Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

Summary, process gains and people reached
Product gains
TL II bean seed systems have made important advances in Phase I of the project. In terms of actual
products, a notable amount of foundation seed has been produced, with NARS mainly overseeing
the process. Also, a remarkable amount of decentralized seed production has taken place, with the
latter accomplished by facilitating numerous and diversified partnerships. Important to highlight is
that the varieties being promoted are doing unusually well on-farm (see Objective 4 & Objective 1
results). The good performance of Katumani – common bean varieties, in general, has encouraged
more investment in the bean sub sector. For instance, a new producer of certified seed, Lambwe Seed
Growers Association, has been recently licensed by KEPHIS (the Kenya seed health sector). In addition,
the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture (fortunately or unfortunately) has started supplying Katumani common
bean varieties as relief seed in 61 districts across Kenya.
Process gains
Equally important are processes or innovation gains, which will extend well beyond the life of a special
project, such as TL II. Phase I has shown that:
• Women can be engaged in and benefit from seed production;
• Cost-effective models for seed production are being implemented (caution: although vulnerable to
drought)
• Farmers, including women, will pay for certified seed; there is real demand!
• Small pack marketing can be taken up by the private sector; (and is being taken up- especially in
Kenya). The approach is also expanding across crops.
• Seed loans are an effective mechanism for moving seed widely, including among those with
limited financial means.
• Seed loans offer an alternative to emergency free seed distribution practice (and will be
substituted in Eastern Kenya).
Each of these innovation gains can and should be built on more widely.
People reached
Finally, in terms of documented impact, TL II common bean seed system has made an initial calculation of
people reached. These calculations have been derived from field data on initial seed produced, and then
extrapolated using insights from known field processes. Our calculations may be on the modest side, for
three reasons. 1) We used the seed sharing rate of a) one farmer to one additional farmer after the first season
of use and b) two additional farmers after two seasons. However, an MSc study on actual seed loan suggests
that the average may be to five other farmers. 2) We have assumed that only 80% of farmers in Kenya and
70% in Ethiopia distribute at all. 3) The data on reach has not been able to capture new variety and seed
use that derives from local market purchase. (This may be a big gap). So we consider these calculations
to be transparent, but provisional. The figures are likely to be higher. Table 6-8 shows the overall figures on
reach: 1,099,736 people. Annex 6-3 shows the actual calculations and the underlying assumptions, again
using Ethiopia as the example. It is important to note that only seed and reach directly achieved under the
TL II project is reported. KARI and EIAR also have other projects, partners and impacts.
Table 6-8: Farmers reached in Phase I
Country
Farmers reached
Kenya 634,905
Ethiopia 464,831
Total 1,099,736
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Engaging Smallholder Farmers | Tropical Legumes II Project