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Designing legume seed systems to maximize impact for the poor in drought-prone regions Tropical Legumes II
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Designing legume seed systems to maximize impact for the poor in drought-prone regions Tropical Legumes II

  1. Designing Legume Seed Systems to Maximize Impact for the Poor in Drought-Prone Regions Tropical Legumes II Sep 2010 Legume seed systems: The challenges Tropical Legumes II (TL II) is a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)-funded project,aiming to enhance grain legumes’production and the incomes of poor farmers in drought-prone areas of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.The seed systems component has a special mandate:it aims not just to be effective (that is produce and deliver quality seed efficiently and widely) but also to reach some of the‘hardest to reach’—those in ecologically harsh and often geographically-removed areas. Conventionally legume seed is not given priority by either the public or private seed sector:it is self-pollinating and once farmers access new germplasm they tend to re-sow for many seasons to come (unless the product is geared to high value markets). Hence,TL II aims to stimulate heightened interest by NARS,private sector,farmers’ cooperatives and others,in the production,delivery,and marketing of a basket of legume crops. This demands new ways of thinking about cost-effective production— and novel strategies for reaching a broader base of clientele. Testing models for sustainable seed production TLII is a research- as well as impact-oriented development project. Teams are testing multiple seed production + delivery models. They are also using comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks so as to allow the project to determine which types of seed production + delivery systems are suitable for specific contexts and aims. Models: Foundation seed production 1. NARS (at research center) 2. NARS with contract farmers 3. Public sector with foundation seed farm 4. Individual farmers and farmers groups 5. Agricultural universities 6. IARCS producing foundation seed directly 7. IARCS contracting farmers 8. Private companies Certified seed: 7 models Seed of other qualities: 10 models Models: Delivery 1. Agro-input dealers selling directly to clients 2. Private companies selling direct to clients 3. NGOs giving seed loans 4. Farmer field schools 5. Community-based seed production system 6. Schools 7. Large farmer associations/unions/cooperatives 8. Farmer growers to grain exporters 9. Farmer growers selling to traders (via local markets) 10. Farmer to farmer exchange 11. Soybean resource centers 12. Seed revolving fund 13. Seed banks 14. Seed revolved from payback system 15. Seed villages 16. Parastatals involved in direct delivery Asking the right questions: cost, risk, and who benefits M+E SEED PRODUCTION • Cost of seed production (vs.quality,yields and risks) • Quantity of seed produced • Analysis of qualitative costs + benefits (+ for whom) M+E SEED DISTRIBUTION/MARKETING • Number of different varieties distributed per target region • Overall quantity of seed distributed • Amount of seed distributed per farmer • Number of farmers reached per region • Profile of clients (gender,wealth and other key variables ) • Geographic reach (zones covered) • Knowledge associated with specific modes of seed transfer • Analysis of qualitative costs + benefits (+ for whom) Example: Pro-poor marketing with the private sector High volume small pack sales: 2008-2009 • Niger groundnut 6908 packs • Kenya beans 28000 packs • Ethiopia beans 11750 packs • Nigeria soybeans 7980 packs • Mozambique cowpea 12 T in packs • Nigeria cowpea 15 T in packs Farmers purchase certified legume seed in 80g,250g,500g,1 kg and 2 kg packs < 75,000 farmers (2 seasons) Making sure farmers are reached and have a voice For more information: www.tropicallegumes.org FASO KABA Seed Company, Bamako, Mali, Owner: Mme Coulibaly. Seed production giving farmers high returns- India. Mapping who is reached by rural radio. Ensuring that farmers like Consolata Nyaudah (from Nyanza Province –Kenya) can give direct feedback on varieties and seed quality (Nodes of Growth linked Project). Not covered by rural radios in Niger
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