the good seed initiative, phase ii - cabi.org...final report for sdc, march 2011, by dr steve...

Final Report for SDC, March 2011, by Dr Steve Edgington, GSI Project Manager, CABI EU-UK 1

CABI Ref: DR10027

www.cabi.org

KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE

The Good Seed Initiative, Phase II:

Final Report to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

by Steve Edgington, Project Manager, CABI EU-UK

Project background

Subsistence farmers need healthy seed for maximum production of their staple food crops in marginal environments. In Africa and Asia seed saved from a farmer‟s harvest is the dominant seed source for most smallholders. The quality of this seed, therefore, is key to crop health, higher yields and improved livelihoods. Unfortunately, inadequate seed selection and unsuitable means of seed storage are problems within smallholding farming communities. Knowledge in selecting and storing seed has been eroded by pressures from agri-business and stringent seed laws. The results are declining yields of traditional food crops and insufficient income to invest in new improved varieties. Phase I of the Good Seed Initiative (GSI) (2005-2008) showed that training in the production, selection and storage of seed will enable poor farming families to re-gain skills and increase productivity of staple food crops, at no extra cost. Furthermore, GSI interventions can lead to in situ conservation of genetic diversity within important crops. The second phase of GSI (GSI II) will enable many poor farming families to benefit from a fundamental approach to agricultural development. The objectives of GSI II are:

To improve the quality (health, purity and viability) and value of farmer-saved and farmer-traded seed (i.e. seed as a resource)

To build farmer-centred seed systems, enabling the poor to access and benefit from seed, from sources external to the community (i.e. seed as a commodity)

To take forward learning from these experiences into regional and national seed systems and policies.

The contract between SDC and CABI for GSI II was signed on 11th July 2008; this report is concerned with all GSI II activities that have been conducted since then. Highlights include the training of 1800 farmers in Bangladesh on aspects of improved wheat seed production and an increased return on investment for vegetable farmers on char islands in Bangladesh.


Project partnerships GSI II operated in three countries, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda. In Bangladesh, CABI worked with two governmental partners, the Wheat Research Centre (WRC) in Dinajpur, which is part of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), and the Rural Development Academy (RDA) in Bogra, which is the training branch of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). The GSI-WRC activities were led by Dr Md Elahi Baksh, an agricultural economist and rice-wheat system specialist, while those in RDA were led by Mr A.K.M. Zakaria, Deputy Director of RDA. To scale out successful activities related to the production and marketing of wheat seed, Dr Baksh and his team worked with field workers from DAE and six other local NGOs, including Dipshika, Caritas and Plan Bangladesh. Mr Zakaria‟s team worked on the production and marketing of vegetable seeds, alongside a number of NGOs including the Agricultural Advisory Society (AAS) and TMSS.

In Tanzania, CABI partnered Dr Ambonesigwe Mbwaga, Mr Lebai Nsemwa and Mr Elias A. S. Letayo of the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Tanzania. Activities concentrated on cleaning up smut-infected sorghum seed and creating a market for both quality-declared sorghum seed and grain. Dr Mbwaga and his team worked with local extension workers to assist with project activities.

In Uganda, CABI worked with Mr Jimmy Lamo (rice breeder) and Dr Godfrey Asea (plant breeder) of the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), under the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). The project worked with women farmers from post-conflict regions in northern Uganda, with training on the production and marketing of high quality rice seed.


1. Work progress

Expected result 1: The poorest farmers in Bangladesh profit from the production and marketing of seed

GSI II had two objectives in Bangladesh:

To train 1800 landless and marginal farmers in the production, storage and marketing of new wheat varieties; incorporating the new varieties into a system of technology transfer that enabled the poorest farmers to be the first to benefit.

To improve agronomic practices on char-islands, particularly farmer capacity to produce, select and store vegetable seeds and to keep records of inputs/outputs during the season.

Project background

Sub-project I: In order to reduce its wheat deficit and avoid rising import costs, the Government of Bangladesh urgently requires 15000 tonnes of wheat seed that produces higher yields, despite the warmer winters and saline soils currently experienced in the country. The huge demand for wheat seed presented an ideal opportunity for poor farmers to benefit by producing and selling seed. Pilot studies during GSI I demonstrated that the provision of training in the production, storage and marketing of wheat seed could enable food insecure, landless and marginal farming families to make 60% of the annual income needed to reach the poverty line and that farmers could also use these new skills to set up seed multiplication enterprises. To complement GSI I activities, scientists at WRC had developed new wheat varieties that were more tolerant to higher temperatures and saline soils.

Sub-project II: Hat Shepur char is a silt island in the Jamuna River. The char is extremely vulnerable to flooding, lacks basic services (electricity, sanitation, etc.), has only just got its first school (for children 4 - 8 yr old) and is inhabited by very poor, often landless farmers who lack the resources necessary to generate an income to support themselves and their families. Rice and jute are the main crops grown during the monsoon season, while chilli is the main cash crop produced during the dry season (although a number of other vegetable crops are also grown). GSI I identified knowledge gaps amongst char farmers regarding selecting and storing seed and on some fundamental issues of seedling health. Activities of GSI II focused on improving rice and chilli production and basic record-keeping. In Bangladesh, planting time for wheat is November, summer vegetables (namely rice) is March/April, and for winter vegetables (e.g., chilli) October/November, see Table 1.

Table 1. Growing seasons for selected GSI II crops in Bangladesh

Crop Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Rice

Chilli

Wheat

sowing mid-season harvesting


Sub-project I: Producing, selecting and marketing improved wheat seed in the north-west of Bangladesh The main aim of this sub-project was to improve food security and alleviate poverty amongst food insecure (marginal and landless) wheat farming families, by giving them skills and links to market, produce and trade good quality wheat seed. Between 2004 and 2007, CABI collaborated with senior wheat scientists at WRC and NGO partners to assist 590 food-insecure farming families to produce, select, store and sell 173 tonnes of high quality wheat seed of new heat tolerant varieties. This seed was sold to more than 1500 other farmers who had previously been unable to access improved varieties. The objective of GSI II was to train a further 1800 food-insecure wheat farming families using a similar strategy.

Summary of activities and results Activities: 1.1. Family training on the production, processing and storage of wheat seed Just prior to the wheat growing season (July - Aug) of each year, 600 marginal (food insecure) farming families were selected for training by project staff. The families were selected according to their wheat self-sufficiency index and their access to a 20 decimal (0.08 ha) plot of land, either as owners or tennants. A Self-Sufficiency Index (SSI) was used to enable project staff to select the families for training. The SSI was calculated using the formula: Self-Sufficiency Index = (Potential yield × Landholding) / Annual grain requirement* × 100% * based on FAO figures for recommended annual energy requirements (see Table 2). Families with SSI of more than 200% were considered as food surplus families, less than 200% were subsistence families and less than 100% as food insecure. The families selected for GSI II training had an SSI of approximately 50%. Table 2. Minimum annual grain requirement per family (source: FAO)

Age of dependent

Daily energy

requirement (kcals)

Minimum annual grain

requirement (kg)

> 18 years (adult) 2500 365

10-17 years (adolescent) 2000 274

< 10 years (child) 15000 183

Training was in two phases: the first phase focused on land preparation, planting and crop maintenance and took place in Oct – Nov of each year; the second phase taught harvesting, seed processing and storage, during Dec - April. The farmers were trained in groups of 20 and a method known as whole family training was used to ensure that equal numbers of men and women were involved, with husbands and wives (or widows + eldest child) invited to attended the training. During the first phase of training each family


was provided with 10 kg of wheat seed of a new heat-tolerant variety (either var. Bijoy or Prodip).

During each year, approximately 30 workshops were held to complement the farmer training, in which practical demonstrations were given of basic agronomic practices and farmers encouraged to discuss the growing season and to exchange ideas. Geographically the workshops covered all of the wheat growing districts that had been involved in the training. A series of field-days (approximately 50) were also held each year, around harvest time, to which project and non-project farmers were invited. Each field-day attracted between 100 and 250 farmers, many of whom expressed an interest to be involved in the project in the next year and were also keen to buy the wheat seed being produced by the trained farmers.

Figure 1. Farmer training in wheat production during GSI II. Whole family training ensured both men and women were involved. Husbands and wives, or widows and eldest child, were invited to attend the training.

Figure 2. Workshops and field days to disseminate project information, held in each of the GSI II training districts


Results: Year 1: All of the 600 farmers that were trained and given seed, planted the new variety of wheat. An average grain yield of 254 kg/ 0.08ha was harvested by each of the trained farmers, equivalent to a mean of 3175 kg/ ha. After the crop was dried, an average of 185 kg seed per farmer was carefully selected and stored in double thickness bags (provided by the project) until the start of the new growing season. The remaining grain was either consumed by the farmer‟s family or sold. The selling prices in that year, for seed and grain, were Tk 24 and Tk 14, respectively; from the sale of seed and grain overall profits of Tk 764 - 10501 were obtained, which gave a mean profit of Tk 3252 per household (equivalent to US$48). Each of the 600 farmers who sold their wheat seed made a return on investment (profit / input costs) of 1.3. Year 2: All of the 600 farmers that were trained and given seed, planted the new variety of wheat. An average grain yield of 316 kg/ 0.08ha was harvested by each trained farmer, equivalent to a mean of 3950 kg/ ha. After the crop was dried, an average of 200 kg of seed per farmer was carefully selected and stored until the next wheat season. The remaining grain was either consumed or sold. The selling prices for seed and grain for that year were Tk 30 and Tk 17.5, respectively (higher than the previous year); from the sale of seed and grain overall profits of Tk 320 - 11186 were obtained, which gave an overall mean profit of Tk 3771 per household (equivalent to US$54). Each of the 600 farmers who sold their wheat seed made a mean return on investment of 1.7. Table 3. Wheat productivity and profit of farmers who were trained during GSI II. Six hundred farmers were trained each year.

Year Yield kg/ .08ha (range)

Grain income Tk (range)

Seed income Tk (range)

Profit US$/.08ha (range)

Return on investment (range)

2009 254 812 (0-3920) 4906 (2000-12000) 48 (11-154) 1.3 (0.3-4.8)

2010 316 1732 (0-4375) 5979 (1980-13500) 54 (-4.6-160) 1.7 (-0.1-4.7)

Figure 3. Landless and marginal farmers were trained in the selection and storage of high quality wheat seed, given 10 kg each of a new wheat variety and given strong, durable bags in which to store their wheat.


Year 3: Six hundred farmers were selected and trained in October - November 2010 and

will harvest in March - April 2011, i.e., just after project completion. All of the 600

farmers that were trained and given seed, planted the new variety of wheat. The yield data will be collected and analysed by project staff, as in the two previous years. 1.2. Impact study After the second year of GSI II, over 300 farmers were interviewed to assess the impact of the training and to identify support needs. The interviews were conducted in 41 villages, covering many of the project districts. Half the farmers interviewed had received training (and seed), the other half hadn‟t. Whilst the data from the study is still being analysed there were several points worthy of mention here:

A high proportion (ca 80%) of trained farmers stored some of their seed, while less than 10% of untrained farmers stored seed.

Approximately 50% of trained farmers will use their own saved seed for the next season, compared to only 5% of untrained farmers. The majority of untrained farmers will get their seed from the market.

Both groups of farmers sold grain and seed to neighbouring farmers and at market.

Most farmers would be happier to pay a little more for certified seed compared to cheaper non-certified seed.

A draft of the impact study is available on request


Sub-project II: Producing, selecting and marketing vegetable seeds and seedling on a char-island The aim of this sub-project was to reduce poverty amongst ultra-poor (landless and without assets) women, who inhabit the char-islands, by providing training in the production, processing, storage and marketing of selected vegetable seeds. GSI II activities were on Hat Shepur char, a silt island with two small villages, in the Jamuna River. The char is extremely vulnerable to flooding, lacks basic services and is inhabited by very poor, often landless farmers. Ironically, an acre of land on the char is extremely valuable as the soils are very fertile, sadly though the land is often owned by businessmen from the mainland, to whom the farmers must pay (often high) rents. Summary of activities Activities: 1.1. Raising awareness and collecting baseline data amongst char families Awareness-raising workshops were held with women farmers from two char villages,

Dihapara and Nayapara, during Year 1 of GSI II. These workshops were attended by approximately 30 families from each village. Husbands and wives (and the eldest child) were invited to attend. At the workshops the following points were discussed:

How many families were interested in the proposed training?

What were the most appropriate vegetable crops to incorporate into training?

What areas of land were available to farmers?

What were the present sources of organic matter, for composting?

What were the present and preferred crop production technologies?

Were there any seed storage facilities in the villages? During the workshops, project staff collected information on key poverty indicators to identify farming families most in need of training and support. Woman farmers were the principal recipients of the training, however their husbands were also encouraged to attend. Key poverty indicators included the level of household food security, the number of meals per day, current health, the value of their assets and the household income.

Data was collected from 85 villagers (55 women and 30 men) and a wellbeing analysis was used to rank each farming family as rich, middle, or poor to ultra-poor, according to criteria listed in Table 4. Approximately 85% of families surveyed were classified as poor to ultra-poor.


Table 4. Indicators on a wellbeing analysis. Families were ranked as rich, middle, or poor-ultra poor according to indicators.

Criteria Rich Middle Poor - Ultra Poor

Total land holding 10-5 Bigha 5-1 Bigha 1 Bigha/Land less

House made by Tin Tin Tin / Jute stick

Room (no.) 2-3 2 2 - 1

Quality of food Good Moderate Poor

Daily meals 3 times/day 3 times 1 - 2 times/day

Education level HSC Ten-Class Five Five/Nil

Annual savings Tk 5000 Tk 3000 > Tk 3000

Other furniture Khat, Chair, Table, Mobile, Almari

Choki, Mobile, Chair, Table

Choki, Chair, Macha

Vegetable cultivation status

High Medium Poor / Nil

Vegetable seed production status

Small quantity Small quantity Very small / Nil

Vegetable Seed Sold

Nil Nil Nil

Total 7% 8% 85%

During the workshops in Year 1, project staff also collected data on the crops grown and the cropping practices of ultra-poor farmers. The results are summarised below:

Rice and jute were the main crops grown during the monsoon season, chilli was the main crop grown during the dry season.

Chilli was the most profitable, all farmers made a profit > Tk 6000 (€60) last year. However, only six of the farmers had a return on investment > 2 for chilli (i.e., a

Figure 4. GSI II workshops on Hat Shepur char in Year 1. The worskshops were held in two villages, Dihapara and Nayapara, to raise awareness of the proposed GSI training and to gather baseline data on farmer status and present crop production on the char.


profit that was more than twice as much as total input costs). All other crops returned profits < Tk 6000. Rice the least profitable at just Tk 430 (€4.3) and a return on investment of just 0.1. Jute made a mean profit of Tk 2036 (€21), with a return on investment of 0.3. Farmers who grew ash gourd, sweet gourd, Indian spinach, okra and red amaranthus, made a mean (collective) profit of Tk 493 (€4.5) but a more advantageous return on investment of 2.5.

Only chilli production provided a profit that was more than the income that could be obtained from being employed as a low paid labourer for the same period of 80 days (at approximately Tk 100 /day). Farmers would have benefited significantly if they had been employed as labourers instead of producing rice, jute or vegetables (see Table 5).

The highest input expenditure for all crops was for chemical fertilisers. Some farmers said that they used too much fertiliser because they did not know the proper rates for each crop.

All farmers must grow rice as it is the subsistence food crop, and the straw is needed for animal feed.

Table 5. Mean inputs costs, profit and return on investment, compared with income from labouring for the same period, for five different crops. Data was collected during GSI II workshops in Year 1.

Crop Input costs (Tk)

Profit (Tk)

Return on investment

Income from labouring @ 100 Tk/d

Rice 10,371 430 0.1 (80 d) 8000 Jute 9,049 2036 0.3 (60 d) 6000 Chilli 15,699 25621 1.7 (80 d) 8000

Two farming families in each village were identified from the baseline data as having obtained the highest returns on their investments compared to all other families, and both were invited to speak and share information at the workshop. This information, which is summarised below, provided a number of important components for the farmer training workshops planned for later in the project: Dighapara Village

Komola Begum and her husband Nadu Mia with a return on investment of 3.5 for chilli cultivation, had comparatively low weeding and irrigation costs and produced a high yield (equivalent to 10568 kg/ha) of chilli. Total input costs were Tk 2770, while the income was Tk 12570, giving a profit of Tk 9800. They i) applied a large amount of compost, ii) applied timely irrigation, iii) used minimum hired labour (both husband and wife worked in the field), iv) selected the best fruits for seed and v) retained red chilli until market price was high.

Widow Nedi Bewa and daughter Suborna obtained an extremely high return on investment of 10.6 for brinjal production. Their fertiliser, irrigation and pesticide costs were low. Total input costs were Tk 535 and the income from the harvest was Tk 6180, providing a profit of Tk 5645. They i) applied a large amount of compost, ii) applied timely irrigation, iii) used good seed of a pest resistant variety, iv) used less pesticide, v) sold the fruits at a higher price (though still less than some other famers) and vi) sold fruits at a distant market where prices were higher.

Nayapara Village

Bely Khatun and her husband Shakhwat Hossain obtained a return on investment of 2.0 by cultivating chilli. They produced a yield equivalent to 10578


kg/ha, spent a total of Tk 5740 on inputs and received Tk 16952 at market, leading to a profit of Tk 11212. They i) worked very hard, ii) applied a huge amount of compost, iii) used Furadan which, although highly toxic, is an effective insecticide, iv) got a good market price (though it would have been double if they had storage facilities), v) used their 3 sons as field help, vi) always selected good quality fruits for seed, vii) always dried the chilli carefully so that the colour remained bright and attractive and viii) graded the chilli into three categories: best, good, dull.

Bilkis Begum and her husband Abul Kalam cultivated a small area of Indian spinach and obtained a return on investment of 4.8. They reduced their expenditure on chemical fertilisers from last year, yet still produced a high yield, equivalent to 37500 kg/ha. They i) only used family labour, ii) irrigated by hand using buckets so there was no irrigation cost, iii) used a large amount of compost, iv) applied only natural pesticides (1 kg neem leaves + 10 kg ash applied as a powder), v) used a bed planting system and cultivated in lines and vi) took the produce to a distant market to get a higher price.

1.2. Farmer training GSI II project staff held the first phase of seed training workshops on Hat Shepur char, in Feb 2009. One hundred and two farmers attended, with the workshops split between Dighapara and Nyapara villages. Approximately 50% of trainees were women. The first phase of workshops covered seed bed and land preparation, the making of compost, record keeping and basic means of assessing profit. The second phase of workshops for that year (Oct 2009) covered crop sowing, pest management, harvesting, seed selection and storage and marketing of produce. It was decided that only those farmers who had made compost and prepared their seed beds according to the methods taught during the first phase of training would be invited to participate in the second phase. The second phase of training was followed by several shorter, impromptu visits to each village to assist with issues as required. This programme of training workshops was repeated in 2010, with a new set of trainees (approximately 120) selected from the two villages. Trainees were once again selected according to the poverty indicators discussed previously. During each year of training, farmers were taught basic book-keeping skills. The trainers stressed the importance of record-keeping as it i) helps in calculating profit and loss from the crop ii) helps in decision-making and problem solving and iii) identifies crops that

Figure 5. GSI II training workshops on book-keeping, on Het Shepur char


gives higher incomes. Farmers were advised to keep records on all input costs during the cropping season (e.g., fertilisers, irrigation, labour, weeding, seed, trips to market, etc.) and were advised on the meaning of profit (and loss) and how it is calculated. Twelve months after attending the workshops farmers were invited to a follow-up meeting with GSI II staff to discuss what they had learned and what they had put into practise. Women farmers were encouraged to stand up and discuss the most recent present cropping season, raise issues regarding training and ask questions to project staff. During the workshops it was noted that farmers had inherited their chilli seed from their parents, and in some cases this seed had been recycled for more than 30 years. Since the only chilli seed sold locally is a hybrid, project staff developed two small sub-programmes to improve the farmer-saved open-pollinated varieties, by using demonstration plots. In September 2010, GSI II staff organised two plots on the char to teach some basic agronomic practices that could enhance seed/seedling health of chilli. Farmers from both villages volunteered their land and labour for the demonstration plots. The land was prepared in October 2010. There were two demonstration plots:

1. How to reduce weeding costs and stem-rot within chilli fields. This demonstration plot used different sowing methods and basic land preparation techniques, e.g., raised vs flat beds; farmers will keep records on labour costs for preparation and for weeding, incidence of stem-rot and final chilli yield (scheduled for April 2011).

2. What seed treatments can control stem-rot of chilli? This plot used two different seed treatments, namely a chemical and a botanical (blackberry leaf). Farmers will keep records of stem-rot incidence and final yield

Women-to-women videos of both these demonstration plots are being made by RDA and will be available for use by self-help groups. Also, during the workshops, farmers admitted using more than the recommended fertiliser rates because they don‟t know the correct rates for each crop. Alternative sources of NPK were discussed and the possibility of using manure to replace urea, dry powdered bones to replace TSP and ash to replace MP were suggested. The production of „vermicompost‟ (using worms to increase the breakdown of undigested organic matter) was discussed with farmers and suggestions were made on the application of this compost in place of chemical fertilisers. Results: The majority of trained farmers (over 65%) reported that they had replaced part or all of their fertiliser with home-made compost; eight farmers have set up vermicomposts, using concrete latrine rings as containers. However, less than 22% had started keeping records of their input costs or selecting good seed. Whilst the importance of record-keeping was a key element of the training, and indeed the farmers themselves had previously given good reasons why record-keeping was beneficial, only a small percentage of farmers reported that they had kept records during the season. Farmers said there were issues of illiteracy in both villages. Interestingly, 42% of farmers from one village had decided to do their own labour in the field, instead of hiring it, compared to only 14% in the other village.


Table 6. Number of farmers who adopted one or more GSI II recommendations

GSI workshop recommendations

Village (no. farmers)

Record keeping

Replaced fertiliser with compost

Select good seed

Use own labour

Dighapara (29) 17% 76% 21% 14%

Nyapara (31) 19% 65% 16% 42%

Trained farmers from 2009 provided records of their input costs for chilli production in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, the average input cost for 15 farmers in Dighapara village, who grew chilli, was Tk 354 per decimal (1 decimal (dec) = one hundredth of an acre) and in Nyapara it was Tk 398 per dec. This present season, following training, the average input costs for the same farmers was reduced to Tk 237 per dec in Dighapara and to Tk 234 per dec in Nyapara. This reduction in cost led to an increased return on investment of more than 2.0, despite the reduced income from the harvested crop, see Table 7. Table 7. The cost of chilli production for farmers in two villages on Hat Shepur char, comparing 2009 and 2010 costs

Input costs/dec (Tk)

Income/dec (Tk)

Profit/dec (Tk)

Return on investment

Village (no. farmers)

2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010

Dighapara (15)

354 237 1057 787 702 551 2.0 2.4

Nyapara (28)

398 234 1002 760 604 526 1.6 2.3

Project staff collected details on other vegetables (not chilli) being grown by farmers on the char (see Table 8). The land planted for other vegetables was considerably less than that planted for chilli (when combined = 17% of chilli land), however the crops are all foodstuffs, are all marketable and are all applicable to the techniques taught during the GSI training sessions, e.g. bed preparation, using compost etc.


Table 8. Winter vegetables grown by farmers at Dighapara and Noyapara villages, in Hat Sherpur Char (data on chilli excluded), with details on areas planted in late 2009 and input costs during the season. *: mean dec /farmer

Crop Dighapara village Noyapara village Area

planted* Input (Tk/dec)

Area planted*

Input (Tk/dec)

seed/ 100Tk (kg)

Amaranthus 1.9 95 1.8 94 0.6 Country bean

0.5 173 0.9 149 0.3

Gourds (various)

0.7 136 1.2 143 0.4

Spinach 2.2 121 1 75 0.6 Brinjal 3.4 143 4.1 133 0.2 Red amaranth

0.5 190 0.8 93 0.2

Indian spinach

0.5 123 1 108 0.6

Radish 3.8 102 2.9 96 0.3 Okra 0.6 216 1.3 212 0.5


Expected result 2: The poorest farming families in Tanzania improve their food security through proper selection and storage of seed

Project background Farmers in the lowland areas of Tanzania, where rainfall is relatively scarce, grow drought-tolerant sorghum varieties using their own saved seed. The original seed is either purchased from local stockists or supplied to the farmers for free as “seed aid” by the Local Government Authorities through the District Agricultural and Livestock Development Officer. However, the majority of poor farmers select their own seed for planting in subsequent seasons. Unfortunately in many districts seed-transmitted diseases and noxious weeds are common; smut diseases and Striga weeds, for example, reduce sorghum yields by about 15% each year. Recent figures indicate that more than 40% of households in the lowland regions lacked food security on an annual basis. In 2007, during GSI I, scientists from the Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), worked with local extension officers to design a farmer-participatory field-based training programme to help farmers identify and manage smut disease, and to train them in the best practices for the selection and storage of healthy sorghum seed. Approximately 200 farmers from Njombe and Kongwa districts participated in the training. A principal aim of GSI II was to continue this training and to reach a greater number of farmers, but also, to replace low yielding, disease susceptible seed that is presently being used by the majority (>70%) of sorghum farmers, and to increase the level of Quality Declared Seed (QDS) in the market. Furthermore, GSI II was committed to finding a regular and reliable market for the farmers to sell this disease-free sorghum grain. There is only one sorghum season per year in Tanzania with the local variety Lugugu normally planted in late November or early December whereas the improved drought-tolerant varieties are planted from mid-January to mid-February. Harvesting of the sorghum is normally done during the months of May and June (Figure 6).

Crop Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Improved varieties

Local variety (Lugugu)

Sowing Mid-season Harvesting

Figure 6. Sorghum cropping calendar in Kongwa district, Tanzania.

Summary of activities

Activities:

1.1. Baseline survey At the start of GSI II, farmers from 178 households in 10 villages in Kongwa district were chosen for training in the selection and processing of sorghum seed. At this early stage a baseline survey of the farmers was also done, collecting a range of general household socioeconomic and crop production data, including family size, farm size, crops grown,


inputs used, annual yields, etc. In addition, farmers from a total of 37 households from five villages in Kongwa district, self-selected at random from those involved in the baseline survey, agreed to record their input costs throughout the 2008-09 sorghum cropping season. This included data on costs of land preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting and winnowing, as well as the direct costs of tractor hire, seed, fertilisers, manure and pesticides. During a follow-up visit by GSI II staff (May 2009), 37 farmers in six villages in Kongwa district were then asked to survey for Covered Kernal Smut (CKS) (Sphacelotheca sorghi) in their sorghum fields, under the supervision of a local extension officer. Covered Kernal Smut is a highly destructive seed-borne disease of sorghum, but it can be controlled culturally by selecting, threshing and storing clean seed separately and, by treating with dry powdered berries of endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) or by applying proprietary seed dressings. Seed of a number of „improved‟ sorghum varieties which have been supplied to farmers by local seed companies are certified as „free of infection by all seed-borne diseases‟.

Figure 7. Mr Lebai Nsemwa from ARI-Uyole interviewing Mrs Elly Wami a member of Chingu‟ndi Farmers Group Banyibanyi village, Kongwa district. Results:

This baseline survey indicated that the average household consisted of three adults, two adolescents (10 - 18 years), two children (less than 10 years), and owned 10 acres of land. This average household would need a minimum of 1,843 kg (154 kg per month) of sorghum grain to ensure food security until the next harvest. Since average grain yields in the area are 900 kg/ha, this household would need to plant a minimum of 5.1 acres to harvest the required amount of grain. The cost of land preparation for 5 acres is approximately Tsh 15000 (€8).

Rainfall is a constant issue in this region with drought conditions for over a year. In the early part of the 2008-2009 season rainfall was lower than normal for the Kongwa district; the first rains of the season fell in late November, with a monthly average of 58.9mm falling over the next three months (low levels). There was near normal rainfall (133.3mm) during February 2009, while in March there was no rain at all and in April and May just a few small showers. As a result, the total rainfall for the 2008-09 cropping season was just 331.2mm, approximately 50% of what is considered to be normal.


The biggest expenditure was for hiring a tractor for ploughing, which cost around Tsh15000 per acre. Thirty two percent of farmers had bought fertiliser, which they applied at less than the recommended rate. Other expenditures were on labour for planting, weeding, harvesting and grain processing.

For the 37 farmers surveyed in five villages, the area of sorghum cultivated was between 0.8 and 4.2 acres for each village, the total production costs were Tsh 59470 - 76804 and the value of each household‟s harvested grain ranged from Tsh 2400 - 8556, which meant each household to lose an average of Tsh 63188 (equivalent to US$47) during the five month cropping period (Table 9). The loss was partly attributed to the low yields due to drought. Table 9. Sorghum production per household of farmers surveyed in GSI II

Village House-

holds Area planted (acres)

Production costs (Tsh/household)

Harvest value (Tsh/household)

Profit (loss) (Tsh/household)

Mbande 5 0.8 59470 2400 (57070) Manungu 9 4.2 72358 8555 (63802) Ibwaga 11 2.1 76804 6454 (70350) Laikala 7 1.5 69685 4428 (65257) Sagara 5 3.7 67360 7900 (59460) Means 2.5 69135 5948 (63187)

An average of 60 kg of grain, sufficient for 13 days‟ minimum food security, was harvested in 2009. The mean grain shortfall (the difference between the minimum annual grain requirement and the amount of grain harvested) for the 37 households in five villages was 1657 kg and the cost of buying sufficient grain to cover this shortfall was Tsh 497040 (equivalent to US$371).

The farmers were growing one of six different sorghum varieties, namely Lugugu, Pato, Macia, Wahi, Hakika and Tegemeo. Survey data showed that between 4 and 56% of sorghum panicles were infected with CKS, in each field. The overall mean incidence of CKS in the six sorghum varieties growing in 37 different fields was 26%. Since CKS is entirely seed-borne, these results indicated that the so-called „certified‟ seed of Pato bought from local seed companies and, other short season varieties, were contaminated; this may have been the cause of grain losses of more than 20% in Kongwa district during the 2008/09 season.

Figure 8. Sorghum (var. Pato) infected with Covered Kernal Smut.


1.2. Eliminating smut disease and Striga weed from sorghum seed Farmer groups in ten villages (Machenje, Mautya, Ibwaga, Sagara, Banyibanyi, Msunjilile, Laikala, Msingisa, Manungu and Mbande) in Kongwa district were each provided with 6 kg of foundation sorghum seed, in October 2009. The seed was of two varieties, Hakika or Wahi, both of which were short duration, smut and Striga tolerant varieties. The quantity of seed (6 kg) was enough to plant approximately three acres in each village. The aim was for the farmer groups to plant the seeds in a selected field that met the basic requirements for production of a seed crop, under the Quality Declared Seed (QDS) system, in January 2010, and to distribute seed the following season to neighbouring farmers. Amongst the 10 villages selected for GSI II, farmers from three villages (Msunjilile, Mbande and Manungu) had participated in GSI I. At Mbande, two of the farmers had already selected sorghum seed (variety Hakika) in the field before harvesting, and one of them had planted a field trial plot with three plots: i) seed selected in the field and dressed with Topsin, ii) seed selected in the field without seed treatment and, iii) seed selected from a pile of harvested sorghum at home. Although the farmers did not physically count the smut infected plants during the season, the farmers reported at the meeting that there were generally fewer infected plants in the plots planted with seed selected in the field.

Figure 9. Sorghum grain heavily contaminated with spores of smut harvested from an infected crop after threshing (left) and the farmer explaining problems encountered when winnowing (right) in Msingisa Village, Kongwa district, Tanzania. The project staff held meetings and training on the principles of seed production of open–pollinated varieties of sorghum in each project village. The trainees included members of the farmer groups and representatives of the District Local Government Council at the village level. The total number of farmers that attended the initial meetings was 450. The turnout, during some of the subsequent training sessions, dropped to as low as 30%. At the beginning of the 2009/10 cropping season a number of farmers had left their villages to seek employment elsewhere, following the prolonged drought experienced during the 2008/09 cropping season, hence were unable to attend the trainings. Some members of the farmer groups missed the training conducted at the beginning of the cropping season whenever the training coincided with the onset of the rains. Farmers often opted to focus on their own fields first (for food security) before attending training. The participatory training included information on land preparation, plant spacing, identifying and destroying diseased plants (crop protection) and the selection, harvesting, threshing, seed cleaning and grading, seed dressing, seed packaging and storage of high quality sorghum seed.


Figure 10. Farmer training sessions at Sagara (left) and Mautya (right) villages, in Kongwa district, Tanzania. By end of February 2010, only half of the villages had managed to plant the seeds that had been provided at the start of training, and only two of these villages had planted the recommended area of three acres. The other five villages had not managed to plant any of the seeds. One of the major reasons for the (sometimes complete) lack of planting was an inability to find suitable sites for seed production. According to the “Rules, regulations and procedures for Quality Declared Seed production in Tanzania” the following factors should be put into consideration:

Isolation distance – sorghum is highly cross pollinated, hence the isolation distance of sorghum is 100m from fields of other varieties or fields of similar variety but of inferior grade; 400m from areas with forage and wild sorghum.

Weeds – the field should be free from Striga weed

Land history – the sorghum seed crop shall not be grown on land on which the previous crop was sorghum, unless it was of the same variety and approved as QDS.

Soil – has to be well drained and fertile In Ibwaga village, a seed plot (two acres) was identified by the group and planted with sorghum variety Wahi in November 2009. The germination of the seeds was good (>90% germinated). Unfortunately, this seed crop and all other crops in the neighbouring farms were destroyed by floods following heavy rains in December 2009, which washed away the sorghum and all other crops. Approximately 60 households (comprising of 288 people) were displaced and 289 acres of farms were destroyed.

Figure 11. Remains of houses destroyed by floods (left) and a sorghum crop replanted following flood damage, in Ibwaga village, Kongwa district.


In one village (Sagala) differences in gender access and control of resources, particularly land, and a lack of cohesiveness of the farmer groups from other villages, particularly in Banyibanyi and Mautya villages, affected participation of the group members in GSI II activities. However, there was one exception group (Kajumlo Farmers Group) in Macheje that was well organised and with a bank account, from which their members could apply for small loans. The Kajumlo Farmers Group traces its roots from a football club (comprising 60 members) sponsored by a local politician. The group, comprising of 10 members, split from the football club in 2003 to engage in agricultural activities. The main objective of the Kajumlo farmers group is to produce QDS of sorghum in order that its members can move out of poverty and improve their livelihoods by generating income from the sale of seed. The group already has a constitution and is officially registered at the district local government level in Kongwa. In order to strengthen all of the farmer groups, the project team developed and conducted a training module on governance, which included a topic on group dynamics: basic principles in group formation and the key stages in group development (Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing).

Figure 12. Members of Kajumlo Farmers Group attending a training session on group dynamics (left) and Dr Mbwaga facilitating the training session (right), in Macheje village, Kongwa district. Results: There was insufficient rainfall during the mid-season growing period (January – April 2010), leading to crop failure and low yields; hence, no end of season seed. Only the Ching‟hundi farmers‟ group in Banyibanyi village managed to harvest some seeds (40kg) from their sorghum (variety Hakika) crop, by the end of June 2010. Having received training on seed selection at the beginning of the 2009/10 cropping season, it was noted during a monitoring visit (August 2010) that some of the farmers from six villages (Figure 13) had already selected, harvested and stored small quantities of seeds (total 285 kg) of three sorghum varieties (Lugugu, 125kg; Macia, 8kg and Pato, 152 kg) in readiness for the 2010/11 cropping season (Figure 14). In an attempt to mitigate the effect of persistent drought, the project team from ARI established links for members of the Maendeleo Farmers Groups in Laikala, with a climate change project implemented in the same village. The farmers have been advised on various water harvesting techniques such us use of small basins to maintain soil moisture and prevent runoff.


Figure 13. Farmers who selected seeds of sorghum in their own farms during the 2009/10 cropping season in six villages in Kongwa district, Tanzania.

Figure 14. Yield of sorghum seeds selected at field level and by farmers during the 2009/10 cropping season in six villages in Kongwa district, Tanzania. In October 2010 project staff visited the farmer groups again and once more distributed the disease tolerant varieties of sorghum. In an attempt to reduce the risk of another crop failure a new planting strategy was agreed amongst the farmer groups, with part of the seed planted in December 2010 and the rest in January/February 2011, instead of all planted at one time. Harvesting of the sorghum is scheduled for May/June 2011.

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1.3. Grain production and creating a market In July 2009, two farmers (one male, one female) from each of eight farmer groups (in Manungu, Mbande, Msunjilile, Banyibanyi, Ibwaga, Sagara, Laikala and Msingisa village) were selected for a visit to Darbrew brewery in Dar es Salaam, to discuss marketing opportunities for sorghum grain. The farmers held discussions with the General Manager, Production Manager and Personnel Officer from Darbrew. The farmers were told that the factory required 2,500 tonnes of sorghum grain per year and was currently utilising 10 tonnes of sorghum per day. To increase production of opaque beer (Chibuku) the brewery was also planning to expand its warehouse facilities by 50%. Darbrew expressed its willingness to buy sorghum directly from the farmers rather than from middlemen. Following the visit to Darbrew the farmers agreed to meet with members of their farmer groups, to discuss their visit and agree a strategy on how to exploit the Darbrew sorghum market. The general conclusions were:

There is a ready market for sorghum at Darbrew.

In order to make use of the Darbrew market there will be a need for prior agreement between the factory and the farmer groups. A contract for the supply of sorghum will have to be negotiated and signed a priori.

The price for selling the sorghum for the coming year (2009/10 cropping season) will have to be negotiated by a team of representatives of the farmers and Darbrew. The current price is TShs. 230 per kg for clean sorghum delivered at Darbrew in Dar es Salaam.

Darbrew was willing to support the farmers with inputs once they had worked with them for some time.

The farmers must produce a particular variety, e.g., Macia, for the Darbrew market.

Other farmer groups in the villages, other than those in the GSI II project, will be invited to attend and be involved in the sorghum marketing strategy.

When the group meets farmers in a particular village, the main speakers will be those in the team who represented other villages and not those from that village, this way the message would be better received.

Results: Whilst the visit to Darbrew established a good link between farmer groups as well as a potential market for sorghum, severe droughts during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 season resulted in very low yields of grain in all of the GSI II villages and the entire Kongwa district. There was insufficient grain to feed the farming families for more than a few months let alone a surplus to sell to the brewery. The farmers once again had to rely on hiring themselves out as labourers to earn enough money to buy food. The link with Darbrew remains, but success of this venture is hugely dependent on climate. According to the chairperson of Ching‟hundi farmers group in Banyibanyi, who visited Darbrew, the visit changed their minds from “grow and sell” to “grow to sell”. To enhance the knowledge of the farmers in business management, the project team conducted training on cost-benefit analysis and product pricing to participating farmers in all ten villages. The selling price is the cost of producing a certain amount of sorghum (e.g. 1 kg - cost of production) plus the producer‟s profit – (profit mark-up – plus an amount to cover the fixed cost used – (depreciation).

Selling price = cost of production + profit mark-up + depreciation


While determining the profit mark-up the famer should know whether customers are willing to pay the price and whether the price is competitive compared with the price of other sorghum of the same quality. To reduce contamination with sand, the farmers were advised that the sorghum heads should be placed on a clean place (cemented floor or tarpaulin) during threshing and winnowing.

Figure 15. Packaging of sorghum grain for sale at Msingisa Village, in Kongwa district, Tanzania. During the 2010/11 cropping season, the data collected on the production of sorghum grain from a sample of 115 famers (40.9% female and 59.1% men) in nine of the GSI II villages (Figure 16) showed that approximately 315 acres were planted with sorghum (Figure 17) and the expected yield was 115.5 ton (Figure 18). The final yield would need to be confirmed at the end of the harvesting period (end June 21011). The current price of sorghum grain (June 2011) is between Tsh 400 – 500 per kg.

Figure 16. Number of farmers in the project sites who planted sorghum for grain production during the 2010/11 cropping season in Kongwa District, Tanzania

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Figure 18. Expected yield of sorghum grain by the farmers in the project sites during the 2010/11 cropping season in Kongwa District, Tanzania

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Expected result 3: 1000 mainly women farmers in Uganda profit from selling quality-declared NERICA rice seed Project Background The quality of farmer-saved rice seed in many districts of Uganda is poor, following severe land and household disruption caused by civil war, climate change and HIV/AIDS. As a result, not only have rice yields been in decline but access to improved commercial varieties has been blocked due to increased poverty. However, the Ugandan Government is pushing to be self-sufficient in rice, primarily to feed school children and urban-dwellers. Furthermore, with the lack of high quality rice seed, farmers have the opportunity to make some money if they are given the right training and opportunities to produce better seed. The objective of GSI II in Uganda was to enhance farmer knowledge on rice seed production in communities that had been severely disrupted by civil war and to improve the productivity of this staple food crop. Also, to enhance the capacity amongst small-holding farmers to make money from trading in quality declared seed, i.e. as informal seed traders. GSI II targeted the training at women farmers, many of whom were widows, to enable them to re-gain skills in rice production that had been lost from the family. Some of these trainees would then be encouraged to become trainers themselves and to facilitate farmer field schools on rice production. The rice variety being promoted was New Rice for Africa (NERICA-4), a cross between a high yielding and an environmentally robust variety. Demand for NERICA-4 is increasing in both western and central Africa. There are two rice-growing seasons in Uganda, March to July and September to January. Summary of activities Activities:

1.1. Planning meeting (Kampala)

A GSI II Planning Workshop was held in Kampala at the start of the project. The meeting brought together all project partners, namely CABI, NaCRRI, WARDA, Government extension and several NGOs. During this meeting the outputs from GSI I were reviewed and new activities planned. A field trip to Lira district (one of two proposed GSI II districts) gave workshop participants the opportunity to assess the level of training required by small-holding farmers; it was noted that many women farmers had formed farming groups for mutual support, since being released from internment camps, where they were held during the civil war. A visit was made to Ngetta Agricultural Research and Development Centre, enabling GSI partners to discuss activities with the Centre Director who is responsible for integrating agricultural development projects in the Lira district. The Centre Director was particularly concerned about the rising cost of chemical fertilisers and stressed the need to train farmers in low cost alternatives. 1.2. Phase I of farmer training The first phase of farmer training began in May 2009. Thirty six (mainly women) farmers were selected for training, all were poor, small-holders and many were widows. Training was provided on seed sorting, seed spacing in field and on the use of fertilisers. The farmers were all from Masindi district and represented nine villages.


Unfortunately, severe drought during the subsequent growing season caused considerable yield loss for the trained farmers. All of the farmers did not produce enough rice for their own consumption and therefore did not have any surplus to sell to neighbouring farmers. As a result, some the farmers lost interest in growing rice and switched to another crop. 1.3. Phase II of farmer training The second phase of training began in February 2010 and this time included training on how to run farmer field schools (FFS), with the intention that these farmers could facilitate FFS later in the year. Twenty four farmers from Masindi district and eight from Lira district were trained on rice agronomy as in Phase I; however, the eight Lira farmers were also trained on FFS implementation. Participating in the Lira training was the Government‟s Agricultural Officer for the Lira district. Training took place at NaCRRI. A number of farmers also began clearing areas of land where FFS were to take place. Foundation seed plots (each approximately 0.5 acre) were planted in a number of parishes in both Lira and Masindi. These plots were established to produce NERICA-4 seed for farmers outside the training program, for the proceeding season. Approximately eight acres were planted in each district.

Figure 19. GSI II farmer training on rice seed sorting, seed spacing and the use of fertilisers. Training was given to 36 (mainly women) farmers

Figure 20. Farmer training on NERICA-4 rice production and running farmer field schools, given to farmers from Lira and Masindi districts


Results: The yields from the Lira foundation plots were relatively good, this was in contrast to the Masindi plots, where severe drought caused very low yields. In Masindi, one plot produced a relatively high yield whilst all others produced very little seed (two plots produced no foundation seed at all) (Table 10). Availability of seed for neighbouring farmers differed considerably between the two districts. A total of 3663 kg of NERICA-4 seed was planted by 196 farmers, covering approximately 122 acres. In Masindi, 1290 kg of seed was planted by only 24 farmers, covering 43 acres (Table 11). Table 10. Production and sale of NERICA-4 rice seed in Masindi district, Uganda, during 2010 early-season, following GSI II training.

Village No. of farmers

Area planted (acres)

Yield (kg/acre)

Seed sold to other farmers

(kg)

Kihuba 1 1 200 165 Labong 1 1 0 0 Kihaguzi 1 1 250 200 Walyoba 1 1 250 200 Kasenyi-Bokwe 2 2.5 1000 335 Kituka 1 1 0 0 Total 7.5 1700 900

Table 11. Area under NERICA-4 rice seed in Lira and Masidni districts, Uganda, using seed produced from GSI II foundation plots

District Parish No. of farmers

Amount of seed

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Lira Kapok 30 465 15.5 Ogur 28 528 17.6 Akagil 24 510 17 Orit 30 600 20 Aneolopom 30 600 20 Abwoa 30 600 20 Abal 24 360 12 Masindi Kihaguzi 8 390 13 Labong 8 600 20 Kiruli 8 300 10 Total 220 3333 148.1

1.4. Soil fertility demonstration plots During the training of farmers in both Lira and Masindi districts, soil fertility demonstration plots were established. The plots were used to show low-cost soil fertility amendment options for NERICA-4. The plots were divided into three blocks (5 x 5 m) and planted with lablab, soybean, maize and rice. In the following season, the same plants were replanted in the same plots. A crop rotation is then to be made the season after (in 2011), to compare the performance of NERICA-4 rice grown in rotation with the other crops.


Appendix

Proposals awarded by other donors, relating to GSI: Title

Scaling up farmer-led seed enterprises for sustained productivity and livelihoods in Eastern and Central Africa

Submission date Approved in November, 2009 following approved CN Donor ASARECA Budget USD 581,440 Duration (years) Dec 2009-June 2012 Project Manager Daniel Karanja Location (countries) Kenya, Tanzania Summary

Title Start date Donor Budget Location (countries) Summary

Project goal is, “Enhanced utilisation of gender-responsive agricultural technologies and innovations in eastern and central Africa”, and the purpose is “Increased and sustainable smallholder access to quality AIV seeds in Kenya and Tanzania by

gender”. The project will generate evidence-based and rigorously analyzed conceptual model(s) for economically viable and sustainable farmer-led seed enterprises on AIVs; assist relevant stakeholders to acquire the necessary skills and facilitate the setting up of organizational arrangements that enable them to establish and manage local level, economically viable and sustainable enterprises, capable of producing and marketing quality AIV seed; also, to generate lessons learned on the proven approaches including guidelines and strategies for implementing and upscaling economically and institutionally sustainable local level AIV seed enterprises, in selected ECA countries. Recent Output: A training curriculum was developed and through a Training of trainers (ToT) a training of trainers workshop, 19 (40% women) and 10 (30% women) farmers’ trainers were trained in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively. After one season-long farmers’ training, conducted by the ToT graduates in Kenya, “certified seed” of African nightshade (2,621.2kg), Crotalaria (1,347.4kg) and Sunhemp (564.0kg) was produced by 45 trained contract famers (22% female) in the larger Bungoma district in Kenya. In Tanzania, 16 of the trained farmers (31% women) produced Quality Declared Seed (Grade: QDS 1) of grain

Amaranthus (660kg), African eggplant (4kg) and African nightshade (6.3kg) in Kongwa (4 villages) and Mpwapwa (2 villages) districts in Dodoma, Tanzania. All the seeds were approved by the seed regulators and accorded lot numbers for sale. To raise awareness of the need for using quality seeds and showcase the project activities, the project has used different gender specific information pathways including radio broadcasts, Newspaper Articles, Newsletters and Websites Transfer and Dissemination of Emerging Agricultural Technologies of New Rice for Africa, (NERICA): Improving Access to Quality Seed through Public-private partnership in Uganda Jan. 2010 DFID RiU GBP 199900 Uganda The project supports scaling up, production and delivery of high quality NERICA rice seed by local seed companies and implements a marketing strategy to

stabilise demand. Currently, rice consumption in Uganda is estimated at 210,000 MT and imports remain high. The Uganda government is promoting rice production to reduce imports and as a relief measure, to provide food for people returning to areas formerly affected by war. Although demand in the country is high, the activities of the relief agencies are highlighting the lack of good quality seed which are leading to distortions in the market, as seed of variable quality is provided cheaply or free of charge. Project objectives are 1) To increase NACRRI capacity for basic seed production to 5 MT/year; 2) To increase capacity of targeted seed companies to produce 1,400 MT by establishing functional linkages with out-growers; and 3) To stabilise product demand.


Title Submission date Donor Budget Location (countries) Summary


Recent outputs: Three tonnes of seed, of three registered NERICA rice varieties, have been produced by NACRRI to distribute to seed producers in 2010. This will increase the availability of good quality foundation seed. A number of production and extension staff have been trained on quality rice seed production. Videos on quality seed production have been translated into seven local languages. Training and information materials on quality rice seed production have been developed, for distribution to local growers. Strengthening Seed Supply systems in Support of Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation in Africa April 2008 PASS programme of AGRA (indirectly Gates) US$419164 Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania The present project is working in 3 countries with the primary objective of building the capacity of smallholder farmers to manage and produce good quality seed and to participate more effectively in seed distribution systems. Two of the target countries (Uganda and Tanzania) have a relatively strong and emerging private sector that is developing rapidly. In these countries the focus will be on supporting

the development of linkages between private sector seed companies and smallholder farmers as out-growers, emphasising the importance of equitable relations between them. In Ethiopia where the private sector has a more limited coverage, the potential of existing and indigenous seed distribution systems will be explored as a means to deliver the improved seed. The project is building capacity of smallholder farmers to produce high quality seed and to develop effective linkages between these smallholders, seed SMEs and public breeding programmes. The overall purpose of the project is to establish or strengthen mechanisms for effective seed delivery through both formal and informal channels. The overall goal is to improve access of smallholder farmers in Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia to appropriate varieties and types of seed in required quality, quantity and at the right time. Project outputs are 1) strong farmer groups and/or seed associations that would be key partners for PASS in the target countries identified, together with smallholder private sector companies and other stakeholders in local marketing chains, 2) smallholder farmers trained as seed out-growers and producers, 3) seed out-growers/producers functioning as an integral part of seed distribution systems and 4) increased awareness of seed policy and regulatory

Lucrative Legumes and Sesame: A Knowledge-Based Action to Strengthen the Role of Farmer Associations in Seed and Grain Value Chains to Increase Incomes, Alleviate Poverty and Improve Food Security Oct. 2008 EU EUR 449610; EUR 359688 (80%) Mozambique Market chains for groundnut and sesame in the Nacala corridor in Northern Mozambique are established and expanding. The project is strengthening the participation of smallholder farmers in these marketing chains through capacity building activities, targeting both business and production skills, including introduction of appropriate GAP measures. An important part of the project is to develop business plans for established facilities at IKURU for seed and grain processing and aflatoxin testing, and to implement best business practices to ensure their sustainability. The project builds on earlier activities in an ICRISAT project, SEDIS (Servicio Desenvolvimento da Industria de Semente) which supported seed entrepreneurs to develop their business. The current project focuses on supporting IKURU to develop their business plan for seed production, but facilitate development of both businesses as integral parts of seed and grain value chains, with the aim of implementing cost effective operations. Project outputs are 1) to improve smallholder farmer income and food safety from production of improved quality seed and grain, 2) to strengthen farmers in the IKURU network by building capacity to produce quality seed and to produce grain from quality seed, meeting contractual standards for volume, quality and timeliness, 3) to build capacity of value chain actors to implement quality control systems to strengthen the position



Upscaling NERICA adoption in Southern Sudan and

Northern Uganda

Approved in June, 2010 following approved CN ASARECA

US$ 424,848 South Sudan and Northern Uganda

The proven technology that this project will transfer and disseminate is

the New Rice for Africa (NERICA). The crop varieties (NERICA-1, NERICA-4, and NERICA-10), and the management options for the crop, are both

listed in the ASARECA database of Best Bets research outputs suitable for upscaling. NERICA varieties especially, NERICA-4 are high yielding, as well

as having good cooking and taste characteristics and is thus widely seen

as a major opportunity to improve food security and livelihoods in Africa. However, this outcome will only occur if there is sufficient demand for the

crop, and if its wide scale adoption is facilitated effectively. The overall goal of this project is “to enhance sustainable productivity, value addition, and competitiveness of smallholder NERICA production systems in post conflict areas”. The purpose is “to enhance uptake of NERICA technologies and innovations by gender and other socioeconomic

categories in Southern Sudan and Northern Uganda”. The project has four outputs: 1) Innovation platforms for NERICA adoption functional, 2)

NERICA seed value chain strengthened, 3) NERICA production and utilization technologies promoted and, 4) Best practices, experiences and

lessons learnt on upscaling NERICA adoption documented and

disseminated. Recent activities: Rapid survey (baseline), map and analyse rice value

chains (to identify actors, available technologies along entire chain, links, weaknesses, gaps, potential). Develop an outcome journal as part of the

project inception process, Develop, print and disseminate a project

communication strategy; produce and distribute a Quality Rice Seed Production Manual

the good seed initiative, phase ii - cabi.org...final report for sdc, march 2011, by dr steve...

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