planting methods on their own land. This hands-on approach enabled rapid learning and helped identify a more drought-tolerant, high-yielding variety—later multiplied and shared more widely. Beyond improved yields, the competitions encouraged knowledge sharing and built a sense of pride among participants.
Agricultural experiments are typically led by research institutions. In contrast, this programme placed farmers at the centre. Through training sessions and WhatsApp groups, farmers were supported in their efforts, helping bridge scientific insights with traditional practices. The pilot strengthened community ties and sparked strong interest from other farmers. Now in its third year, the programme is being adapted for use in Niger and South Sudan—supporting seed system resilience in other climate- and conflict-affected regions.
Do you know of any other nudges that strengthen sustainable farming systems?
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From Yanna Vogiazou, who led the human-centred design process for the IRC’s Airbel Impact Lab (April–September 2022). She co-designed the program with the local IRC team, conducted design research, crafted & tested prototypes, and facilitated co-creation workshops with farmers and agro-dealers in Syria. Check out her website.
