lsb brochure 2015
DESCRIPTION
ISSD Uganda looks at the opportunity of bridging the gaps between these two sector, by engaging farmers in seed entrepreneurship through the Local Seed Business (LSB) model. When farmers are supported through ISSD interventions and they become technically equipped, strategically linked, professionally organized and market oriented, they can sustainably provide quality seed to smallholders farmers at affordable prices.TRANSCRIPT
www.issduganda.org
I n t e g r a t e d S e e d S e c t o r D e v e l o p m e n t U g a n d a P r o g r a m m e
Vision of ISSD Uganda
Through a vibrant and pluralistic
seed sector, ensure that quality
seed of superior varieties are
available and affordable to a
larger number of farmers,
thereby contributing to agricul-
ture for food security and eco-
nomic development in Uganda.
ISSD Uganda
Background
The formal seed sector in Uganda mainly consists of
seed companies with interest in seed of high profit mar-
gins with higher multiplication ratios such as hybrids and
open pollinated crops like maize, sunflower and sor-
ghum. The sector provides about 15% of seed needs for
the country, with the rest coming from the informal sec-
tor. Self-pollinated crops, which are the major food
crops for the country, are given low priority in seed com-
panies’ investments. It is the informal seed sector that
provides seeds for many of these crops.
ISSD Uganda looks at the opportunity of bridging the
gaps between these two sector, by engaging farmers in
seed entrepreneurship through the Local Seed Business
(LSB) model. When farmers are supported through ISSD
interventions and they become technically equipped,
strategically linked, professionally organized and market
oriented, they can sustainably provide quality seed to
smallholders farmers at affordable prices.
The LSB can therefore, engage in multiplication of self-
pollinated crops such as simsim, groundnut, beans, rice
etc., on condition that research provides early genera-
tion materials (basic or foundation seed), which is the
starting point for quality seed production.
If linkages with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal
Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the LSBs
exist, LSBs can produce quality seed and market
it after inspection and quality assurance proce-
dures have been done.
Local Seed Business
A Local seed business is a group of smallholder
farmers that are able to produce and market
quality seed of farmer-and market–preferred va-
rieties, and are able to sustain the business
through re-investing capital and efforts in the
business. To be sustainable, an LSB needs to be
commercially oriented and able to make the in-
vestment.
Supporting a vibrant, pluralistic and market oriented seed sector
Promoting Local Seed Businesses
Email: [email protected]
3
www.issduganda.org
Management and infrastructure. The principles of
general organisation management include decision
making, participation, communication, transparency,
task division, coordination and specialisation in the form
of truly cross-functional teams (e.g. quality control
committee, marketing committee, block farm
management, monitoring and self-assessment).
Strategically linked
LSBs that are strategically linked benefit from the
availability, accessibility, efficiency, affordability and
reliability of input and service provision. An analysis of
the availability, accessibility, efficiency, affordability and
reliability of the input or service should be critically
reflected upon accordingly to the specific capacity needs
and business plan of the LSB. Essential links include
access to germ plasma, agronomic inputs (fertiliser and
pesticides), seed certification, finance, information,
technologies, guidance/supervision, materials and
machineries, administrative documentation, stationary
and furniture, water and electricity, transport, licensing,
legal rights, security, lobbying and other important
institutional links.
LSB Success Factors
It is common for some groups to exhibit lack of
entrepreneurial spirit and eventually not able to become
sustainable local seed businesses. Such groups needs to
critically assessed and timely decisions made on whether
to continue with them or not. “Success factors” are used
to monitor whether the LSB is on the right track and are
necessary to become successful in their seed business
(figure below). The figure below shows the success
factors that are used to assess whether LSBSs are
commercially sustainable or not.
This means that the ISSD programme does not
provide free inputs to the groups but is rather based
entirely on capacity building provided by a seed
agronomist/expert on production aspects of seed, and
an agribusiness expert for the market aspects.
LSB building blocks
Looking at the LSB from one angle (inward), it should
be technically well-equipped to produce and add value
to its seed, it should also be professionally organised,
well managed and with access to appropriate
infrastructure. Looking at the LSB from another angle
(outward), the product should have demand from the
market, while the LSB should be strategically linked to
important, reliable and cost-effective inputs and
service provision.
Technically well equipped
This includes having the capacity for; (1) the
production of quality seed; which requires knowledge
and skills for site selection, field clustering, land
preparation, sowing, weeding, roughing, demarcating
isolation distances, fertiliser application, crop
protection and harvesting products; and (2)
processing/adding value to those products. Capacity
to produce includes LSB members having the
knowledge and skills for site selection, field clustering,
land preparation, sowing, weeding, roughing,
demarcating isolation distances, fertiliser application,
crop protection and harvesting.
Market oriented
Market orientation means the LSB has the marketing
capacity, including assessing markets and developing
products that are demanded and are satisfying
customer’s need.
Marketing involves finding out what your customers
want and supplying it to them at a profit. In order to
do so, the LSB needs the capacity to collect and
evaluate market information, and develop a
marketing strategy as part of a business plan.
Professionally organized
This looks at how well the business is organised
following a basic distinction between both general
Inward Outward
Product
Technically well equiped Market oriented
Organization
Professionally organised
Strategically linked
Building Blocks
Success factors
Technically
equipped
Quality seed production
Processing and value addition
Market oriented Market strategy
Customers feedback mechanism
Professionally
organised
Governance
Mobilization and use of resources
Business orientation
Strategically
linked
Access to inputs and services
Markets
Commercially sustainable LSBS
Supporting a vibrant, pluralistic and market oriented seed sector Email: [email protected]