A 2023 report by Seed Savers Network-Kenya, based on research with 10 farmer groups, reveals that newer groups cultivate an average of 16 crops, while older groups grow 22 crops. This greater diversity among older groups can be attributed to their extended experience in seed saving, which allows them to manage a broader range of crops. These findings align with the Kenya Seed Policy (2010), which emphasizes that farmer-managed seed systems are a vital source of seeds, surpassing the commercial seed industry in contribution.

The importance of farmer-managed systems is further reinforced by the 2021 SSN Seed Security Report, which found that over 70% of seeds in Kenya are supplied through these systems. Unlike commercial seeds, which are expensive and often less diverse, farmer-saved seeds are locally adapted, show resilience to weather variability associated with climate change, ensuring consistent access to a wide variety of crops. This adaptability not only supports food security but also reduces farmers' dependency on costly commercial alternatives, highlighting the need to promote and expand farmer-managed seed systems.

When farmers save their own seeds, they significantly enhance crop diversity, including Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS). This increased diversity directly benefits nutrition by broadening the range of foods available for consumption, as highlighted in the SSN nutritional booklet, a result of extensive research conducted in 2018 and 2019. This research identified ten crops with unique attributes that underwent detailed nutritional analysis in a laboratory.

The analysis revealed that these underutilized crops are rich in essential micronutrients, which are critical for addressing nutritional deficiencies common in Kenya. The ten crops—gooseberries, yellow maize, cherry tomatoes, red sorghum, Dolichos beans, pumpkin, red cowpea, red millet, black nightshade, and common beans—are excellent sources of vital nutrients such as Vitamin A, iron, and zinc. These nutrients are particularly important given their low availability as reported by the Kenyan government. Additionally, these crops are highly drought-resistant, making them well-suited for resilience in the face of climate change, further supporting their role in sustainable food and nutrition security.

This evidence highlights the dual benefits of farmer-managed seed systems: addressing both immediate nutritional needs and long-term agricultural sustainability.

• The 2023 SSN seed study highlights that farmers’ seed management practices are highly tailored to specific crops and are in harmony with local conservation efforts. Cereals such as mixed maize, millet, and sorghum exhibit greater seed independence, with approximately two-thirds of farmers cultivating their own varieties and only 28% relying on agro-shops.
• Bean farmers show even greater seed self-sufficiency, as nearly 40% produce all their seeds, and an additional 63% are at least partly seed secure. Only 9% of bean farmers purchase seeds from agro-shops, with the majority obtaining seeds from local markets or neighbours. 
• For vegetable seeds, such as pumpkin 62.7 %, kahurura 57.8%, calabash 69.9%, comfrey mabati 70.7% are predominantly sourced from farmers themselves or the seed exchange platform. These findings emphasize the need to bolster community-based seed systems, to support seed security, availability, and conservation. Strengthening these farmer-managed practices fosters seed diversity, ensures adaptability to local conditions, and contributes to resilience and sustainability in African farming.
• In contrast, the 2023 SSN seed study shows that conventional farmers heavily rely on the commercial seed market for maize, with 88% of farmers purchasing their maize seeds from agro-shops. This dependence is primarily due to the widespread use of hybrid white maize varieties thus exposing them to challenges of seed shortages, fake fertilizers and overpriced seeds as witnessed in Kenya this year 2024.

• Farmer-managed local varieties are well adapted to their environments. As noted in the SSN booklet, these seeds have undergone prolonged exposure to local climatic conditions, allowing them to thrive under challenging environments with minimal external inputs. 
• Crops such as yellow maize, pumpkin, cherry tomato, black nightshade, red millet, and red sorghum are particularly resistant to pests and diseases, unlike hybrid varieties. Cherry tomato, in particular, requires little water to grow, making it highly suitable for areas with minimal rainfall. Due to prolonged exposure to local climatic conditions, farmers’ seeds get accustomed to these conditions and are able to survive and produce even when the weather becomes unfavorable, unlike commercial seeds produced by the seeds' industry.
• Farmers' testimonies collected to compile this case also affirm that  local seeds are resistant or tolerant to a wide range of diseases and pests unlike the hybrid varieties.

The points above demonstrate that farmer-managed seeds allow for well adapted crops to the local environment. Due to prolonged exposure to local climatic conditions, farmers’ seeds get accustomed to these conditions and are able to survive and produce even when the weather becomes unfavourable, unlike commercially developed seeds that were bred for uniformity and often for environments different to the diversity of farmers' conditions.

These qualities emphasize the critical role of traditional knowledge and experience in sustaining resilient food production systems.

The SSN seed study conducted in 2023 reveals that white maize is one of the most preferred crops for cultivation by both new groups and old groups. According to the study, the average size of land for majority of farmers in Nakuru is 1-2.5 acres. An average farmer, if they buy certified maize seeds for 1 acre of land requires 5 packets of 2 kgs (hybrid maize) which cost KSh. 1000 per packet which amounts to sh. 5000 and 30 kgs of certified beans when intercropped at sh. 400 per kg of bean seeds which amounts to KSh. 12,000. This translates to roughly KSh. 17,000 considering these two crops. 

Additionally, farmers who engage in production of potatoes and tomatoes which are lucrative farming enterprises suffer from highly priced seeds. A farmer will need at least KSh. 64,000 for certified potato seeds per acre. Notably the prices of tomatoes are so high for hybrids ranging between KSh. 40,000- and  certified hybrid tomato seeds e.g. Zara F1 for 1 kg costs at least KSh. 40,0000 and Ansal F1 costing KSh.959,980.

A farmer who practices seed saving obtains seeds but with no need for cash as they have their own seeds. Hence it can be clearly seen from the examples that farmers who save their own seeds save money as compared to those who don’t save their own seeds. The farmers who buy seeds also rely also heavily on other inputs making their cost of production very high.