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!

06 May 2021
©CABI
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Week 28 – Case Study: Improving access to quality seeds in Africa

Author: L. Kimenye; CABI 2014
Subjects: Indigenous Vegetables, Quality Declared Seed, QDS, neglected crops, informal seed system, access to seeds

AIVs (African indigenous vegetables) have traditionally been a significant contributor to food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers in East Africa and are also important in providing incomes, particularly for women. However, farmers’ capacity to meet a growing demand for these vegetables has been limited by lack of good quality seed.

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30 Apr 2021
©CABI
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Week 27 – Case Study: Perspectives on sustainability of smallholder seed enterprises: African indigenous vegetables in Tanzania

Author: Monica Kansiime, Mary Bundi, Jacqueline Nicodemus, Justus Ochieng, Damus Marandu, Silvesta S.Njau, Radegunda F. Kessy, Justice Tambo, Frances Williams, Daniel Karanja; CABI 2021
Subjects: Indigenous Vegetables, Quality Declared Seed, QDS, neglected crops, informal seed system

Between 2013 and 2016, CABI’s Good Seed Initiative (GSI) worked with partners in Tanzania to strengthen the seed system for Africa Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) through promotion of farmer seed enterprises using two models – contract farming (Arusha) and Quality Declared Seed (QDS) (Dodoma).

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22 Apr 2021
©FSC
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Week 26 – Guidelines: Emergency Seed Interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author: Food Security Cluster, 2020
Subjects: emergency, seed systems, Covid-19

Emergency seed interventions may already be planned or ongoing in many areas (e.g. to respond to drought, pest infestation, displacement, or other stresses). COVID-19 and its associated restrictions on travel, trade and markets may also constrain farmers’ seed security, as well as the ways in which aid agencies are able to operate.

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06 Apr 2021
© IFAD
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Week 24 – Toolkit: Supporting smallholder seed systems

Author: International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Wafaa El Khoury, Robert Delve, 2018
Topics: farmers seed systems, seed sector development, capacity building

In most smallholder farming systems farmers save seed from the previous harvest to plant in the next season. They select seed from the best plants and then dry, clean and store the seed in a safe place. These traditional seed-saving practices and farmers’ sharing of seed are called the informal seed system, or the farmer/community-based seed system. They also add to their crop diversity with seed they obtain from social networks or purchase in local markets, from agro-dealers or seed companies.

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23 Mar 2021
© SWISSAID
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Week 23 – Policy brief: Critical study of the legal framework and policy mechanisms on seeds in Niger

Author: SWISSAID, Alternative Citizen Spaces, 2017
Topics: farmers seeds systems, right to food, seed policy

In this document [in French], the complementary seed law 2014-067 of 05 November 2014 existing in Niger and its implication on small farmers has been objectively analysed, by identifying both the risks and the opportunities which could then serve as an entry point into the defence of local and peasant seeds.

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18 Mar 2021
© The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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Week 22 – Research Results: Rapid assessments of the impact of COVID-19 on the availability of quality seed to farmers: Advocating immediate practical, remedial and preventative action

Author: Elsevier, 2021: Walter S.de Boef, Gareth D.Bormana, ArnabGupta, AbishkarSubedi, Marja H.Thijssen, Amsalu Ayana Aga, Mohammed Hassena Beko, Swe Zin Myint Thein, Win Thein, Folarin Okelola, Osundiya Olusegun, Olusegun Philip Ojo, Chinedu Agbara, Geoffrey Otim, Charles Ssemwogerere, Bonny Ntare, Patrick Oyee
Topics: Seed security assessment, quality seeds, COVID-19

The use of Rapid Assessments that were inclusive and effective helped advocating immediate action.READ MORE

14 Mar 2021
© African Union
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Week 21 – Policy Brief: White Paper on the COVID-19 Crisis and the Seed Sector in Africa: Impact, Options for Actions and Recommendations

Author: African Union, 2020
Topics: Access to seeds, COVID-19, African Union, Dialogue, Seed Sector, Africa

Last year over the course of one month, the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission engaged with non-state actors, academia, the private sector, research and development seed sector stakeholders including the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) as well as Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI).

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05 Mar 2021
© Bioversity International
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Week 20 – Research results – Seed sector in Burkina Faso: Recommendations for a better integration of producers

Authors: Patrice Djamen, Souleymane Ouattara, Bioversity International, Swiss Cooperation, 2017
Topics: Farmers’ seed systems, participatory approach, partnership, subsidies, Burkina Faso

This document is part of the perspective of extending the momentum spurred by the project “Improving seed systems for smallholder farmers’ food security” implemented in Burkina Faso by Bioversity International and its local partners and funded by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Organization (SDC). This mission aimed to generate the knowledge needed to explore mechanisms that can better take into account the concerns of small producers in seed systems.

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