Successful Seed Programs: A Planning and Management Guide
... Several analysts have advanced life cycle theories of industrial development based on the observed similarities. Four stages of growth are commonly described, although in reality these "stages" repre sent arbitrarily selected points along a growth continuum (Douglas 1980;Desai 1985;Pray and Ramaswami 1991;Jaffee and Srivastava 1992;Cromwell, Friis-Hansen, and Turner 1992;Rusike 1995;Dowswell, Pali wal, and Cantrell 1996). Characteristics of these stages are summarized in Table 3.1. ...
... • Viability is determined by means of the germination test, the proce dure used most frequently to monitor seed quality. Standard methods for carrying out germination tests have been published in numerou s sources and will not be discussed in great detail here (Justice 1972;Douglas 1980). Most standard germination tests involve incubating 2 to 3 replicated sam ples of kernels (usually 100 kernels per sample) under controlled temper ature and moisture conditions and determining the percentage that germi nate and develop into normal seedlings. ...
... A growing body of empirical evidence suggests that varietal release procedures often delay the release of promising materials, reduce the overall number of releases (Kalinda and Filson 1995), and slow the rate of varietal turnover in farm ers' fields (Virk, Packwood, and Witcombe 1995). Also, varietal release committees are notoriously susceptible to professional and political bias (Douglas 1980). Varietal release committees are often dominated by pub lic-sector scientists and government officials who may be less than objec tive in assessing entries, especially those submitted by rival institutions. ...
... Up to the 1980s, the goal of seed system development in developing countries was a formal public-private sector seed system model, emulating the model which was so successful in north-western Europe and North America where it had emerged as a result of advances in agricultural technology and a strong agricultural sector. Although the actual stages of development and maturity of the seed systems vary among crops and countries (Douglas, 1980;Spielman & Smale, 2017), they are assumed to eventually reach the 'final' and 'mature' stage, characterized by a well-developed agricultural sector in which commercial seed companies and the market supply most of the seed and legislation and supporting ...
... activities are functional and effective (Douglas, 1980). Seed systems of hybridized and industrial staple crops, together with horticultural crops, tend to be the most advanced. ...
... Following the four-stage scale of Douglas (1980), most RTB seed systems in developing countries are in 'stage 1', also termed 'nascent' (in contrast to 'mature', see Spielman & Smale, 2017). Their characteristics include a small ineffective formal and public R&D, a rudimentary (seed) value chain and the preponderance of farmer-saved planting material (Lynam, 2011;BMGF and USAID 2015). ...
Seed systems for roots, tuber, and banana (RTB) crops receive relatively little attention from development-oriented research and commercial seed sector actors, despite their importance for food security, nutrition and rural livelihoods. We review RTB seed systems—with particular reference to potato, sweetpotato, cassava, yam and banana —to reflect on current seed system development approaches and the unique nature of these systems. We refer to our own experiences, literature and 13 case studies of RTB seed system interventions to identify gaps in our knowledge on farmer practices in sourcing and multiplying seed, and processes affecting seed quality. Currently, most approaches to developing RTB seed systems favour decentralised multiplication models to make quality seed available to smallholder farmers. Nevertheless, arguments and experiences show that in many situations, the economic sustainability of these models cannot be guaranteed, among others because the effective demand of farmers for seed from vegetatively propagated crops is unclear. Despite the understudied nature of farmers’ agronomic and social practices in relation to seed production and sourcing in RTB crops, there is sufficient evidence to show that local RTB seed systems are adaptive and dynamic. Our analysis suggests the paramount importance of understanding farmers’ effective demand for seed and how this affects the sustainable supply of quality seed from specialized producer-entrepreneurs, regardless of the seed system paradigm. From the case studies we learnt that few interventions are designed with a rigorous understanding of these issues; in particular, what types of interventions work for which actors, where, and why, although this is a necessary condition for prioritizing investments to increase the use of improved seed by smallholder farmers
... Policies were simply needed to lift a national seed system to a higher level. Douglas (1980) was one of the most prominent originators of this historic approach. He developed the concept of 'natural' stages in seed industry development that should further the SIDP initiatives in the public sector towards a sustainable commercial seed industry. ...
... Seed policies within the concept of linear seed industry development laid down by Douglas (1980) mentioned above were developed by a relatively small group of people, the seed specialists. These seed specialists were able to determine what was needed to move to the next stage of development. ...
... The ISSD approach has emerged as an alternative to historically dominant and linear models aimed at a solitary and standard formal commercial seed system (Louwaars and de Boef, 2012;Borman et al., 2025a). Since the 1970s, such models have been guiding seed policies and programs (Douglas, 1980;Tripp and Rohrbach, 2001). Critics of those models point out that they are relevant for just a few crops (e.g., maize), and that they disregard, or worse yet penalize, the other seed systems through which farmers access quality seed and their varieties (Louwaars and de Boef, 2012;Sperling and Almekinders, 2023). ...
... We found that companies foresee a linear trajectory in which public and private investments are made to enable farmers to adopt increasingly technologically advanced seed types. Their perspective resembles the view of Douglas (1980), that seed system development moves from informal to formal systems. In this shared vision, vegetable seed companies play different roles and specialize in different seed system functions. ...
... This method was chosen to mechanically break the sarcotesta, facilitating water and oxygen absorption [32]. By exposing the inner layers of the sarcotesta, the aim was to overcome dormancy barriers and improve seedling emergence [33], particularly in species with hard or impermeable sarcotesta like Carapa amorphocarpa. The angular part was specifically selected for its structural integrity and accessibility, ensuring a controlled and precise scarification process. ...
Carapa amorphocarpa W. Palacios is a forest species known solely from Cerro Golondrinas in northwestern Ecuador. The species is threatened due to illegal exploitation of its wood and the encroachment of the agricultural frontier. Although information on its ecology and forestry was presented in 2012, there is still very little information available. This study investigated the effects of various pre-germinative treatments on the seed germination and early growth of Carapa amorphocarpa in a nursery. The treatments included combinations of substrates (forest soil alone and forest soil mixed with sand), along with pre-germinative mechanical seed scarification. Through these treatments, the seeds’ germination capacity, growth potential, and survival rates were evaluated in a nursery. Seed germination was found to be cryptocotylar hypogeal, commencing at 41 days and achieving an average of 83.13%. Survival of germinated seedlings was 99.23% at 60 days after germination. Furthermore, a high degree of correlation in growth was observed between basal diameter and plant height (R = 0.94). The mean values for the plants’ basal diameter and total height were 0.91 cm and 50.48 cm, respectively, at 60 days. Plant form was straight with excellent health. These insights offer the potential to enhance species populations, mitigate threat risks, and in the long term, foster sustainable use of Carapa amorphocarpa genetic resources. Moreover, this seed propagation information can be leveraged for other species within the genus exploited for oil extraction from their seeds, thereby broadening knowledge and facilitating sustainable forest resource management.
... A seed system is defined as a set of activities aiming to deliver seeds of known categories and variety to farmers. Seed systems development undergoes several stages, namely, stage 1 to stage 4, where stage 1 depicts seed systems, which are dominated by seed saving and exchange practices with poor availability of improved varieties, and stage 4 is characterized by developed seed sector led by commercial seed production and marketing (Douglas, 1980). On this basis, the KG seed system is still at stage 1. ...
... A seed system is defined as a set of activities aiming to deliver seeds of known categories and variety to farmers. Seed systems development undergoes several stages, namely, stage 1 to stage 4, where stage 1 depicts seed systems, which are dominated by seed saving and exchange practices with poor availability of improved varieties, and stage 4 is characterized by developed seed sector led by commercial seed production and marketing (Douglas, 1980). On this basis, the KG seed system is still at stage 1. ...
This chapter summarizes and discusses KG botany, production systems, utilization, market, genomic and genetic resources, breeding, and seed systems.
... They were made present by, for example, Linnemann andde Bruijn (1987), Cromwell (1990), and Almekinders et al. (1994). Before that, the informal seed system was an absence, and seed system de facto referred to what we now define as the formal seed system (Douglas, 1980). For the informal seed system to survive and be turned into fact, it needs to be referred to in a next generation of scientific research and papers (Latour, 1987). ...
... The goals emerged because of advances in agricultural technology and a strong agricultural sector, which was so successful in Western economies. It was envisioned to reach a mature seed system, characterized by a well-developed agricultural sector in which commercial seed companies and the market supply most, but farmers were perceived as passive recipients of technologies (Douglas, 1980). ...
High quality seed is the basis for the sustainable increase of agricultural production and reduction of poverty. However, there is a substantial gap between the production of and farmers demand for seeds in Ethiopia. Yet, we do not sufficiently understand the mismatch between supply and demand for seed. One important reason is the lack of or the limited systematic studies on market orientation (MO) and performance in complex chains (seed supply systems) in D&E markets.
The thesis argues that lessons on how to adapt MO to seed supply value chain functions can be draw from value chain actors and farmer customers in D&E market contexts. In doing so, the thesis identifies from a structural and end customer perspective, the strengths and weakness of different agricultural seed supply chains and functions for potential improvements. This will ensure the development of a more market-oriented seed supply chains that can respond to the expressed and latent needs of their customers. This will in turn boost agricultural production and productivity, enhanced food security, and reduction of poverty among large segments of a growing population.
Effective seed systems enhance customer satisfaction and superior performance for firms. However, effectiveness and efficiency will come from the extent to which the functions are performed in a market-oriented way across the different stages of a seed value chain. MO contributes to effective seed systems, but measures for the MO of functions do not exist. Measuring the MO of seed systems is also difficult because measures of MO may not be comparable across functions and different perspectives. In doing so the thesis contributes to the literature gap on measuring supply systems by using the theoretical framework of MO from the perspectives of all channel actors and the end customers. More specifically, empirical evidence on how MO is applicable to and increases performance for seed supply systems in D&E markets is absent. The general aim of this thesis is to deepen the understanding of the implementation of MO in agricultural seed supply chains in D&E economies, taking Ethiopian seed supply chains as a case.
To achieve the general objective of the study, this thesis explored four lines of empirical research: (1) How do end customers evaluate the performance of the Ethiopian seed supply systems? (2) What is the influence of market channel functions on customer satisfaction with supply chains? (3) What is the degree of MO of the Ethiopian seed supply chains? and (4) How does MO influence the proficiency of supply chains?
To answer question 1, Chapter 3 offered a detailed understanding of the criteria that farmers use to evaluate the performance of the Ethiopian maize and teff seed supply systems. The chapter revealed that in the Ethiopian seed system context the customer performance measures are categorized into seven major themes for maize and eight for teff. For farmer customers, the key evaluation criteria are that the seed supply systems deliver seed (1) of the right variety, (2) at the right quality, (3) easily available, (4) in the right quantity, (5) at an affordable price, (6) with adequate supporting services, (7) with limited production uncertainty, and specific to teff, (8) with an appreciation of cultural heritage.
Chapter 4 presented the results of a quantitative study with 170 end customers for deeper understanding and analysis of the influence of market channel functions proficiency on the customer satisfaction with supply chains for maize, teff, and beans in three regions of Ethiopia. Six key functions that contribute to customer satisfaction were identified, which together can be grouped as (a) the R&D, (b) the multiplication, (c) the quality control and certification, (d) the distribution, (e) the pricing, and (f) the marketing service function. The results show that the seed multiplication function followed by distribution, R&D, price, marketing service, and quality control and certification functions predominately contribute to the end customer overall satisfaction of seed offers. The chapter further revealed the dominant value chain constellations in Ethiopian seed supply chains. It identified 43 unique value chain constellations, in the data: 16 for maize, 18 for teff and 9 for beans. The chapter presented an inventory of which value chain constellations have emerged/survived and analyzed why in terms of (a) overall perceived satisfaction with these constellations and (b) perceived proficiency with the marketing functions performed by the actors involved.
Chapter 5 focused on how MO is best measured in the Ethiopian seed supply system context building on insights from MO theory. The chapter adapted the specific MO components (information generation, information dissemination, and responsiveness) at the level of each market channel function performed within seed supply systems. It explored MO of supply chains (maize, teff, and beans) from four perspectives: (1) the organization performing a function, (2) customers, (3) suppliers, and (4) the final customers. This chapter revealed that in the Ethiopian seed supply chain context the degree of MO differs between functions, crops, and perspectives.
Chapter 6 examined the MO- proficiency relationship in the Ethiopian seed supply chains context. The study confirms that MO has a positive influence on the proficiency of seed supply value chain functions. However, the strength of the relationship differs between the various functions, crops, and perspectives. Thus, MO of seed supply chains is very important for superior performance of firms and a strong basis for the livelihood of farmer customers.
Finally, Chapter 7 synthesizes the results of the preceding chapters, draws main conclusions, and discuss the implications for theory, seed supply chains, policy makers and development partners. In general, this thesis shows that understanding customer satisfaction criteria and implementation of MO across value chain functions can indeed improve the performance of the different seed supply chains. The goal of development organizations and policy makers is to increase food security and livelihood by increasing agricultural productivity. In doing so, the thesis shows ways on how this goal can be achieved: improving proficiency of market channel functions and increasing the MO of supply chain actors.
... Seed quality of a given seed lot is the degree of excellence of that seed when compared to acceptable standards. Good quality seed meets the required biological, physical, physiological (viability and vigour), genetic and pathological standards set by quality control agencies [10]. Only quality seed can reproduce well and preserve the future generation without deviating from the original seed properties [11]. ...
Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an important crop that enhances food security in a region . As a food crop, sorghum is nutritious , containing starch (75- 79%) as the major component, followed by protein (6.0 -16.1%) and oil (2.1- 5.0%). Despite the crop’s versatility, it is regrettable that sorghum yields are still fairly low in Bomet District of Kenya. One of the constraints associated with low yields is the accessibility to good quality seeds by farmers . It was assumed in this study that use of low quality seed was among the factors that could be significantly affecting the low production of sorghum in the district. This study focused on the physiological quality of seed which refers to the germination capacity, viability, characteristics related to dormancy and vigour of the seed. A total of 100 farmers were interviewed and 80 seed sample s were obtained from 80 farmers. The seeds were subjected to viability and vigour quality tests. These tests included germination (as a viability test); mean germination time and electrical conductivity tests (as vigour tests). About 29% of the seed samples taken for germination test were below the laboratory standards as stipulated in the seeds and Plant Varieties Act (CAP 326). Critical electrical conductivity values and critical mean germination time values were derived during the study . In accordance with the critical values arrived at in this study, 27.5% of the seed samples showed relatively high electric al conductivity readings and 36.3% of the seed samples showed longer mean germination time. However, 11.3% of the seed samples showed high germination percentages of above 90%. Since about 29% of farmers seeds were of bad physiological quality, it was concluded that this proportion of seed can result in poor yields and hence cause food insecurity to the people of the society , and thus require s further consideration for improvement . This study recommends that further research be conducted on the genetic, physical and sanitary quality aspects of seed planted by farmers in Bomet District so that a definite conclusive statement about the quality of seed planted by farmers in the District can be made.
... Public sector models face the challenges of capacity constraints, limited reach and linkages through the seed value chain (Minot et al. 2007; Rajendran et al. 2017), which have led to a general disillusionment with the ability of public and parastatal seed enterprises to meet farmer's seed requirements. This has led to calls for greater private seed sector involvement (Douglas 1980;Tripp 2002;Minot et al. 2007), and over the last decades, there has been considerable growth in commercial interest and, investment in, seed production of crops such as maize and vegetables (Van Mele and Bentley 2011; Rutsaert and Donovan 2020a; Rutsaert and Donovan 2020b) However, for other open-pollinated or vegetatively propagated crops such as legumes, roots, and tubers, commercial interest in seed production has lagged, due in part to perceptions about unreliable and risky markets (Jones et al. 2001; Bishaw et al. 2009;McEwan et al. 2015). These crops play a key role in maintaining the food security of producers as well as rural and urban consumers. ...
Farmer-based seed multiplication is widely promoted by development practitioners, but there is limited understanding of the individual or collective motivations of farmers to engage or disengage in specialised seed production. The objective of this study is to understand the factors influencing the continuity of sweetpotato vine multiplication enterprises in the Lake Zone of Tanzania, five years after support from a project ended. A total of 81 out of 88 trained group or individual decentralised vine multipliers (DVMs) were traced to assess their vine multiplication activities. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through telephone and field interviews. Our data showed that 40% of the 81 DVMs had sold vines in the year prior to the study and 20% had maintained the improved varieties for their own use. Some group members had continued vine sales as individuals. The DVMs’ reasons for abandoning vine multiplication included climatic and water access issues, market factors and group dynamics. The DVMs did not engage in high volumes of commercial sales. Socio-economic norms and values underpin the transactions of sweetpotato vines. These norms may undermine the emergence of commercially viable enterprises yet seem navigable for a substantial number of the DVMs. Group DVMs seem less commercially successful than individuals.
... Crop yields and quality would be greatly affected without a steady supply of high-quality seed (Douglas, 2019). Seed is a basic input in agriculture and quality seed plays an important role in the sustainable agronomic and horticultural crops production (Shubha et al., 2017). ...
The present investigation was conducted using 24 genotypes of sesame for correlation and path analysis among seven seed quality characters which revealed that standard germination showed a significant and positive correlation with shoot length, root length, seedling length, seed vigor index-I and seed vigor index-II, which indicated that by increasing these attributes, standard germination will be increased, thus these parameters are suggestive of good plant stand and ultimately seed yield. Path coefficient analysis suggested that seed vigor index-I, shoot length and seedling length are major components of standard germination which could increase the seed yield.
... Production of certified seed involves the use two classes of seeds the basic seed, and certified seed (Douglas 1980). Zayed et al (2005) , Bassiouni et al (2011) reported that seed soaking in the terms of per -sowing chemicals seed treatments such as Gibberllic acid(GA3) ,diammonium phosphate (DAP) and zinc sulphate (ZnSo4) could invigorate the rice seedling and improved its quality and increased rice Abd-EL Hafaz et al. (2005) showed that the1000 -grain weight decressed with increasing the doses of GA3 where the application with doses of GA3 increased the seed set percentage but reduced the high grain filling rate EL-Ekhtyar et al. (2008) staudied the pre sowing seed treatment by GA3, Znso4 , cytokine 75 ,DAP . ...
... Sistem perbenihan dapat didefinisikan sebagai peraturan-peraturan yang harus diikuti dan program yang harus dilaksanakan untuk mencapai produksi dan distribusi benih dengan kualitas dan kuantitas yang direncanakan (Douglas, 1980). Sistem perbenihan memiliki subsistem mikro dan subsistem makro. ...
Kebutuhan terhadap jagung semakin meningkat, baik untuk pangan, pakan ternak, maupun bahan baku industri. Hal ini menjadi peluang sekaligus tantangan bagi pemerintah dalam peningkatan produksi jagung menuju swasembada berkelanjutan. Varietas unggul merupakan salah satu komponen yang dapat meningkatkan hasil dengan nyata, varietas hibrida memiliki potensi hasil lebih tinggi dibanding komposit sehingga penggunaan benih jagung hibrida mampu meningkatkan hasil jagung persatuan luas panen. Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pertanian (Balitbangtan) telah menghasilkan varietas-varietas jagung hibrida dengan potensi hasil yang tinggi, yang tidak kalah bersaing dengan jagung hibrida swasta lainnya, hanya saja belum terdiseminasi dengan baik. Guna memperoleh nilai tambah bagi petani dan terdesiminasinya benih jagung Balitbangtan, maka dilakukan rintisan penangkaran benih jagung hibrida tingkat petani. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Desa Rawa Medang, Kecamatan Batang Asam, Kabupaten Tanjung Jabung Barat tahun 2017 seluas 1 ha. Rintisan ini dikemas dalam Model Sekolah Lapang Kedaulatan Pangan Terintegrasi Desa Mandiri Benih Jagung. Hasil penelitian diperoleh benih jagung sebanyak 1 ton/ha. Usahatani perbanyakan benih jagung hibrida ini layak dan menguntungkan secara ekonomi, hal ditunjukkan oleh nilai R/C 1,69, TIP 591 kg/ha dan TIH Rp 14.775/kg. dilihat dari biaya produksi maka biaya tenaga kerja lebih tinggi 14,8 % dibandingkan biaya untuk pembelian saprodi.
... University of California at Berkeley). Over the last several decades, public funding for agriculture and plant breeding has declined, leaving private companies to dominate this sector, in line with the progression towards a formalized and commercially led seed sector (Douglas, 1980). Seed varieties developed by professional breeders are often referred to as 'improved', 'quality' or 'conventional' seeds, both reflecting and influencing judgements about their value. ...
The seed sovereignty movement has often focused on ensuring that farmers have the right to save and exchange seeds and is often interpreted as privileging farmer-led (informal) seed systems. Aid donors and governments, on the other hand, have focused on formalising the seed sector, often in the name of benefitting farmers. This chapter goes beyond the dichotomies between formal and informal seed systems to evaluate the ways in which different breeding, production, distribution and quality assurance processes affect the livelihoods, food security and nutrition of small-scale farmers, and ultimately, the ability of farmers to exercise agency related to seed. It finds that while the ways in which different aspects of seed systems impact on small-scale farmers are highly nuanced, the development of the formal seed sector has occurred without the protection or support of the informal seed sector, leading to path dependent lock-in situations which have, in many cases, negatively affected small-scale farmers. Efforts to ensure farmers have the legal right to save, develop and exchange seeds will therefore be of little consequence if the knowledge, skills, networks and varieties in the informal seed sector have been undermined to the point where exercising these rights is not actually feasible or viable. These challenges of farmer agency and path dependency must be mitigated in order to reach a situation in which small-scale farmers define their own seed systems which enhance their livelihoods, food security and nutrition.
... Several countries have developed formal seed policies, most of which are based on the seed system development pathway. 143 This pathway identifies the consecutive development stages of seed systems from traditional farmer-production of seed to a commercially operating seed sector. During the initial stage of this pathway, the role of the government is to initiate components of the seed chain, and in the final stage it is to create conducive environments, through legislation in particular, for their further development, integration and privatization. ...
... Without seeds, it would be virtually impossible to develop a stable agricultural system by man. [1] poetically posits that "desolate indeed would be our world without seeds and without men's propensity to culture them." Thus, even if all other factors of production are available, meaningful crop production may be virtually impossible without viable seeds. ...
The need to continuously multiply new improved seeds for onward delivery to the farmers, with the sole aim of attaining food self-suffi ciency, necessitates this study. Data were collected from 17 maize and soybean out growers randomly selected from a list of out growers provided by the seed manager, using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using percentages and gross margin analysis. The analysis reveals that the variable costs were 97.38 and 97.07 percent of the total cost of maize and soybean production respectively. The fi xed costs, on the other hand, were 2.62 and 2.93 percent of the total cost of production respectively. The component analysis of revenue shows that 83.72 and 84.00 percent respectively of total revenue from maize and soybean were obtained from the good quality seed while 16.28 and 16.00 percent of revenue came from the poor quality seed (rejects). The economic effi ciency analysis revealed a value of 0.69 and 0.83 respectively for maize and soybean. These imply that a profi t of 0.69 Naira (N) and N0.83 is made for every naira spent by the out growers in maize and soybean production respectively. It was recommended that the out growers be motivated by making available the needed material inputs at reasonable prices.
Seed quality is a key factor underpinning the ultimate yield and quality of forage crops. Good quality seed needs to be pure, clean and have a high germination rate. This training manual has been prepared for use by trainees and trainers, and describes the principles and practices of good quality tropical and subtropical forage seed production.It was developed based on the knowledge and experiences of researchers, both within and outside the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and is intended as a practical guide to cover some of the basic principles of forage seed production.
An increasing demand of agricultural intensification and value addition necessitates the use of improved inputs such as improved seed. Smallholder farmers contribute about 70% of agricultural production in Tanzania. Agriculture sector in Tanzania contributes about 24.1% of the GDP, 30% of exports and 65% of industrial raw materials. Thus, agriculture development, economic growth and industrialization are inseparable. Due to the nature of the product, smallholder farmers cannot judge the overall excellence of seed at the time of buying. This paper assessed quality uncertainty in maize and vegetable seed and its implication for market exchange between farmers and seed sellers in Kilolo district, Iringa Tanzania. The study used a random sample of 130 smallholder farmers and representatives from ten seed companies. Asymmetric information prevails between the two trading sides, i.e. sellers and buyers, leading into quality uncertainty. Moreover, product augmentation is profoundly overlooked whereby most of seed companies have not augmented their products. Because an improved seed is a quintessential example of an experience good, quality uncertainty of some crop varieties under field conditions favored some seed brands to be used more by farmers compared to others. This paper offers a thorough deduction on quality uncertainty under farmers' field condition and its implication on market exchange. It adds information in the body of knowledge on how an improved seed can contribute to sustainable production of food and industrial raw materials, which is a step towards desired industrialization agenda in Tanzania.
Traditional African Vegetables (TAV) play an important role in the livelihoods, food and nutritional security of local populations. Access to high-quality seeds of improved varieties is a foundation for increasing crop productivity. TAV seed systems have received little attention. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the sustainability (seed quality, availability, accessibility, affordability, and profitability of seed businesses) of TAV seed systems in Eastern Africa. The review revealed that the private sector mediated seed system (i.e., formal) offered higher potential for seed quality, and profitability for seed growers. The community-based seed system showed higher potential in ensuring a better access to seeds. The quality of TAV seeds was partially addressed in the studies with a focus on germination percentage and purity, which varied across systems, crops, and geography. While there was a trend of poorer seed quality in the informal system, seed quality in the formal and community-based systems was not necessarily better. The affordability of seed from the various systems (private sector mediated, community based and informal) needs further investigation. Because TAV seed systems are localized and differ significantly among and within countries, tailored interventions are required when promoting a given TAV seed system. We identified inter-regional gaps in TAV seed systems studies, with all the studies concentrated in Eastern Africa, mainly in Tanzania and Kenya. Filling these gaps will require more investment in other regions in sub-Saharan Africa to document existing initiatives or initiate interventions seeking to promote access to high-quality TAV seeds. This review sheds light on existing gaps in research on TAV seed systems to guide future interventions.
An increasing demand of agricultural intensification and value addition necessitates the use of improved inputs such as improved seed. Smallholder farmers contribute about 70% of agricultural production in Tanzania. Agriculture sector in Tanzania contributes about 24.1% of the GDP, 30% of exports and 65% of industrial raw materials. Thus, agriculture development, economic growth and industrialization are inseparable. Due to the nature of the product, smallholder farmers cannot judge the overall excellence of seed at the time of buying. This paper assessed quality uncertainty in maize and vegetable seed and its implication for market exchange between farmers and seed sellers in Kilolo district, Iringa Tanzania. The study used a random sample of 130 smallholder farmers and representatives from ten seed companies. Asymmetric information prevails between the two trading sides i.e. sellers and buyers leading into quality uncertainty. Moreover, product augmentation is profoundly overlooked whereby most of seed companies have not augmented their products. Because an improved seed is a quintessential example of an experience good, quality uncertainty of some crop varieties under field conditions favored some seed brands to be used more by farmers compared to others. This paper offers a thorough deduction on quality uncertainty under farmers’ field condition and its implication on market exchange. It adds information in the body of knowledge on how an improved seed can contribute to sustainable production of food and industrial raw materials, which is a step towards desired industrialization agenda in Tanzania.
An increasing demand of agricultural intensification and value addition necessitates the use of improved inputs such as improved seed. Smallholder farmers contribute about 70 % of agricultural production in Tanzania. Agriculture sector in Tanzania contributes about 24.1 % of the GDP, 30 % of exports and 65% of industrial raw materials. Thus, agriculture development, economic growth and industrialization are inseparable. Due to the nature of the product, smallholder farmers cannot judge the overall excellence of seed at the time of buying. This paper assessed quality uncertainty in maize and vegetable seed and its implication for market exchange between farmers and seed sellers in Kilolo district, Iringa Tanzania. The study used a random sample of 130 smallholder farmers and representatives from ten seed companies. Asymmetric information prevails between the two trading sides i.e. sellers and buyers leading into quality uncertainty. Moreover, product augmentation is profoundly overlooked whereby most of seed companies have not augmented their products. Because an improved seed is a quintessential example of an experience good, quality uncertainty of some crop varieties under field conditions favored some seed brands to be used more by farmers compared to others. This paper offers a thorough deduction on quality uncertainty under farmers’ field condition and its implication on market exchange. It adds information in the body of knowledge on how an improved seed can contribute to sustainable production of food and industrial raw materials, which is a step towards desired industrialization agenda in Tanzania.
An increasing demand of agricultural intensification and value addition necessitates the use of improved inputs such as improved seed. Smallholder farmers contribute about 70 % of agricultural production in Tanzania. Agriculture sector in Tanzania contributes about 24.1 % of the GDP, 30 % of exports and 65% of industrial raw materials. Thus, agriculture development, economic growth and industrialization are inseparable. Due to the nature of the product, smallholder farmers cannot judge the overall excellence of seed at the time of buying. This paper assessed quality uncertainty in maize and vegetable seed and its implication for market exchange between farmers and seed sellers in Kilolo district, Iringa Tanzania. The study used a random sample of 130 smallholder farmers and representatives from ten seed companies. Asymmetric information prevails between the two trading sides i.e. sellers and buyers. Moreover, product augmentation is profoundly overlooked whereby most of seed companies have not augmented their products. Despite that genetic and environmental interaction sways crop performance, the paper offers a thorough deduction of the results and its implication on market exchange. This paper adds information in the body of knowledge on how an improved seed can intensify upsurge production of food and industrial raw materials, which is a step towards desired industrialization agenda in Tanzania.
In Bangladesh after rice, wheat is considered the second most important staple cereal. Although Bangladesh is one of the principal rice-consuming countries with per capita consumption of rice 171 kg year⁻¹, the consumption of wheat in Bangladesh has intensely increased over the years. From the year 1961 to 2013, the annual per capita wheat intake in Bangladesh has increased by 102% from 8.62 to 17.47 kg. Currently, Bangladesh mostly relies on import to meet surging demand. During 2011–2013, triennium average, Bangladesh imported 2.86 million tons of wheat worth of USD 957.4 million. During 2018 only, about 7.0 million tons of wheat has been imported, which is nearly 80% of the total wheat supplied in the country consisting of domestic production and import. It is anticipated that wheat intake will be further increased in Bangladesh in the future, due to the changes in lifestyle which stems from an increase in income and speedy urbanization. It is therefore imperative to supply more wheat in Bangladesh in the future to ensure food demand of growing population in Bangladesh. At the same time, sustainable wheat production in Bangladesh is threatened by several stresses (biotic and abiotic) in addition to the competition of wheat with other winter crops. The chapter has highlighted the major constraints and prospects of wheat cultivation in relation to possible improved technologies under changing climate and provided an up-to-date and comprehensive information on the wheat research of Bangladesh in relation to global warming. This chapter will thus allow wheat researchers to make a comprehensive new breeding and management programs in Bangladesh to mitigate future global warming, especially for recently emerged wheat blast disease in Bangladesh including South Asia.
An urgent need to use a unified nomenclature for cultivated plants was indicated at the beginning of the 20th century by R.E. Regel, A.I. Malzev, K.A. Flyaksberger. Half a century later, an appendix to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Stockholm, 1952) published the first formulated rules for naming cultivated plants, which provided a basis for the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants issued as a separate edition in 1953. The primary goal of the Code was to eliminate confusion, promote order and uniformity in the naming of new varieties and the use of accepted variety names, i.e. to establish unified nomenclature rules. The main categories of the nomenclature for cultivated plants (cultivar, group, grex) do not represent a hierarchical system. So far, nine editions of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants had been published, of which four were translated into Russian (1953, 1958, 1961 and 1969). The prepared translation of the ninth edition is going to be published in the Vavilovia journal.
This handbook provides a practical description of wheat grain, heads and plants at several growth stages. It is designed to assist in distinguishing varieties currently grown throughout Australia, in the regions where each is usually grown. It is directed at a broad audience, including those involved with the grain trade at all stages, from seed production, through growing and harvesting, to receival and segregation, sales and utilization. Although Australia-wide in its overall approach, it is hoped that the handbook will form a basis to meet specialised local needs. Thus smaller sets of sheets, relating to local groups of varieties, might be selected and additional comments added, in the space provided, relating to the particular locality and season. In such a case, the characters that show the greatest differences between the particular varieties should be selected for identification.
Economic impacts of investments in cotton seed research and development in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are estimated. The internal rate of return to Brazilian society is estimated to have been approximately 90 percent. The effect on export earnings was large, and consumers benefited via a decrease in the price and an increase in the quantity of cotton cloth. Of total net benefits producers captured about 60 percent and consumers 40 percent. Landowners and managers received the largest share of producer benefits. Laborers benefited through an increase in employment, but wage rates were not raised. Policy implications are given.
The objectives of the study reported here were (a) to attempt to identify pasture research findings which have been important for the development of improved pastures in a number of agricultural regions, and (b) to estimate the internal rates of return on the investment in pasture research in these regions. The technique used was the estimation of input-demand functions for the stock of improved pastures. It is shown that the important research results were mainly the result of research in plant nutrition. Adoption lags were estimated, and these were short by comparison with those usually derived by other methods. Internal rates of return calculated for successful research findings were very high, hut there were important differences between regions.
Thesis--Princeton University. Includes bibliographical references (p. 305-318).
Discussion of the impact of the Cornell-Peru Project in Vicos and the Peruvian Cooperative Program of Corn Research. Thesis--Princeton University. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 340-351). Microfilm of typescript.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Chicago, Department of Economics. Includes bibliographical references.
The Role of Seed Science and Technology in Agricultural Development
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