East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT)
Building farmers’ skills for sustainable livelihoods
Dedicated to enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder vegetable farmers by increasing their skills and knowledge, East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT) works directly with farming communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, India, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan.
An independent non-profit foundation, EWS-KT brings opportunities to underdeveloped areas where farmers face challenges with low yields and have limited access to crucial agricultural knowledge and inputs.
Unique relationship between company and foundation
From its inception, East-West Seed has focused on mutually beneficial growth for farmers and the company by developing seeds suited for local conditions. However, many smallholder farmers lack the technical farming expertise to fully realize the advantages of high-quality seeds. In 2015, to maximize the impact on smallholder farmers, we established East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation. EWS-KT is funded in part by a portion (currently 1.75%) of the company’s annual global seed sales revenue. The foundation also receives funding from other companies, organizations, and governments to carry out its knowledge transfer work.
EWS-KT promotes profitable and sustainable farming practices through intensive technical support within farming communities. By sharing new methodologies, the foundation also helps to introduce improved agricultural inputs and drive market development, benefiting farmers with better products and more robust markets.
Impact and vision
Awarded the Dutch government’s ANBI status in 2019 for its commitment to public benefit, EWS-KT has made significant impacts on farmers’ incomes and nutritional security through increased vegetable production. Its vision extends to directly training 1 million farmers between 2021 and 2025, with a primary focus on women and youth.
How EWS-KT works with farmers
EWS-KT builds farming skills through pre-commercial knowledge transfer, emphasizing profitable and sustainable agricultural technologies. Technical field staff use farmer-run demonstration plots as hubs for training, covering topics that include:
- Improved land and soil management
- Enhanced seedling production techniques
- Integrated pest and disease management
- Nutrient management and water conservation
- Business management skills
Extension materials and partnerships
EWS-KT’s high-quality training materials, designed in cooperation with Wageningen University & Research and other experts, are available in multiple languages on the foundation’s GrowHow platform. EWS-KT leverages resources and expertise from global partnerships to extend its reach and enhance its training programs.
