Raising awareness of the national seed system through film

(Tetum) Timor Leste’s National Seed System for Released Varieties (NSSRV) was established in 2013 to ensure farmers timely access to quality seeds. A documentary video detailing how the seed system works was produced to assist in disseminating the information.

In addition to the showing of this video on national TV, Seeds of Life (SoL) collaborated with Cinema Lorosa’e to show the video during their film nights in rural communities.

Cinema Lorosa’e is a local company that provides outdoor cinema for communities in rural areas. This year, more than 30,000 people from 8 municipalities attended Cinema Lorosa’e film nights.

Communities appreciate the opportunity to watch different films and documentaries. Some feedback received after watching the 20-minute NSSRV documentary video include:

“Now I understand the seed system,” a farmer from Baucau mentioned.

“National seed system is good to improve farmers’ income and the video helps farmers to understand the new system and good practices”

“National seed system is good to improve farmers’ income and the video helps farmers to understand the new system and good practices,” said Chief of Aldeia from Luca, Viqueque.

“With the seed system my parents now can buy seed from local commercial seed producers,” said a student from Luca, Viqueque.

In addition to the NSSRV movie, SoL also requested Cinema Lorosa’e to show a video highlighting the important role of women in agriculture and how they are benefiting from their participation in agriculture activities as well as an animation about good agricultural practices for maize.

“(From the animation) I learn how to plant maize seed properly” said farmer from Baucau.

During film nights, Cinema Lorosa’e personnel also assist in distributing 2015 calendar showing the different improved food crop varieties MAF-SoL have released into the national seed system as well as gumboots donated by the international company, Hunter Boots, to support farmers’ work in their fields.