Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

Mapping (GIS) seed outlets
Related to marketing - and to reach 100,000s farmers in general, a complementary project (Nodes
of Growth, leveraged on TL II ) mapped the distribution of seed outlets in key drought-prone zones of
Kenya. Such maps help to identify areas where there is a lack of coverage.
Starting with Nzaui district in Kenya, the map showed that just over 23% of the population is reached
within 1- hour walk of the current seven outlets. If one new outlet were added, the population within
1-hour reach rises to 38%. A further seven new outlets would have to be added to ensure that 80%
of our target population has access to seed outlets. So, in brief, the current placement of agro-dealers
suggests that they can serve only a small portion of the population in this particular drought-prone
zone. To reach a broader segment, either more outlets have to be added, or alternative mechanisms of
supply have to be encouraged (such as at open markets).
Select monitoring and evaluation issues
An Integrated Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (IPME ) framework has been built into project
operations at varied levels—with the decentralized partners, the NARS, and overall with PABRA/
CIAT. Routine data on seed produced, distributed, and sold is collected, along with insights on who
is being reached and where. In addition, specialized M+E is being conducted on the costs of seed
production, and on the quality of seed being produced by different organizations.
Cost-benefit analysis of decentralized production models
Seven models were costed and their advantages and disadvantages analyzed during Phase I. The
focus has been on Kenya—and included one public sector organization, two private companies, and
four decentralized means of production (facilitated by individuals, communities, and NGO and the
government sector, respectively). Producing common bean seed proves profitable whether the product
is certified or of ‘other quality’, but the magnitude of profit is highly linked to yield. Currently, all modes
are vulnerable to the adverse effects of drought.
Seed quality monitoring
Seed quality assessment research was conducted in both countries comparing samples obtained from
varied formal and informal seed sector sources.
In Kenya, seed was collected from trained seed bulking farmers, farmers who were secondary
beneficiaries, and seed companies and parastatals involved with seed. The data from 91 farmer
beneficiaries (74% women), randomly sampled across TL II sites, proved of particular interest. Data
analysis showed that 81% of farmers’ sorted seeds were of good physical quality (according to ISTA
standards), with a germination of 86.7%, and with very good vigor.
In Ethiopia, 169 bean seed samples were collected from the Oromia and SNNPRS regions, including
seed samples obtained from the formal seed sector (seed companies, famers’ cooperatives unions and
research centers) and local markets in the areas of project intervention. Physical purity proved relatively
good across samples, ranging from 89.2% to 100 % with a mean of 97.5%. Germination percentage
showed a greater range, between 68 and 97.3 with a mean of 78.9%. Seed health testing was also
conducted for the two most important common bean bacterial pathogens; Xanthomonas campestris pv.
phaseoli and Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. In terms of the informal sector, some common
bean growers had produced seed of considerably better quality than others. There were cases where
seeds obtained from the formal sector fell below the minimum standards. Hence, the results showed
that there was no evidence to assume that seeds from the decentralized seed system are inferior to that
of the seed from the formal sector.
Progress of Phase 1
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