The harvest is in the seed

Category: Sharing knowledge on Seeds

AfricaSeedsSharing knowledge on Seeds

There are numerous quality information materials about seed sector sustainable development available out there. This wealth of knowledge addresses the entire array of the seed value chain. It can be used to strengthen the capacity along all steps of the seed value chain, for a more coordinated and effective seed sector development.

Every week, we highlight a specific initiative that is working towards strengthening knowledge about the seed sector in Africa via the publication of training material, guidelines, policy briefs, frameworks, datasets, videos, etc. The improved visibility of these initiatives will contribute to increase seed security, thus boosting the foundation of food security and livelihoods of Africa.

Support capacity development in the seed sector by sharing these resources!

22 Mar 2022
©CIFOR
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Week 45 – Research Findings: FTA Highlight No. 2 – Tree Seed and Seedling Systems for Resilience and Productivity

Author: Lars Graudal, CIFOR, 2022
Topics: seed system development; tree seeds; forests

Tree seeds and seedlings for planting purposes are the starting point from which farmers, foresters and others are able to grow trees. They are produced and made available through “seed systems”. These seed systems have been a major topic of work by FTA in the last decade because of the constraints faced by actors on the ground in obtaining tree-planting material corresponding to their needs and of good quality. (…)READ MORE

09 Mar 2022
@PABRA
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Week 43 – Research Study: Empowering Zinduka Women’s Group in Tanzania to Produce Quality Bean Seed and Better Their Community

Author: PABRA, 2022
Topics: seed systems; farmer’s systems; capacity development; gender; youth inclusion

In 2010, a Zinduka women’s group based in the Mshewe village in the Mbeya region of the southern highlands of Tanzania was established.

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02 Mar 2022
©CIMMYT
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Week 42 – Research Study: New direction in research for advancing gender-responsive maize breeding

Author: CIMMYT, 2022
Topics: seed systems; capacity development; gender; youth inclusion

New improved maize varieties may fall short in meeting the needs of women and the poorest of farmers – a concern that remains a focus of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the wider CGIAR.READ MORE

10 Feb 2022
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Week 41 – Global Study: Using Regulatory Flexibility to Address Market Informality in Seed Systems: A Global Study

Author: Catholic Relief Services, 2020
Topics: seed systems; regulations; seed policies; integrated development

This paper addresses a gap in 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 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 market stakeholders of all sizes. READ MORE

03 Feb 2022
©Catholic Relief Services
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Week 40 – Activity overview: Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed Systems for Development (S34D)

Author: Catholic Relief Services, 2021
Topics: seed systems; resilience; emergency; SSA; integrated development

The Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed Systems for Development activity (S34D) is a five-year Leader with Associates (LWA) award, funded by Feed the Future through the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) and by USAID through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).READ MORE

26 Jan 2022
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Week 39 – Policy brief: Renewing seed sector governance in Burkina Faso for inclusive development

Author: Eveline M.F.W. SAWADOGO/COMPAORE, Ludovic TEMPLE, Souleymane OUEDRAOGO, Aline ZONGO, Soungalo SOULAMA, 2020
Topics: seed systems; formal and informal; Burkina Faso; integrated development

The seed sector is a central component of food security. It is generally perceived in a binary way by differentiating the so-called formal actors (engaged in the production of certified seeds) and the so-called informal actors (engaged in the production of peasant seeds).

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24 Jan 2022
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Week 38 – Research Paper: Moving beyond reaching women in seed systems development

Author: Ranjitha Puskur, Netsayi Noris Mudege, Esther Njuguna-Mungai, Eileen Nchanji, Ronnie Vernooy, Alessandra Galiè, and Dina Najjar, University of Life Sciences & International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), 2019
Topics: gender; seed systems; women

Seed systems interventions often reach women, & some benefit them, but more can be done. Boosting women’s involvement & leadership in seed systems = next step for empowerment.READ MORE

16 Dec 2021
©NULS & ILRI
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Week 37 – Research Paper: Governing Seeds in East Africa in the Face of Climate Change: Assessing Political and Social Outcomes

Author: Ola Tveitereid Westengen, Ruth Haug, Paul Guthiga and Eric Macharia; Norwegian University of Life Sciences & International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), 2019
Topics: seed policies; climate change

Climate change is already negatively affecting sub-Saharan Africa agriculture. One of the most effective ways to adapt on farm is to switch crop varieties. This technological change depends onREAD MORE

10 Dec 2021
©Agrilinks & USAID
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Week 36 – High-Quality Seed Production by Smallholder Farmer Groups: A Global Case Study

Author: Bhramar Dey, Catholic Relief Services & Bert Visser, Oxfam’s SD=HS., 2020
Topics: quality seeds; case study; farmers’ seed systems; conservation

Farmers have always played a key role in seed production, varietal maintenance and serving local and regional communities with agroecologically adapted varieties that are demanded by smallholder farmers. Increasingly, smallholder farmers have organized themselves in various ways to produce seed for local markets. However, the operational efficiencies,READ MORE