Farmer-Led Seed Enterprises of African Indigenous Vegetables

1. Promoting farmer‐led seed enterprises of African indigenous vegetables to boost
1
household incomes and nutrition in Kenya and Tanzania
Daniel Karanja1*, Nasambu Okoko2, Edwin Kiptarus3, Paul Okongo4, Silivesta
Samali5, Alphonce Katunzi6, Hamis Mtwaenzi7, Firoz Mwakitwange7, Victor Afari‐
Sefa8, Richard Musebe1, Martin Kimani1 and Lydia Kimenye9
1 CAB International (CABI), PO Box 633‐00621, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Kenya Agricultural Research Institute ‐ Kisii, P O Box 523‐40200 Kisii, Kenya
3 Kenya Seed Company, PO Box 553, Kitale, Kenya
4 Technology Adoption Through Research Organisation (TATRO), PO Box 34‐04061,
Yala, Kenya
5Horticultural Research Institute Institute‐Tengeru, PO Box 1253, Arusha, Tanzania
6 INADES Formation Tanzania; PO Box 203, Dodoma, Tanzania
7 Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute, PO Box 1056, Morogoro, Tanzania;
8 The World Vegetable Center, Regional Center for Africa (AVRDC‐RCA), PO Box 10
Duluti Arusha, Tanzania
9 Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa
(ASARECA), Plot 5, Mpigi Road, PO Box 765, Entebbe, Uganda
*Author for Correspondence: d.karanja@cabi.org; Tel: +254 20 7224462; Fax: +254 207122150
Abstract
The problem of food security in sub‐Saharan Africa is aggravated by micronutrient
deficiencies, a major impediment to social and economic development. Malnutrition
including lack of essential micro‐nutrient deficiency can impair growth and/or cause
high mortality, especially among vulnerable populations of women and children. In
Kenya and Tanzania, 40% to 45% of pregnant and nursing women suffer from
anaemia while 25% to 30% of children under five are stunted and highly susceptible
to infectious diseases. African indigenous vegetables (AIVs), including Africa
nightshade, Amaranths, Crotalaria, Spiderplant, Jute mallow and African eggplant are rich
in micronutrients such as iron, zinc, Vitamin A, and contain non‐nutrient substances
called phytochemicals, which help protect people against non‐communicable
diseases. Consumers in many parts of Eastern and Central Africa (ECA), especially
in urban areas are becoming aware of the nutritive benefits of these vegetables. A
growing number of smallholders in turn are striving to take advantage of this
renewed interest in the AIVs by growing and supplying them to markets in both the
rural areas and in urban centres. AIVs are becoming a common item in major
supermarkets and green grocery stores in some countries notably, Kenya, Tanzania,
and Uganda, to name a few. However, the potential to meet the growing demand
for these vegetables in the region is limited by lack of good quality seeds. The

2. majority of farmer use seeds obtained either saved from their own previous crop or
from open air markets, which have problems of purity with mean germination rates
rarely above 50%. Depending on seeds from such sources also means that farmers
have limited access to seeds of improved varieties that meet consumer preferred
attributes. Effective seed supply system and an assured market for seed is critical in
unleashing the potential of AIVs to improve food security and livelihoods of target
communities, and increase adaptation of vulnerable populations. This paper
describes the process used and the success achieved in an ongoing pilot project
aimed at validating and promoting farmer‐led seed enterprise (FLSE) models for
sustainable supply of quality seeds of AIVs. This is being implemented in Kenya and
Tanzania, however, the lessons learned on these models will be shared for scaling up
in other countries. Three FLSE models are being evaluated: private sector seed
company‐mediated model, research‐mediated model and informal grade model. The
success of the models is based on development of technical capacities of seed
producers as well as building strategic and functional linkages through public
private partnership with institutions/organisations in the value chain. Success
parameters, such as volumes of quality seed (certified or quality declared depending
on country seed regulations) of different AIVs produced and sold, number of
smallholder seed growers trained and able to go through the quality assurance are
among those used in the evaluation of enterprise models. More than 500 farmers
(>40% women) have been trained on quality seed production and post harvest
handling. Through the private sector mediated farmer‐led seed enterprises model in
Kenya, farmers are earning on average $4,500 per annum from indigenous
vegetables seed production. One exceptional farmer earned up to US $ 17,000 in
2010. Similarly, from the training and inspection by the government seed
certification agency farmers in Dodoma Tanzania are now producing and selling
high quality declared seed of African eggplant, amaranths and nightshade. These are
quality seeds, which have been shown to have a mean germination and purity
standard above 90%, are in high demand both locally and in Dar es Salaam and
fetching good prices of approximately US$ 3 per kilogram.
Keywords: African indigenous vegetables, technology, dissemination, farmer, seed enterprise,
income, Kenya, Tanzania
Introduction
Food security, a situation that exists when all people at all times have physical, social
and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets dietary needs
and food preferences for an active and healthy life (FAO, 2011) consists of three main
components: food availability, access and utilization (Lobell and Burke, 2010).
Nutrition is an important input for attaining the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), whereas nutritional status is a key MDG indicator of poverty and hunger,
and directly contributes to the MDGs related to health and education. Improved
2

3. nutritional status leads to a focus on gender equity, reduces the risk of child
mortality, improves maternal health, and improves ability to combat disease.
Undernourishment and malnourishment are used as measures of food security and
it is estimated that 925 million of the global population are undernourished. Of
these, 239 million (26%) are inhabitants of sub‐Saharan Africa (FAO, 2010).
The problem of food security in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) is aggravated by
micronutrient deficiencies, also known as “hidden hunger”, a major impediment to
social and economic development (FAO, 2010). Malnutrition can impair child
growth and causes high mortality, especially among vulnerable populations of
women and children. Iron deficiency, for example, during childhood and
adolescence impairs physical growth, mental development, and learning capacity. In
adults, iron deficiency (anaemia) reduces the capacity to do physical labour and
increases the risk of women death during delivery or in the postpartum period
(Stoltzfus, 2001). In Kenya and Tanzania, 40% to 45% of pregnant and nursing
women suffer from anaemia while 25% to 30% of children under five are stunted
and highly susceptible to infectious diseases (WHO, 2002). In addition, zinc
deficiency is an important cause of stunting (Brown and Wuehler 2000; Roy et al.,
1999; Umeta et al., 2000). Hence, interventions that deal with poor diet quality and
related deficiencies of vitamin A, zinc, iron, among others, are important for
achieving full food security in vulnerable populations.
African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) including Spiderplant (Cleome gynandra),
African nightshades (Solanum villosum and Solanum scabrum), Amaranths1
(Amaranthus spp.) Jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius), Crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca
and Crotalaria brevidens) and African eggplant (S. aethiopicum), are traditionally and
significant contributors to food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers in the
East and Central Africa (ECA) region (Onim and Mwaniki, 2008; Abukutsa, 2010).
These AIVs are rich in micronutrients such as iron, zinc, Vitamin A, and contain non‐nutrient
substances called phytochemicals, which help protect people against non‐communicable
diseases. The Spiderplant, for example, has been reported to relieve
constipation and to facilitate child birth (Heever van den and Venter, 2007), while
African nightshade has been documented to cure stomach ache (Adesina and Gbile,
1984). The AIVs are also known to contain substantial amounts of antioxidants that
scavenge for and bind to harmful radicals, which have been linked to ailments such
as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, AIVs improve
palatability and add variety to diets, especially those of the poor, and are
1 Amaranth although considered not indigenous to Africa, is included in this context to distinguish it from the more temperate
kinds of leafy vegetables like the brassicas (cabbage, etc). Besides, consumers and farmers alike consider amaranth as ‘local’,
‘indigenous’ (mboga ya asili) vegetable.
3

4. particularly valuable sources of food during emergency periods such as during
flood, famine, drought and war. AIVs are highly valued in the African diet as
accompaniment to carbohydrate‐based staples and have an advantage over staple
crops as they have shorter cycles, are faster growing, require little space, can
maximize scarce water supplies and soil nutrients better and can be considered less
risk‐prone (Weinberger and Lumpkin, 2007) and are rarely affected by common
pests and diseases that affect other vegetables (Abukutsa, 2010).
Improving food security requires improved productivity, as well as health and
nutrition of the undernourished and micronutrient‐deficient children, youth and
women. Dietary diversification is important in providing adequate quality nutrition;
whereby adopting a food‐based strategy focusing on increased consumption of
vegetables, fruits and legumes is a cost‐effective sustainable intervention to the
control of nutrient deficiencies and lifestyle disorders (Gockowski et al., 2003).
Whereas AIVs contribute significantly to improve nutrition, food security, incomes
and overall livelihoods for rural and urban poor, the potential to meet the growing
demand for these vegetables in the region is limited by lack of good quality seeds
(Onim and Mwaniki, 2008). Although peri‐urban communities grow AIVs to supply
commercial up market outlets like super‐markets and green grocery stores, they are
often frustrated by poor quality seed. The majority of farmers use seeds either saved
from a previous crop or obtained from open air markets. These sources tend to have
problems of purity, especially the mixing of different varieties and have mean
germination rates rarely above 50% (Onim and Mwaniki, 2008). Farmers needed
pure seed to meet the requirement of the market, but such clean quality seed is
lacking in the market. This undermines the quality of vegetables produced by
farmers. Effective seed supply system and an assured market for seed is critical in
successfully unleashing the potential of AIVs to improve food security and
livelihoods especially for the most vulnerable populations. For example, when
women have an income, they gain more power in household decision‐making and
are likely to devote income to household needs and education investments (FAO,
2001). This paper describes the process used and the success achieved in an ongoing
pilot project aimed at evaluating promoting farmer‐led seed enterprise models for
sustainable supply of quality seeds of AIVs in Kenya and Tanzania. The lessons
learnt can be replicated in other countries in the region thus achieving impact, which
extends beyond the direct intervention locations.
Project Concept and Approach
To address the issue of unavailability of quality seeds of AIVs in the region, the
Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa
(ASARECA) in collaboration with CABI and other partners in Kenya and Tanzania
initiated the project, “Scaling up farmer‐led seed enterprises for sustained productivity and
livelihoods in Eastern and Central Africa”, in December 2009. The project is
4

5. implemented in collaboration with Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI),
Kenya Seed Company Ltd. (KSC) and Technical Adoption Through Research
Organisation (TATRO) in Kenya. The partners in Tanzania include, Horticultural
Research and Training Institute Tengeru (HORTI‐Tengeru), Tanzania Official Seed
Certification Institute (TOSCI), INADES‐Formation Tanzania and The World
Vegetable Centre, Regional Centre for Africa (AVRDC‐RCA). The key objective of
the project is to evaluate three farmer‐led seed enterprise (FLSE) models on AIVs to
generate evidence‐based and rigorously analysed conceptual models for
economically sustainable enterprises to improve production of seeds of AIVs in the
region.
The project fits well with the fourth economic pillar of the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) established as part of the African
Union and New Partnership for Africaʹs Development (AU/NEPAD). CAADP aims
to “improve agricultural research and systems in order to disseminate appropriate
new technologies, and increasing the support given to help farmers to adopt them”.
The project is closely aligned to the Results2 frame of ASARECA, and as well as to
that of ASARECA’s, Knowledge Management and Up‐scaling (KMUS) Programme.
It contributes directly to the ASARECA’s Purpose of “enhanced utilisation of
agricultural research and development innovations in ECA” and three of the five
ASARECA results (Outputs). As an action oriented research activity, the project is
catalysing uptake, by increasing the availability of quality seeds of improved
varieties of AIVs in uptake pathways in the project areas (ASARECA Result 2), and
adding value by using quantitative and qualitative methods to rigorously analyse
options for scaling‐up. Participatory approaches used by the multidisciplinary team
in Kenya and Tanzania in the identification of knowledge gaps and in the
implementation of capacity building programme for both men and women through
the training of trainers and farmers, contributes towards promotion of gender and
social equity, thus ensuring validity and legitimacy of the findings (ASARECA
Result 4). This is in tandem with ASARECA’s strategic plan for gender
mainstreaming. The emphasis on dissemination, including the formulation of
guidelines and recommendations for use beyond the end of the project, will enhance
availability of the knowledge generated by the project especially on the farmer‐led
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2 1. Strengthened gender responsive governance and management systems in ASARECA
2. Enhanced generation of demand driven agricultural technologies and innovations
3. Enhanced adoption of policy options by decision makers to improve performance of the agricultural sector in ECA
4. Strengthened capacity for implementing agricultural research for development in ECA
5. Enhanced availability of information on agricultural innovation in ECA

6. seed enterprise models for producing AIV seeds and promote sustainability and
replicability (ASARECA Result 5).
The methodology consisted of a regional inception workshop, followed by local in
country inaugural workshop, where various stakeholders including change agents in
working in the AIVs value chain, were identified, brought together and actively
involved in the design and implementation of the project activities. Staff in the
government extension, Non‐governmental organisations and Community‐based
organisations, Researchers and Universities, Regulatory bodies, Seed companies,
and Farmer seed growers (individual/group) were identified, noting that other
actors were identified that were recognised as being important to indigenous seed
systems, but that the project may only work with indirectly. During the workshop a
design worksheet for the programme framework and a gender‐sensitive strategy
map was developed. The strategy map represents the activities that the project will
undertake to directly influence the identified change agents (individual, group or
organization) or indirectly at the environment in which the change agents operate to
achieve the desired project outcome.
Using a multistage random sampling procedure, a baseline survey was first
conducted at the beginning of the project to establish the pre‐adoption socio‐economic
situation and production practices of the participating farmers. During the
surveys, participatory analysis of needs and constraints of AIV seed growers and
markets, as well as existing agronomic practices and post‐harvest handling was
undertaken. This formed the basis for subsequent activities including, mobilisation
of farmers, development of a participatory training programme for master trainers
and farmers (seed growers) to build the capacities in local production and marketing
of quality seed of identified priority AIV crops in respective country. With the
technical support of ASARECA’s Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, as well as the
Gender mainstreaming department, a project performance monitoring plan, with
clear gender‐sensitive indicators for tracking project progress was developed.
Given the strong capacity strengthening element and model evaluation aspects
imbedded in the project approach, the monitoring and lessons learning processes
adopted in the project are augmented by outcome mapping.
Achievements
Identification and validation of farmer‐led seed enterprise models
Based on the existing seed policy and regulations regarding production and
marketing in Kenya and Tanzania, three farmer‐led seed enterprise models for AIVs
6

7. are being evaluated. First is the private sector seed company‐mediated model, where
farmers in western Kenya were linked to a private seed company, the Kenya Seed
Company Ltd., through its subsidiary, Simlaw, which is engaged in vegetable seed
marketing in East Africa. The process involved registration of the seed growers and
working closely with seed inspectors from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate
Services (KEPHIS) for seed inspection. In Tanzania, linkage of farmers in Arusha
region to East African Seed, Multiflower/Mkulima, Iffa Seed, Kibo Seed and Meru
Agro‐Tours seed companies is underway with the Tanzania Official Seed
Certification Institute (TOSCI) maintaining quality control of the seeds produced.
Secondly, a research‐mediated model is being explored, where farmers are organised in
groups to work with a National Agricultural Research Institute to produce quality
seed. In Kenya, the groups are working with the Kenya Agricultural Research
Institute (KARI). Through KARI seed merchant licences, the farmers are facilitated to
operate because on their own, they have not yet qualified to have their seed certified.
In Tanzania, farmers are working with the Tanzania TOSCI and were able to
produce and packaged quality declared seed (QDS) of African eggplant, Amaranths
and Nightshade. As a result of these efforts, the farmers in the two countries have
improved along the scale and could soon be registered to produce certified seed.
Parallel to the regulated and QDS systems is a third model, the informal grade
improvement model. In this model, seed of African indigenous vegetables is
improved and distributed to farmers as distributed to farmers as starter seed, which
they sell in the open market. This has expanded the reach of quality seed to those
who cannot get certified or quality declared seed.
Strengthening of capacities of seed growers
Building the capacity of farmers to produce and market seeds of AIVs as an
enterprise contribute towards promotion of agriculture and food security both at the
local, national and regional level. A training curriculum on AIV seed production was
developed based on the identified needs for the farmer‐led seed enterprises and
used to train farmers. The training covered the technical aspects of seed production
including participatory approaches, enterprise selection, identification of seed
production sites, nursery management, good agricultural practices for crop, pests
and disease management, isolation distance, rouguing of off‐types, harvesting and
post–harvesting, record keeping, seed business management, seed regulation and
marketing. A training of trainers (ToT) course was carried out for 19 farmers (7
women) in Kenya and 10 farmers (3 women) in Tanzania. After the training, the ToT
graduates conducted season‐long farmers training in the identified project sites, in
line with the cropping season and the stage of growth of the respective AIV seed
crop. A total of 340 farmers (42.4% women) have so far been trained in western
Kenya. The farmers used the knowledge to improve their production of African
nightshade, Crotolaria, Jute mallow and African eggplant seed.
7

8. Preliminary data for the private sector mediated model shows that a smallholder can
profitably produce African indigenous vegetable seed. Forty five (35 male, 10
female) farmers are currently engaged in the model (Figure 1), with the majority of
the farmers having more than one seed crop. In Kenya the farmers earned on
average $ 4,500 per year3 from indigenous vegetables with an exceptional farmer
earning as high as $ 17,000 per annum through the seed company mediated farmer
led seed enterprises (Figure 2). It was noted that the productivity (seed yield/acre)
increased by 10.6%, 40.1% and 59.4% for Nightshade, Jute Mallow and Crotalaria,
respectively, during the second cropping season. This is attributed to the improved
management (good agricultural practices) of the seed crops employed by the farmers
as a result of the trainings conducted under the current project.
Figure1. Number of famers producing seeds of African indigenous vegetables
under a private sector seed company‐mediated model in western Kenya during
the 2010 cropping seasons
8
3 1US$ = Ksh 80

9. Figure2. Income from production of seeds of African indigenous vegetables under
a private sector seed company‐mediated model in western Kenya during the 2010
cropping seasons
In addition to the training, the project initiated the development of descriptors and
bulking of foundation seed for Spiderplant and Amaranths to ensure sustainable
supply of starter seed to growers in Kenya who have no formal contracts with seed
companies. The breeder seed originally obtained from the World Vegetable Centre‐
Regional Centre for Africa and subsequently improved and maintained by
Lagrotech Seed Company was used. It is estimated that, with an average yield of
172Kg per acre, the starter seed of Spiderplant so far produced would be able to
generate an income of US$ 7,785.00 per acre, within one cropping season.
From the training and inspection by the government seed certification agency,
farmers in Dodoma, Tanzania the farmers are now producing and selling high
quality seed. For example, the farmers are producing seed of African Eggplant with
mean germination rate and seed purity rate of 94%; Amaranths with mean
germination rate and seed purity rate of 92%; Nightshade with mean germination rate
and seed purity rate of 99% (Table 1). The seeds are in high demand locally and in
Dar es Salaam and fetching good prices of about US$ 3 per kg.
9

10. 10
Table 1. Quantity and quality standards of Quality Declared Seed (QDS 1)
produced by farmers in Dodoma, during the 2010/11 cropping season.
Crop Yield (Kg)
Female Male Total
African eggplant ‐ 4.0 4.0
Amaranths 75.0 585.0 660.0
Nightshade 3.5 2.8 6.3
Germination (%)
Female Male Mean
African eggplant ‐ 94.0 94.0
Amaranths 92.2 92.3 92.3
Nightshade 98.0 100.0 99.0
Purity (%)
Female Male Mean
African eggplant ‐ 94.0 94.0
Amaranths 92.2 92.3 92.3
Nightshade 98.0 100.0 99.0
Group strengthening and institutional capacity building.
Strengthening of farmers’ seed enterprise consisted of first sensitising the farmers to
the interest of engaging in seed production as a group and as a profitable business.
Through participatory process the farmers groups were organised into better
structured autonomous producer groups each with a democratically elected
leadership and constitution. The groups were assisted to register to have a legally
recognised status, which is essential to build trust and a sense of security among the
group members. This can also facilitate the group to have access to financial services
for savings and credit. For example, following the training on marketing and
governance, two farmer groups, the Akikieun Vegetable Growers Group and the
Korosiondet Kilimo Bora self‐help group in Kenya were formalised and registered as
a community‐based organisation to maximise economies of scale. The groups also
provide mechanism for information sharing.
Contribution to promoting improved technologies in uptake pathways
With the strong linkage with research institution, both NARs and the African
Vegetable Research and Development Center, Regional Centre for Africa ( AVRDC‐RCA)
improved varieties have been tested and selected by farmers for promotion.
Because the market for AIV is characterised by variations in consumer preferences
seed producers are able to access varieties that meet these market niches. For
example, some consumers (especially in urban cosmopolitan areas) tend to prefer
variants of African nightshade that are less bitter and in such cases, growers can
have access to quality seeds of the broad leafed variety. Other consumers for
example in western Kenya prefer the more bitter varieties. The linkages of the seed

11. producers with research, has enable good access to foundation seed of these
varieties. In these processes improved varieties of different kinds of the AIV handled
in the project are now in uptake pathways in Kenya and Tanzania (Plate 1).
Plate 1: Smallholder farmers harvesting leaves of Spiderplant (left) and Amaranths
(right) in western and central Kenya, respectively.
Contribution to food security and poverty alleviation
Through testimonials by participating farmers in Kenya and Tanzania, the project is
making significant contribution towards people’s livelihoods. The vegetables are
contributing towards food and nutrition security. Through crop diversification, the
vegetable production as well as the seed enterprises significant changes in
household incomes are beginning to emerge through income earned from the seed
business. For example, Mrs. Michel Orone, a window who is engaged seed
production under the private sector seed company mediated model (contracted by
Kenya seed Company) has built a permanent house from incomes earned from
selling quality seed of Nightshade, Crotalaria and beans. Mrs Orone used part of her
income from the sale of seeds to pay school fees (US$ 750) for her two grand children
(orphans) in secondary school. In addition, during the 2010 cropping season she
employed on average eight casual labourers (men and women) for three months,
each earning approximately US$1.5 per day. More testimonies including farmers
being able purchase motor cycles worth US $750 each are being documented.
Similarly, Mr and Mrs Boazi Sebai quality declared seed growers in Kongwa,
Tanzania spent Tsh 80,000 (US$ 47) for all expenses to grow seed including buying
improved seeds. They harvested 300kg of amaranth seed which they sold and
earned a total of Tsh 750,000 (US$ 440). From these proceeds they are constructing a
permanent house (Plate 2).
11

12. Plate 2: Mr and Mrs Boazi Sebai (left) in their Amaranths seed multiplication plot
and their house (right), under construction using proceeds from sale of the seeds,
in Kongwa District, Dodoma, Tanzania.
12
Lessons learnt
• Production of quality seeds of African indigenous vegetables requires a range of
skills and capacities at various levels, from planning, management of seed
production and marketing. This requires skilled and knowledgeable people at all
levels in the seed value chain.
• Improving farmers’ skills and knowledge in seed quality management, post
harvest handling and marketing could enhance uptake.
• Besides technical support, financial supports for seed production is essential to
enable the farmers acquire the required inputs and simple labour‐saving
technologies for wet seed processing for crops such as Nightshade.
• Farmer‐ led seed enterprises can prosper under favourable policy environment
and with the needed capacities and effective linkages being in place.
• The linkages between the seed growers, seed companies, and research and
development organisation/institutions have enabled the seed growers to acquire
relevant skill to improve productivity. The agricultural extension system needs to
continue sensitising farmers to use quality seed.
• Success of farmer‐led seed enterprises is based on strengthening institutional,
technical and organisation/governance of the groups, partnership with regulators
for seed quality control and provision of basic seed.
• Given that both men and women as well as the youth are involved in the farmer‐led
seed enterprises contribute to gender empowerment and development
• Strengthening of s seed producers groups, provide a mechanism for information
sharing among the smallholder farmers aiming at improvement in their
knowledge and skills in seed production and marketing.
• While the current project was based on an identified lack of seed and therefore,
focused of development of seed enterprises, the continued flourishing of these
businesses require continued growth in demand for vegetables and in turn for

13. seed. A sustained demand for the vegetables in both local and urban markets in
country and in similar neighbouring countries is necessary to expand market for
the seed. Similarly, sensitization of smallholders on the need to use quality seed
would also boost the growth and sustainability of the emerging AIV seed
enterprises.
Conclusion
The farmer–led seed enterprises on African indigenous vegetables being validated
are contributing towards food and nutrition security through crop diversification, as
well as the improvement of the livelihood through income earned from the seed
business. The success of farmer‐led seed enterprise models on African indigenous
vegetables is based on building good partnerships with wide range of
institutions/organisations for identifying, establishing and training seed growers
groups. Building partnerships around these institutional linkages has been essential
for the success of the project. This requires commitment of all partners, growers as
well as local, regional and international research and development agencies.
Continuous support of farmer led seed enterprises through capacity building of seed
growers particularly in seed production and marketing is necessary to ensure that
they will become more efficient and profitable.
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Acknowledgement
The work described in this paper was conducted as part of the activities in the
Project No. P056‐09‐P7‐01‐003 entitled, “Scaling up farmer‐led seed enterprises for
sustained productivity and livelihoods in Eastern and Central Africa”. This project is
financed through the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to Association for
Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). The
advisory and technical support from Dr Lydia Kimenye, Knowledge Management
and Up‐scaling Programme Manager is also gratefully acknowledged.