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African seed enterprises: sowing the seeds of food security

Year of publication 2011

Pages 255

Author Van Mele, P. ; Bentley, J.W. and Guéi, R.G.;Plant Production and Protection Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) this book describes an exceptionally wide range of experiences in sub-Saharan African countries. Each of the cases is substantially unique and presents a particular history and set of lessons. The descriptions are accompanied by country profiles that allow the reader to appreciate the agricultural and policy environment that determines the trajectory of these enterprises. Not all of the enterprises described in this book are likely to survive, and some are still perilously small oper ations or highly dependent on external support. But their experience to date offers an exceptionally rich source of data and ideas for understanding seed systems and appreciating the diversity of strategies and resources that have been used to create new seed enterprises. These are the varied and often imperfectly formed building blocks from which viable commercial seed systems are being constructed. The experiences should be of great use to governments and donors when they consider how to provide more adequate support to seed enterprise development.

Language English

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    Farmers everywhere depend on access to good quality seed, which is fundamental to their crop production systems. Most governments have made significant investments in strengthening national agricultural production capacities, yet farmers in developing countries still face difficulties in accessing the quality seed of the varieties that they require. Guaranteeing farmers’ access to quality seed can only be achieved through a viable seed supply system that can multiply and distribute see ds which have been produced or preserved. This is better achieved by the private sector, but medium- to large-scale international seed companies concentrate on high-value crops and avoid dealing in the self-pollinating, open-pollinating and vegetatively-propagated varieties on which most smallholder farmers depend for their food security as the biology of these crops makes it easy for farmers to keep their seeds for several seasons. However, smallholders are often seen as the driving force of economic growth, poverty reduction and food security. This is also true for smallholder seed enterprises which, in the absence of large companies, provide a valid alternative for the production and distribution of food security crops. This paper reviews case studies on smallholder seed enterprises in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire and India, as well as relevant world literature in order to identify key issues that facilitate or constrain the development of the seed sector. The final section provides some guidelines on policy design and implementation to promote the development of sustainable seed enterprises at different stages in the evolution of national seed sectors. It provides examples of good practices and hence seeks to assist governments in identifying ways in which they can support the development of smallholder seed enterprises that will provide the most appropriate varieties to smallholder farmers in their efforts to boost food production.
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