agrl_innovations_in_ssa.pdf?utm_content=buffercb41d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

contribution of soil fertility improvement through nitrogen fixation. Despite these benefits
grain legume production is characterised by low yields with farmers experiencing serious
problems in accessing legume seed.
The challenge. The main seed companies in the country have focused primarily on maize
seed production to the detriment of other crops. The Government’s programme of providing
subsidised seed and fertiliser for smallholder famers initially focused on maize but now includes
legumes as it was recognised that their inclusion was desirable both from human nutritional
and soil fertility perspectives. However a serious shortage of seed has been a major constraint.
Innovation trigger. RIU-Malawi funded by DFID was instrumental in promoting an innovation
systems approach that facilitated the bringing together of legume seed stakeholders in an IP to
identify bottlenecks and opportunities to increase seed availability (RIU, 2011). The IP included
breeders and seed services responsible for seed inspections and certification, MoA&FS crop
production and extension staff, seed companies and farmers.
A National Innovations Coalition (NIC) comprised of Champions from a range of IPs acts as a
national platform for leveraging policy advocacy with Government. In the case of the Legume
IP the representative for the MoA&FS is the National Coordinator of grain legumes research
in Malawi. He was pivotal in ensuring Government policy support for the private sector
involvement in producing breeder’s seed and in helping to broker linkages for the participation
of farmers in multiplying breeder and basic seed for certified seed production. At the same
time a key individual on the IP is a member of a Government TF to identify a strategy for the
legume sector under the Government’s Input Subsidy Programme.
Stakeholder interactions and interventions. Key stakeholders included (CIAT, DARS, the Department
of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES), Seed Trade Association of Malawi (STAM), representing
seed companies, Association for Smallholder Seed Multiplication (ASSMAG) and Grain Legumes
Association (GALA) representing famer organisations, input suppliers and seed companies. Key
IP partners included a Champion, a bean breeder with CIAT, DARS-Chitedze legume coordinator,
DARS Seed Services, Demeter Farms, from the private sector and the Seed Trade STAM.
The partnership operated through joint meetings facilitated to review legume seed systems,
identify opportunities for overcoming constraints, plan, initiate and monitor actions that would
improve seed availability and use. The IP enhanced communication and interaction between
stakeholders increasing the interest of private sector companies. The IP meets regularly
allowing partners to review progress and share experiences, document progress, successes,
challenges and lessons learned. Where necessary the IP established special TFs to resolve
technical bottlenecks.
An initial analysis involved looking at the whole seed value chain from new variety approval
and release, through production of breeders’, foundation and certified seed for sale to farmers.
The critical constraint was identified as being the lack of sufficient breeders’ seed. Although
breeders were attempting to meet the demand, it was taking time and resources from ongoing
crop breeding research. Unfortunately legume seed is required in larger quantities than maize
as the crop’s seed requirements are much greater. In addition production of some legume seed,
particularly beans, is best undertaken in the dry season under irrigation. Irrigation facilities at
Government research institutes are extremely limited and valuable water is therefore only
used in breeding research programmes. The proposed solution was for small quantities of
54 Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa