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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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Constraints<br />

The main constraints cited by the partners are:<br />

• Lack <strong>of</strong> reliable transport to monitor activities, thus limiting the spread <strong>of</strong> activities;<br />

• Lack <strong>of</strong> suitable cold storage to maintain seed in good conditions be<strong>for</strong>e planting;<br />

• Poorly motivated technicians;<br />

• Difficulty <strong>of</strong> identifying candidate <strong>for</strong> graduate degree training programs and the delays in starting<br />

course work;<br />

• A lack <strong>of</strong> a critical mass <strong>of</strong> scientists in Niger and Mali to carry out groundnut breeding activities;<br />

and<br />

• Fund disbursement procedures coupled with different accounting systems in the NARS has created<br />

challenges that can have a negative effect the full implementation <strong>of</strong> the project. his was the case<br />

<strong>for</strong> Nigeria.<br />

Perspectives<br />

The investments made by ICRISAT and partners over the last 15 years have generated valuable<br />

technologies and knowledge which is having a positive effect on the livelihoods <strong>of</strong> groundnut farmers<br />

in the target countries. This project will create a solid plat<strong>for</strong>m <strong>for</strong> sustainable up-scaling <strong>of</strong> the options<br />

and impact <strong>of</strong> these technologies and others in the pipeline. The second phase will include the full<br />

range <strong>of</strong> production, post-harvest, utilization and market development in each country to ensure that<br />

value-addition is addressed early and that producers also benefit through better market elasticity.<br />

Seed Production and Delivery Systems<br />

The major constraints limiting per<strong>for</strong>mance <strong>of</strong> groundnut seed systems in West Africa include:<br />

• Limited access to seed <strong>of</strong> newly bred varieties;<br />

• Limited supply <strong>of</strong> breeder/foundation/certified and commercial seed <strong>of</strong> varieties preferred by farmers<br />

or required by the markets;<br />

• Seed production is subsidized and inefficient;<br />

• Uncertain and thin seed demand;<br />

• National variety release committees are missing, non-functional or meet irregularly;<br />

• Weak integration between seed and product markets; and<br />

• Lack <strong>of</strong> enabling policy and institutional environments.<br />

Constraints to groundnut seed supply and delivery systems<br />

identified<br />

For illustrative purposes, groundnut seed channels as well as institutions are mapped below in the case<br />

<strong>of</strong> Nigeria. Variety development is carried out by the Institute <strong>of</strong> Agricultural Research (IAR). Variety is<br />

released by the Crop Variety and Registration Committee (CVRC). While Breeder Seed production is<br />

the sole responsibility <strong>of</strong> IAR, Foundation Seed production is the responsibility <strong>of</strong> the National Seed<br />

Services (NSS) who contract other institutions such as IAR and the Agricultural and Rural Development<br />

Authorities <strong>of</strong> the state ministries <strong>of</strong> Agriculture commonly referred to as ADPs. Other classes <strong>of</strong> seed<br />

are produced by private companies and community based organizations (CBOs).<br />

Progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>Phase</strong> 1<br />

77

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