Was talking about the idea that sul'dam and damane must have run in families. Rare perhaps, nothing so simple as Gregor Mendel's yellow and green peas, but perhaps like madness, or something else complex-yet-detectable. The reference to farmers was to the idea that after over 1000 years after the conquest of Luthair Pendrag and the creation of the a'dam, it is hard to believe NO ONE, not even farmers, figured out that channeling runs in families, and perhaps there's a connection between sul'dam and damane.

Or else, people did, and they were silenced. Or, being so incredibly superstititous and religiously devoted to the eternal power of the Empire, refused to contemplate the implications.

I am aware that damane aren't used for breeding stock. The comparison to the Aes Sedai and mainland folks (Aiel excluded) is that it's another culture in which innate, no-need-to-be-taught channelers rarely marry. The numbers of channelers in Aiel and Sea Folk society are probably a lot higher, but the odds in Seanchan of a girl being born with the spark are probably low. However, given Seanchan's enormous population, I suppose that even with long odds, there will be a lot of damane around.