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