Putting diverse farming households’ preferences and needs at the centre of seed system development

Abstract

Over recent decades international agricultural research has shown that it can generate agricultural technologies with benefits for societies in the Global South that outstrip the investments many times over. However, it has also been shown that the benefits generated are not evenly spread and do not reach some groups of farmers at all. Too often, segments of the intended target populations are left out and these often tend to be those already ‘left behind’. New seeds and varieties are important elements of agricultural technologies and the development of these relies on seed delivery systems to get new varieties to the farming population. Here we argue that a clear analysis of the preferences and needs of farming households and their inherent heterogeneity is required when setting the goals for breeding programmes and designing seed delivery systems. We characterize the differences in demand profiles, which implies different types of seed delivery models that are tailed to context, crop and preferences and the multiple needs of farming households. We point to the implications for organizing and targeting the seed delivery system in order to cater for all. Recognising the existence of diverse demands, developing different seeds and varieties and delivering them through a variety of models asks for clarity on mandates and opens up the opportunities for coordination that will lead to synergies in meeting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and reach a wider population of farming households.

The global rice agriculture towards 2050: An inter-continental perspective

“…The varieties developed are not preferred by urban consumers. Emphasis has been laid to breed varieties demanded by urban and rural consumers taking into account the needs of diverse farming households in poor countries (Donovan et al, 2021; Mausch et al, 2021). Therefore, Africa has to go a long way in developing high-yielding varieties comparable to the varieties developed in Asia.…”

Sowing the wheat seeds of Afghanistan's future

“…Rates of varietal turnover, essential to combat biotic and abiotic stress conditions, leave a considerable potential yield gap unplugged. Mausch et al (2021) highlighted the heterogeneity of demand among farming communities and the need for appropriate seed delivery systems to overcome this. Emphasis on regeneration of public‐sector seed systems is needed because of the likely limitations of private seed distribution.…”

“…This is true, particularly in less favoured and more heterogeneous production regions, such as those in Afghanistan. Mausch et al (2021) emphasised that attention to farmers' needs and preferences is one important way to ensure that appropriate innovative technologies reach the most disadvantaged who are often otherwise ‘left behind’. They summarised diverse papers that together pointed out that up to 40% of targeted beneficiaries adopt new seed varieties.…”

“…They summarised diverse papers that together pointed out that up to 40% of targeted beneficiaries adopt new seed varieties. Rates of varietal turnover, essential to combat biotic and abiotic stress conditions, leave a considerable potential yield gap unplugged Mausch et al (2021). highlighted the heterogeneity of demand among farming communities and the need for appropriate seed delivery systems to overcome this.…”

Method matters : Exploration and reflection on the study of farmers’ demand for vegetatively propagated seed

“…We would like to see our findings validated in other crops and situations, since understanding demand for seed in different contexts is much needed to improve seed provisioning for smallholder farmers (Mausch et al, 2021;McEwan et al, 2021). In situations where farmers more commercially access seed for every planting, f.e.…”