Can improved agricultural technologies spur a green revolution in Africa? A multicountry analysis of seed and fertilizer delivery systems

Ariga, Joshua; Mabaya, Edward; Waithaka, Michael; Wanzala-Mlobela, Maria

doi:10.1111/agec.12533

Cited by 47 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Indicators to evaluate the industry stage are mainly based on production criteria, including the seed production and distribution capacity (e.g., capacity to produce hybrids). A similar analysis of the growth stages of the seed industry in sub-Saharan Africa was recently carried out by Ariga et al (2019). In their synthesis of seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops, Bentley et al (2018) highlighted three key dimensions: availability, access, and quality.…”

Section: Seed Systems Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 88%

Exploring the marketing environment for maize seed in Kenya: how competition and consumer preferences shape seed sector development

Rutsaert

Donovan

2020

Journal of Crop Improvement

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During the past decade, sizable investments have been made to strengthen maize (Zea mays L.) seed production in Eastern and Southern Africa by private seed companies. However, efforts have generally overlooked downstream issues, such as how seed companies market their products and position their business in a competitive market. This paper assesses competition and customer preferences in Kenya at the retail level for varieties from the parastatal, private domestic and international companies. Data were collected from agro-dealer surveys (n = 80) and farmer intercept interviews (n = 377). Compared to the market leader, the parastatal Kenya Seed Company, private domestic and international companies provide greater value to farmers by selling varieties that are, on average, 10 years younger. However, these companies offer few late-maturing varieties, thus giving the parastatal a near monopoly in that market segment. Kenya Seed Company also excels at being present at all sales locations with their varieties. If private domestic companies focus more on smallholders with lower budgets (including travel budget), they should consider the most cost-effective ways to extend their networks to remote areas as well as compete with the lower prices of Kenya Seed Company. Modern breeding programs should explicitly consider these marketing challenges when designing strategies for seed production and engagement with seed companies.

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Section: Seed Systems Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 88%

Exploring the marketing environment for maize seed in Kenya: how competition and consumer preferences shape seed sector development

Rutsaert

Donovan

2020

Journal of Crop Improvement

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“…The same trend was expected in farming practices in the form of increased commercial-oriented farming and higher rates of adoption of hybrid seed, to include annual seed repurchasing. While over 20 years old, the framework continues to influence thinking on how the maize seed industry develops, as evidenced by recent reports of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the African Development Bank (ADB) [ 36 , 37 ]. Where advances in seed systems development hinges on making available greater volumes of hybrid maize seed, such as in parts of Western Africa (e.g.…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demand-side challenges to increase sales of new maize hybrids in Kenya

Rutsaert

Donovan

Kimenju³

2021

Technology in Society

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In Eastern and Southern Africa, as the public sector has retreated from maize seed production and the private sector has emerged to fill the resulting void, a key issue for researchers, governments and private donors has been the capacity of privately owned, typically small scale, seed businesses to effectively produce and distribute hybrid seed. Roughly two decades on, research and development programming continues to focus on supply side issues in supporting the maize seed industry to bring new varieties to farmers. Motivated by thinking on agri-food value chains, this article explores the potential for achieving a stronger demand orientation in programming to support the maize seed industry, a requirement for varietal turnover. In 2019 data were collected in Kenya from i) 80 agro-dealers on their relations with seed businesses and their marketing of maize seed, ii) 466 farmers on their seed choice and engagement with agro-dealers and iii) 8 seed companies on their distribution and sales strategies. Results confirmed the overarching supply-push orientation of the industry, characterized by limited innovation and risk taking, weak collaboration between actors, low margins for retailers, and limited investments in seed marketing. Farmers showed weak appetite for acquiring new seed products, preferring instead to purchase seeds that they knew from experience. Better strategies for building seed value chains will require deeper insights on stakeholders needs and strategies, to include the capacity of seed businesses and retailers to innovate in business management and marketing.

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“…While the above regional and continental initiatives may hold promise, the key policy challenge to introducing seed sector reforms is the fact that Africa's seed sector involves numerous players, sometimes with conflicting interests, operating in a loosely integrated value chain [10]. Seed systems in most SSA countries are still relatively underdeveloped, and many farmers plant open-pollinated varieties from previous harvests.…”

Section: National Seed Policy Reformsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Authorizing GM Crop Varieties: Policy Implications for Seed Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Komen¹,

Wafula

2021

Agronomy

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Considering an expanding research and development pipeline of and growing practical experiences with genetically modified (GM) crops, governments in Sub-Sahara Africa have in recent years authorized various GM crop events for general, unconfined environmental release, and in a few cases, subsequent commercial variety registration and cultivation. These decisions are consistent with more business-oriented agricultural development policies aimed at turning agriculture into a leading driver of economic growth and wealth creation. Such policy reforms are also motivated by continent-wide initiatives described in this review paper, which emphasize seed sector reform, agricultural productivity growth, intra-regional trade, and agri-business development. While such policy developments spur a more proactive approach to introducing agricultural biotechnology, it becomes apparent that authorizing GM crops for general environmental release and commercial seed registration requires the harmonization of government policies in various sectors relevant to seed systems, most notably those affecting plant breeding research, testing, and variety release. Critical areas for such policy reforms and harmonization were analyzed in this paper, with associated recommendations.

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Can improved agricultural technologies spur a green revolution in Africa? A multicountry analysis of seed and fertilizer delivery systems

Cited by 47 publications

References 25 publications

Exploring the marketing environment for maize seed in Kenya: how competition and consumer preferences shape seed sector development

Exploring the marketing environment for maize seed in Kenya: how competition and consumer preferences shape seed sector development

Demand-side challenges to increase sales of new maize hybrids in Kenya

Authorizing GM Crop Varieties: Policy Implications for Seed Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

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