Persistent myths about emergency seed aid

Sperling, Louise; McGuire, Shawn

doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2009.12.004

Cited by 33 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Government organisations and NGOs must change from using production figures as sole targets for their planning and instead focus on how they can help private actors function as market players. In particular, the current NGO model has little justification and free seed impedes the development of decentralised smallscale enterprise models for tree seed in the same way as it does for crop seed (Graudal and Lillesø 2007;Sperling and McGuire 2010). Needed innovations Box 2 Interventions required for specific source types (as described in Table 1) 1.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovation in input supply systems in smallholder agroforestry: seed sources, supply chains and support systems

et al. 2011

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Institutional innovation in providing inputs and services is a central element for smallholder development. Agroforestry is an important income generating activity for millions of smallholders in the tropics, yet access to quality planting material-germplasm-of valuable tree species remains a major hurdle for improving farm productivity. We discuss requirements and possibilities for institutional innovation in developing more efficient delivery systems for tree germplasm as one aspect of improved input supply. We describe a simple model for delivery to farmers that identifies the major types of germplasm sources and discuss how this model can be used to identify relevant interventions to address bottlenecks in current systems. Our analysis leads to eight input supply configurations for smallholder agroforestry, typified by three major models. Lessons from the evolution of smallholder crop seed delivery systems can be applied to tree germplasm supply and indicate that a commercial, decentralised model holds most promise for sustainability. However, current emphasis in agroforestry on government and NGO models of delivery hinder the development of this approach. The application of prevailing classification approaches may also create a barrier to the development of appropriate supply systems that effectively service smallholders. An important implication of our analysis is that current actors in agroforestry input supply systems must redefine their roles in order for effective delivery to take place. We chose a case study from Kenya to illustrate our points.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovation in input supply systems in smallholder agroforestry: seed sources, supply chains and support systems

et al. 2011

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“…These include direct seed distribution (sometimes with tools), sourced either from commercial seed houses or from the region. Such approaches may overcome immediate seed access problems for some, but whether they contribute to longerterm recovery has been questioned in many instances (Sperling and McGuire 2010;Sperling et al 2004;Longley et al 2002;Sperling and Longley 2002). Where such emergency seed provision transforms into a longer-term programme with seed aid institutionalised on an annual basis the effects can be highly negative.…”

Section: Seeds As Relief and Humanitarian Aidmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sperling and McGuire 2010;Sperling et al 2008Sperling et al , 2004 NGOs are deeply involved in the seed aid agenda, with many transforming their operations from food handouts to supplying seeds, fertilisers and tools in an apparent shift from 'relief ' to 'development'. Some have specialised in this area, such as CRS and CARE, and in some countries have maintained large operations linked to seed relief.…”

Section: Seeds As Relief and Humanitarian Aidmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Politics of Seed in Africa's Green Revolution: Alternative Narratives and Competing Pathways

2011

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As calls for a ‘Uniquely African Green Revolution’ gain momentum, a focus on seeds and seed systems is rising up the agricultural policy agenda. Much of the debate stresses the technological or market dimensions, with substantial investments being made in seed improvement and the development of both public and private sector delivery systems. But this misses out the political economy of policy processes behind this agenda: who wins, who loses, and whose interests are being served? Drawing on lessons from country case studies from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe, as well as insights from a set of complementary studies of cross‐cutting themes, this article assesses the evolution of seed system research and development programmes and processes across the region. By examining how the contrasting politics and different configurations of interests affect the way cereal seed systems operate, it highlights opportunities for reshaping the terms of the debate and opening up alternative pathways to more sustainable and socially just seed systems.

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“…Nurseries are thus established for the purpose of meeting NGOs' planting targets (number of farmers planting trees) for a specific area during the life time of the NGO project and with limited consideration for the sustainability and efficiency of nursery networks and limited concern for improving productivity of the tree species. NGOs generally organize and supply tree seeds and seedlings on a 6 The Swedish NGO VI-Skogen comes closest, but the NGO does not develop independent seed systems (Lillesø, Moestrup, & Graudal, 2017 relief basis (free of charge) thereby replicating approaches that have been severely criticized in crop seed systems (Wiggins & Cromwell, 1995;Tripp & Rohrbach, 2001;Sperling, Cooper, & Remington, 2008;Sperling & McGuire, 2010), and undermining the business of the existing networks of smallscale commercial seed dealers and private tree nurseries (Brandi et al, 2007;Mvula & Lillesø, 2007;Raebild et al, 2004;Oduol & Franzel, 2014;Nyoka et al, 2011, Lillesø et al, 2011b.…”

Section: The Ngo Support Approach To Agroforestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Why institutional environments for agroforestry seed systems matter

Lillesø

Harwood

Derero

et al. 2017

Development Policy Review

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Rethinking the logic of institutional environments aiming to facilitate agroforestry smallholders in economic development, this article compares smallholder input supply systems for crop and tree seeds in sub-Saharan Africa and reflects on two basic challenges: (1) how to develop a large number of relevant tree crops for different agroecologies, (2) how to reach smallholders in rural areas. Policy options for improving agroforestry input supply systems are discussed, whereby our article concludes with suggestions how sectoral approaches for crop seed systems can be modified to agroforestry seed-seedling systems. Biophysical differences have practical implications for how the logic of the 'African green revolution' would be translated into a corresponding revolution for agroforestry. K E Y W O R D SAGRA, agroforestry, institutions, productivity, seed systems | INTRODUCTIONGreat opportunities for producing value from agroforestry seeds are currently wasted.1 To allow smallholders to realize the full productive potential of quality agroforestry seeds, institutional environ-1 We use the term 'seed' to include seed and also vegetatively propagated planting stockThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Persistent myths about emergency seed aid

Cited by 33 publications

References 12 publications

Innovation in input supply systems in smallholder agroforestry: seed sources, supply chains and support systems

Innovation in input supply systems in smallholder agroforestry: seed sources, supply chains and support systems

The Politics of Seed in Africa's Green Revolution: Alternative Narratives and Competing Pathways

Why institutional environments for agroforestry seed systems matter

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