Can traders' meetings boost seed sales of new rice varieties and promote a market-driven seed system? Evidence from Nepal

Abstract

PurposeFarmers in developing countries are used to recycling and purchasing seeds of old and low-yielding varieties, leading to low seed and varietal replacement rates. Seed companies in Nepal have started to conduct traders' meetings (TMs) to promote new rice varieties. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of this approach in promoting new rice varieties.Design/methodology/approachThe authors assess the effectiveness of TMs by surveying 238 agrodealers from 7 districts of Nepal. The authors used the binary logit model to study the determinants of participation in TM and an instrumental variable approach to estimate the impact of TMs on sales of the promoted rice varieties.FindingsResults indicate that the TM significantly influences traders' knowledge and increases the probability of selling new rice varieties promoted. However, TMs did not significantly increase the overall sales of promoted rice varieties.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on cross-section data; thus, unobserved fixed effects could not be accounted for. The study finds only one relevant and valid instrumental variable and therefore could not conduct any exogeneity test.Originality/valueSeed companies in Nepal started to conduct TMs to promote new rice varieties since 2019. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the usefulness of TMs and the impact of these events in changing traders' attitudes toward domestic rice seed varieties or in business performance (annual sales of the promoted varieties) have not been assessed. Therefore, the study findings will help to promote the market-driven seed system and increase the seed replacement rate.

Rice farmers’ preferences for seed quality, packaging, and source: A study from northern Bangladesh

“…Farmers in the informal seed network obtain rice seeds through various means, including their own production, seed exchanges with other farmers, accessing local markets, and also from the border market [ 2 , 13 , 74 , 75 ]. So, seed traders exert a substantial influence on farmers, contributing to the increased use of good quality seeds through the dissemination of knowledge, promotion of new varieties, and encouragement of a market-driven seed system [ 53 ].…”

“…Few focused on the role of social capital by fostering trust and cooperation among local farmers to enhance access to quality seeds, as well as enhance community resilience [ 51 , 52 ]. Furthermore, Thapa et al [ 53 ] studied the impact of knowledge dissemination in increasing sales and acceptance of promoted cultivars within the agricultural community. Gender studies in seed systems are limited, mainly focused on the role of women and capacity-building training for knowledge dissemination [ 16 , 54 , 55 ].…”

“…Thapa et al [53] 34 Gender dynamics in seed systems India Gender differences in training and knowledge dissemination in promoting of new rice varieties…”