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Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

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single lingering bottleneck on which there was only modest headway, remains the initial production<br />

<strong>of</strong> Foundation Seed. This critical initial foundation seed production step remains undiversified <strong>and</strong> is<br />

mainly in NARS (government) h<strong>and</strong>s. The following briefly highlights in separate sections approaches<br />

tested, results, lessons learned, select monitoring <strong>and</strong> evaluation issues <strong>and</strong> training.<br />

Approaches tested<br />

In terms <strong>of</strong> production <strong>and</strong> delivery, approaches tested under Phase I included: four foundation seed<br />

production models, four models <strong>of</strong> decentralized seed production <strong>and</strong> seven seed delivery models<br />

(Table 6-5).<br />

Table 6-5: TL II bean seed systems: approaches tested under TL II<br />

Foundation/certified seed<br />

production<br />

• Direct production-<br />

NARS<br />

• Direct production-<br />

NARS seed unit with<br />

contract farmers<br />

• Private seed<br />

companies<br />

• Farmer cooperatives<br />

Decentralized seed production<br />

• District/government <strong>of</strong>ficers<br />

supporting individual<br />

farmers<br />

• NGOs supporting<br />

individual farmers<br />

• Farmer Cooperatives/<br />

Unions<br />

• Community-based seed<br />

production<br />

Delivery approaches<br />

• Small pack sales: open markets<br />

• Small pack sales: country stores<br />

• Small pack sales agro-dealers<br />

• Small pack sales: seed/grain<br />

traders<br />

• Exchanged through seed loans<br />

• Direct farmer to farmer<br />

diffusion<br />

• (GOK seed relief)<br />

Results<br />

Partnerships<br />

Diverse <strong>and</strong> complementary partners have been the cornerstone <strong>of</strong> this work. Some 106 partners<br />

were involved in TL II bean seed systems in Phase I, including NARS, private sector companies,<br />

specialized seed producers, governmental <strong>and</strong> non-governmental organizations, community- <strong>and</strong> faithbased<br />

organizations <strong>and</strong> grain traders (Table 6-6). Partners developed joint work plans for project<br />

research <strong>and</strong> implementation, <strong>and</strong> agreed upon roles <strong>and</strong> responsibilities. Many <strong>of</strong> the partners also<br />

signed formal Memor<strong>and</strong>a <strong>of</strong> Underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>and</strong> several incorporated TL II work plans in their own<br />

organizational yearly program plans (examples in Kenya include Self Help Africa in Nakuru, several<br />

Catholic Dioceses, <strong>and</strong> NGO Nangina). Such transparent <strong>and</strong> formal commitments help to promote<br />

the sustainability <strong>of</strong> the intervention beyond the project cycle. The challenge now is to scale down<br />

partners so as to reduce transaction costs while maximizing reach. In Kenya, the main set <strong>of</strong> ‘successful<br />

partners’ has been the NGOs with strong local bases (e.g. Nangina <strong>and</strong> the Dioceses). In Ethiopia,<br />

farmer cooperatives have been identified as the most effective <strong>and</strong> sustainable seed production <strong>and</strong><br />

delivery partners.<br />

122<br />

<strong>Engaging</strong> <strong>Smallholder</strong> <strong>Farmers</strong> | Tropical Legumes II Project

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