This study report describes the Farmer Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) in Zambia, how they work and how they contribute to food and seed sovereignty and how they maintain and enhance proper nutrition. The report provides an overview of the main threats to FMSS in the country and how these may be counteracted. Under FMSS, farmers work at a local level to remain the custodians of local seed selection, storage and management. The purpose of the study was to understand how farmer managed seed systems work in Zambia and how it relates with other components of farmer systems and to use findings to challenge the current narrative on seed and ultimately influence policy.

The study is also intended to update information on existing research and publications on seed and seed systems in Zambia. Agricultural biodiversity is critical for food security in Zambia where in the rural areas it is based on small-scale agricultural production utilizing both improved crop varieties as well as local varieties. Access to hybrid varieties is limited due to inabilities of the many marginalized farming communities to purchase seeds.