Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
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Seed Production and Delivery Systems<br />
The seed production and delivery system team has identified more than two dozen types <strong>of</strong> seed<br />
production models across target countries. Eight, eight and 10 seed production systems have been<br />
reported <strong>for</strong> Breeder/Foundation Seed, Certified Seed, and Other Quality Seed production systems in the<br />
target countries (Table 1-4).<br />
Systems varied from country to country (Figure 1-2). NARS research centers are responsible <strong>for</strong> Breeder and<br />
Foundation Seed production across target countries, with the exception <strong>of</strong> Tanzania, where public sector<br />
with contact farmers is responsible <strong>for</strong> production <strong>of</strong> these classes <strong>of</strong> seed. IARCs produce Foundation Seed<br />
(FS) directly in six <strong>of</strong> the nine target countries; public sector with contract farmers produces Foundation<br />
Seed in four <strong>of</strong> the nine countries. Individual farmers and farm groups, agricultural universities, IARCs<br />
with contract farmers, and small private seed companies also produce FS in one or more countries <strong>of</strong> the<br />
TL <strong>II</strong> target countries.<br />
Figure 1-2: Importance <strong>of</strong> seed production systems in selected countries<br />
Certified Seed (CS) is largely produced by the private sector and farmers groups, depending on the<br />
country (Table 1-4). Small-scale farmers, the public sector with contract farmers and public sector seed<br />
firms are also known to be part <strong>of</strong> the CS production system. Agricultural universities produce CS only<br />
in Nigeria.<br />
Individual seed producers are engaged in Other Quality Seed (OQS) production in seven <strong>of</strong> the nine<br />
countries (Table 1-4). Farmers’ groups/unions/cooperatives and community-based seed system farmer<br />
groups operating by themselves produce OQS in five and four <strong>of</strong> the nine countries, respectively.<br />
NGOs facilitate the production <strong>of</strong> OQS in Ethiopia and Kenya. Schools, NGOs directly, the PDKV<br />
model, farmers involved in payback system, seed village, and government supported non-certified seed<br />
production models are also practiced in one country each.<br />
It has been observed that there is no much enthusiasm by large seed companies to engage in grain<br />
legume seed production because <strong>of</strong> low margin <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>it, as farmers could recycle their own saved seed<br />
<strong>for</strong> up to five years. Much attention is there<strong>for</strong>e paid to strengthening community-based and farmer<br />
level seed production systems.<br />
A total <strong>of</strong> 16 seed delivery models have been identified in the nine target countries. These too varied<br />
from country to country. Kenya (7), Ethiopia (6), and Tanzania (5) have the largest number <strong>of</strong> models;<br />
Malawi (4), India (3), Niger (3), Nigeria (3), Mali (2), and Mozambique (2) have fewer numbers, as<br />
shown in Table 1-4.<br />
Progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>Phase</strong> 1<br />
7