Smallholder seed systems for sustainability

2020 ◽  
pp. 133-150
Author(s):  
Ian Barker ◽  
Richard Jones ◽  
Dominik Klauser
Keyword(s):  
Seed Systems

scholarly journals Using Regulatory Flexibility to Address Market Informality in Seed Systems: A Global Study

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 377
Author(s):  
Katrin Kuhlmann ◽  
Bhramar Dey
Keyword(s):  
Seed Quality ◽  
Regulatory Environment ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
Regulatory Flexibility

Seed rules and regulations determine who can produce and sell seeds, which varieties will be available in the market, the quality of seed for sale, and where seed can be bought and sold. The legal and regulatory environment for seed impacts all stakeholders, including those in the informal sector, through shaping who can participate in the market and the quality and diversity of seed available. This paper addresses a gap in the current literature regarding the role of law and regulation in linking the informal and formal seed sectors and creating more inclusive and better governed seed systems. Drawing upon insights from the literature, global case studies, key expert consultations, and a methodology on the design and implementation of law and regulation, we present a framework that evaluates how regulatory flexibility can be built into seed systems to address farmers’ needs and engage stakeholders of all sizes. Our study focuses on two key dimensions: extending market frontiers and liberalizing seed quality control mechanisms. We find that flexible regulatory approaches and practices play a central role in building bridges between formal and informal seed systems, guaranteeing quality seed in the market, and encouraging market entry for high-quality traditional and farmer-preferred varieties.

scholarly journals Making sense of farmers’ demand for seed of root, tuber and banana crops: a systematic review of methods

Food Security ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Pircher ◽  
Conny J. M. Almekinders
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Classification Scheme ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
The Body ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Root Tuber ◽  
Agricultural Research And Development

AbstractA demand-driven approach is becoming increasingly central in the efforts to improve agricultural research and development. However, the question of how exactly demand is studied usually remains unstated and is rarely discussed. We therefore carried out a systematic review in order to better understand how farmers’ demand for seed in root, tuber and banana seed systems is studied. The review is based on data from a consultation with an expert panel and a structured literature search in the SCOPUS database. Screening the gathered articles resulted in 46 studies on a global scale, fitting the scope of our investigation. Through qualitative analysis and categorization of these studies, we developed a classification scheme according to the types of approaches applied in the retained studies. One group of studies explicitly articulates farmers’ preferences and choices through surveys or engagements in trials, auctions, choice experiments and interviews. Other studies implicitly articulate farmers’ demand by characterising their current use of varieties and seed. We discuss opportunities and limitations in the use of each type of study and we reflect on the body of available literature as a whole. Our conclusion is that a framework is necessary that purposefully combines the existing different methods and that it is necessary to involve stakeholders in a process where demand is articulated. Together, these two steps would characterise existing demands in a more effective and precise way, thus providing better guidance to decision-makers in their reactions pertaining to seed systems.

scholarly journals Policy options for advancing seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Marcel Gatto ◽  
Phuong Dung Le ◽  
Grazia Pacillo ◽  
Mywish Maredia ◽  
Ricardo Labarta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Options ◽  
Seed Systems

scholarly journals Scaling Up Delivery of Biofortified Staple Food Crops Globally: Paths to Nourishing Millions

2021 ◽  
pp. 037957212098250
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Foley ◽  
Kristina D. Michaux ◽  
Bho Mudyahoto ◽  
Laira Kyazike ◽  
Binu Cherian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies affect over one quarter of the world’s population. Biofortification is an evidence-based nutrition strategy that addresses some of the most common and preventable global micronutrient gaps and can help improve the health of millions of people. Since 2013, HarvestPlus and a consortium of collaborators have made impressive progress in the enrichment of staple crops with essential micronutrients through conventional plant breeding. Objective: To review and highlight lessons learned from multiple large-scale delivery strategies used by HarvestPlus to scale up biofortification across different country and crop contexts. Results: India has strong public and private sector pearl millet breeding programs and a robust commercial seed sector. To scale-up pearl millet, HarvestPlus established partnerships with public and private seed companies, which facilitated the rapid commercialization of products and engagement of farmers in delivery activities. In Nigeria, HarvestPlus stimulated the initial acceptance and popularization of vitamin A cassava using a host of creative approaches, including “crowding in” delivery partners, innovative promotional programs, and development of intermediate raw material for industry and novel food products. In Uganda, orange sweet potato (OSP) is a traditional subsistence crop. Due to this, and the lack of formal seed systems and markets, HarvestPlus established a network of partnerships with community-based nongovernmental organizations and vine multipliers to popularize and scale-up delivery of OSP. Conclusions: Impact of biofortification ultimately depends on the development of sustainable markets for biofortified seeds and products. Results illustrate the need for context-specific, innovative solutions to promote widespread adoption.

scholarly journals Community seed network in an era of climate change: dynamics of maize diversity in Yucatán, Mexico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Fenzi ◽  
Paul Rogé ◽  
Angel Cruz-Estrada ◽  
John Tuxill ◽  
Devra Jarvis
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Maize Diversity ◽  
Climatic Period ◽  
Small Holder Farmers

AbstractLocal seed systems remain the fundamental source of seeds for many crops in developing countries. Climate resilience for small holder farmers continues to depend largely on locally available seeds of traditional crop varieties. High rainfall events can have as significant an impact on crop production as increased temperatures and drought. This article analyzes the dynamics of maize diversity over 3 years in a farming community of Yucatán state, Mexico, where elevated levels of precipitation forced farmers in 2012 to reduce maize diversity in their plots. We study how farmers maintained their agroecosystem resilience through seed networks, examining the drivers influencing maize diversity and seed provisioning in the year preceding and following the 2012 climatic disturbance (2011–2013). We found that, under these challenging circumstances, farmers focused their efforts on their most reliable landraces, disregarding hybrids. We show that farmers were able to recover and restore the diversity usually cultivated in the community in the year following the critical climate event. The maize dynamic assessed in this study demonstrates the importance of community level conservation of crop diversity. Understanding farmer management strategies of agrobiodiversity, especially during a challenging climatic period, is necessary to promote a more tailored response to climate change in traditional farming systems.

scholarly journals Strengthening Informal Seed Systems To Enhance Food Security in Southeast Asia

2013 ◽  
pp. 139-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Gill ◽  
Ricky Bates ◽  
Abram Bicksler ◽  
Rick Burnette ◽  
Vincent Ricciardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Seed Systems

scholarly journals Data analysis methods adopted under in situ global project in Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 98-108
Author(s):  
Bal K Joshi ◽  
Madhusudan P Upadhyay ◽  
Hari P Bimb ◽  
D Gauchan ◽  
BK Baniya
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Statistical Tools ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Global Project ◽  
Data Analysis Methods

Synthesizing data analysis methods adopted under in situ global project in Nepal along withvariables and nature of study could be guiding reference for researchers especially to those involvedin on farm research. The review work was conducted with the objective to help in utilizing andmanaging in situ database system. The objectives of the experiment, the structure of the treatmentsand the experimental design used primarily determine the type of analysis. There were 60 papers ofthis project published in Nepal. All these papers are grouped under 8 thematic groups namely 1.Agroecosystem (3 papers), 2. Agromorphological and farmers’ perception (7 papers), 3. Croppopulation structure (5 papers), 4. Gender, policy and general (15 papers), 5. Isozyme andmolecular (6 papers), 6. Seed systems and farmers’ networks (5 papers), 7. Social, cultural andeconomical (11 papers) and 8. Value addition (8 papers). All these papers were reviewed basicallyfor data type, sample size, sampling methods, statistical methods and tools, varieties and purposes.Descriptive and inferential statistics along with multivariate methods were commonly used in onfarm research. Experimental design, the most common in on station trial was least used. Study overspace and time was not adopted. There were 5 kinds of data generated, 45 statistical tools adoptedin eight different crop species. Among the 5 kinds of data under these eight subject areas,categorical type was highest followed by discrete numerical. Binary type was least in frequency.Most of the papers were related to rice followed by taro and finger millet. Cucumber and pigeonpea were studied least. Descriptive statistics along with Χ2, multivariate analysis and regressionapproaches would be appropriate tools. Similarly SPSS and MINITAB may be good software. Thebest one among a number of statistical tools should be selected and utmost care must be exercisedwhile collecting data.Key words: Data analysis methods; on farm research; on station research; subject areasDOI: 10.3126/narj.v6i0.3371Nepal Agriculture Research Journal Vol.6 2005 pp.98-108

scholarly journals Politics of Seed in Ethiopia's Agricultural Transformation: Pathways to Seed System Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teshome Hunduma Mulesa
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
System Development ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Agricultural Modernization ◽  
Agricultural Transformation ◽  
The Third ◽  
Economic Barriers ◽  
Seed System ◽  
The Government

Seed system development in the developing world, especially in Africa, has become a political space. This article analyzes current Ethiopian seed politics in light of the historical dynamics of national and international seed system politics and developments. Drawing on multiple power analysis approaches and employing the lens of “international seed regimes,” the article characterizes the historical pattern of seed regimes in Ethiopia. While colonial territories underwent three historical seed regime patterns—the first colonial seed regime, the second post-WWII public seed regime, and the third post-1980s corporate-based neoliberal seed regime, Ethiopia has only experienced one of these. Until the 1950s, when the first US government's development assistance program—the Point 4 Program—enabled the second government-led seed regime to emerge, the farmers' seed systems remained the only seed innovation and supply system. The first colonial seed regime never took hold as the country remained uncolonized, and the government has hitherto resisted the third corporate-based neoliberal seed regime. In the current conjuncture in the contemporary Ethiopian seed regime, four different approaches to pluralistic seed system development are competing: (1) government-led formalization, (2) private-led formalization, (3) farmer-based localization, and (4) community-based integrative seed system developments. The Pluralistic Seed System Development Strategy (PSSDS) from 2013 is a uniquely diverse approach to seed system development internationally; however, it has yet to realize its equity and sustainability potential. This study shows that the agricultural modernization dependency and government-led formal seed systems development have sidelined opportunities to tap into the strength of other alternatives identified in the PSSDS. In conclusion, an integrative and inclusive seed sector is possible if the government takes leadership and removes the current political, organizational, and economic barriers for developing a truly pluralistic seed system.

ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE SEED SECTOR OF RICE IN GUINEA: STAKEHOLDERS, PERCEPTION AND INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES

2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
FLORENT OKRY ◽  
PAUL VAN MELE ◽  
EDWIN NUIJTEN ◽  
PAUL C. STRUIK ◽  
ROCH L. MONGBO
Keyword(s):  
Common Ground ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Rice Seed ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Seed Supply ◽  
Extension System ◽  
Institutional Linkages

SUMMARYThis paper analyses the organization of the rice seed sector in Guinea with the overall objectives to assess how organizational settings affect seed supply to small-scale farmers and to suggest institutional changes that would favour seed service and uptake of varieties. Data were collected in Guinea, West Africa, using focus group discussions with extension workers, farmers, representatives of farmers’ associations, agro-input dealers, researchers and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, and surveys of 91 rice farming households and 41 local seed dealers. Findings suggest that the current institutional settings and perceptions of stakeholders from the formal seed sector inhibit smallholder farmers’ access to seed. Seed interventions in the past two decades have mainly relied on the national extension system, the research institute, NGOs, farmers’ associations and contract seed producers to ensure seed delivery. Although local seed dealers play a central role in providing seed to farmers, governmental organizations operating in a linear model of formal seed sector development have so far ignored their role. We discuss the need to find common ground and alternative models of seed sector development. In particular we suggest the involvement of local seed dealers in seed development activities to better link the formal and the informal seed systems and improve smallholder farmers’ access to seed from the formal sector.

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