Integrated Seed Sector Development in Africa: A Conceptual Framework for Creating Coherence Between Practices, Programs, and Policies

Louwaars, N.P.; Boef, Walter Simon de

doi:10.1080/15427528.2011.611277

Cited by 209 publications

(196 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Thus overall the results confirm the several opportunities and benefits to be achieved by the formal and the informal systems working together (Almekinders et al 1994;Thiele 1999) and provide a practical example of the ISSD principle that informal systems can be improved in this way (Louwaars and de Boef 2012). The results confirm for sweetpotato the idea of using the informal seed system to distribute planting material, especially of new cultivars developed by the formal system and support the concept of ISSD (Almekinders et al 1994;Thiele 1999;Louwaars and de Boef 2012).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…Despite this, most seed of most crops in developing countries is provided by the informal sector (Minot et al 2007;Louwaars and de Boef 2012;McGuire and Sperling 2013). In particular, there is little commercial interest in seed of vegetatively propagated crops (Traoré and Seck, 2011) (The term 'seed' is used here in its wider non-botanical meaning to mean that which is planted).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Delivering New Technologies to the Tanzanian Sweetpotato Crop Through Its Informal Seed System

Lukonge¹,

Gibson

Laizer³

et al. 2015

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

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Delivering new technologies to the Tanzanian sweetpotato crop through its informal seed systemThe concept of integrated seed sector development (ISSD) to-type. Tanzania has the second biggest production (3.0 x 10 6 MT) in Africa after Nigeria (3.4 x 10 6 MT). Sweetpotato is the third largest crop by weight (FAOSTAT 2014) and the Great Lakes region is a major area of production where, as throughout Africa, the crop is especially important to smallholders (Kapinga et al. 1995). There is a very long dry season there, crops being harvested as they reach maturity and to avoid loss through desiccation and weevil damage, so most farmers have no vines to plant when the rains come. Consequently, insufficient quality planting material at the start of the rainy season is a prime constraint on production there (Kapinga et al. 1995;Namanda et al. 2011) as in many African countries Gibson et al. 2009). In the informal seed system of sweetpotato, farmers with access to wetlands or land that can be irrigated and the 'skills, talent and gumption' Promoting such changes through interventions aimed at multipliers would require fewer resources, be self-maintaining and more sustainable than interventions aimed at sweetpotato farmers in general. It would also be consistent with the ISSD approach. The purpose of this paper is to describe the range and capacity of the informal sweetpotato seed system to supply vines sustainably to large numbers of farmers in Shinyanga and Meatu districts of the Lake Zone of Tanzania and then to document how the formal sector can supply improvements to it, using small demonstration trials to introduce improved technologies such as: fertilizer to boost vine production;  modern cultivars including OFSP;  RMT including more efficient irrigation.Furthermore, the paper assesses transporting vines from an area where they are easy to grow to sell them in Shinyanga and nearby markets. This longer-distance marketing is a strategy learnt from Uganda (Rachkara et al. 2015), can supplement vines from local multipliers' farms and provide a more comprehensive service. In documenting outcomes, this paper serves as one of the first evidence-based demonstrations that the ISSD approach can deliver improvements efficiently to the informal sector. In this case, delivery of the technologies was by members of a Tanzanian government agricultural research institute, the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI)-Ukiriguru, part of the Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute (LZARDI). The work is an outcome of many years of experiences by the authors and their institutes to develop a successful strategy for interacting with the sweetpotato vine supply system in order to achieve lasting improvements.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delivering New Technologies to the Tanzanian Sweetpotato Crop Through Its Informal Seed System

Lukonge¹,

Gibson

Laizer³

et al. 2015

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

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“…The participation and coordinating role of public entities are quite high in Ethiopia as compared with other sub-Saharan African countries (ISSD Africa 2012), which were colonized by western countries and thus adopted more of a western market philosophy. Public entities support the seed sector, notably by carrying out research in developing varieties, by arranging (and subsidizing) seed quality control and seed promotion, by stimulating investments in the seed sector, by introducing tax measures, by subsidizing specific seed products, and by direct and indirect participation in seed production and distribution (Louwaars and De Boef 2012). The role of public entities is still crucial in supporting the seed sector.…”

Section: Overview Of the Seed Sector In Ethiopiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The formal seed system is guided by scientific methodologies for plant breeding. Multiplication is controlled and operated by public or private sector specialists, and significant investments have been made throughout the process (Louwaars and De Boef 2012). The research system or certified multipliers produce and distribute basic seed.…”

Section: Formal Seed Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Quality seed is at the core of the "technology package" needed to increase agricultural production, food production, and rural economic development (Alemu 2011;Bradford and Bewley 2002). Its contribution is high when it is available in demanded quality and quantity at the right time and for the right price (Adetumbi, Saka, and Fato 2010;Louwaars and De Boef 2012). However, limited availability of and access to quality seed is regarded as one of the main obstacles to increasing agricultural productivity in Ethiopia (Ojiewo et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seed producer cooperatives in the Ethiopian seed sector and their role in seed supply improvement: A review

Sisay

Verhees

Trijp

2017

Journal of Crop Improvement

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The role of seed producer cooperatives (SPCs) in the Ethiopian seed sector and their contribution to seed supply improvement have received attention from researchers, policymakers, and development partners. However, limited work has been done in reviewing and documenting their involvement in the seed sector development. In this paper, we review and discuss the SPCs in the Ethiopian seed sector. Specifically, we reflect on the contribution of SPCs to improving seed availability and access in the country. The current liberal market system of Ethiopia creates new opportunities for growth as successful enterprises, but also brings new challenges, such as more intense competition for smallholder producers. The government policy encourages SPCs to engage in seed business. We draw on scientific literature, reports, white papers, project documents, and websites. The review reveals that the seed sector in Ethiopia consists of three seed systems: formal, informal, and intermediary seed systems. Each seed system has a specific contribution to the delivery of seed to farmers, but they vary in their approach and respective strategies. The SPCs are categorized in the intermediary seed system because they have features of both formal and informal seed systems. They play a key role in meeting seed demand and contribute greatly to seed supply improvement through high-volume production of seed, crop, and variety diversification, and seed delivery to farmers. They produce and market the seed through various market channels, including direct sales to farmers, sales through contractual agreement, and sales directly to institutional buyers. Their contribution to improving the seed supply and seed security has received considerable recognition by policymakers and development practitioners. Therefore, government and development partners should support and strengthen SPCs to maximize their success in the seed business and their contribution to improving the seed supply in Ethiopia.ARTICLE HISTORY

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Assessment of seed system interventions for biofortified orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) in Malawi

Nyirenda¹,

Nyondo²,

Jogo³

et al. 2023

Crop Science

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The International Potato Center (CIP) has collaboratively implemented various demand‐pull and supply‐push interventions since 2006 to develop the seed system for biofortified orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) (Ipomoea batatas) varieties in Malawi. Consequently, the adoption of OFSP varieties has increased to 30%. Nevertheless, the actual adoption rates, the contribution of these interventions to the seed system development, and the extent to which the current policy and regulatory environment facilitated or impeded the availability and access to quality planting materials by smallholder farmers are not well understood. This study explored these critical issues using desk reviews and qualitative information with OFSP subsector stakeholders. The results reveal that most of the critical nodes of the OFSP seed system are underdeveloped. However, CIP backstopping interventions to the national research systems contributed significantly to building Malawi's capacity for producing clean early‐generation seed materials. In addition, CIP has played a critical role in developing the community‐level capacity to produce and disseminate clean vines through the introduction of decentralized vine multipliers and commercial vine multipliers. The study recommends integrating formal and informal seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops to improve access to quality planting materials by farmers. Second, government and development partners (CGIAR centers, Nongovernmental Organization) should progressively promote/create demand for OFSPs among consumers because of the strong association between the biofortified OFSP varieties and nutrition. Lastly, there is need for government and development partners to establish and increase OFSP interventions in the Northern and Central regions of Malawi.

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Integrated Seed Sector Development in Africa: A Conceptual Framework for Creating Coherence Between Practices, Programs, and Policies

Cited by 209 publications

References 30 publications

Delivering New Technologies to the Tanzanian Sweetpotato Crop Through Its Informal Seed System

Delivering New Technologies to the Tanzanian Sweetpotato Crop Through Its Informal Seed System

Seed producer cooperatives in the Ethiopian seed sector and their role in seed supply improvement: A review

Assessment of seed system interventions for biofortified orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) in Malawi

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