68
affected areas of ESA will largely depend on increasing the rate of genetic gain
(genetic improvement through artificial selection) for CS traits and the establishment of scalable, competitive seed delivery systems that ensure improved varieties
reach smallholder farmers in the shortest time (Atlin et al. 2017).
Smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved crop varieties in SSA is amongst the
lowest in the world (estimated to be 20% by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in
Africa (AGRA) 2017), yet the formal seed sector has grown significantly following
deregulation of the seed industry regionally in the early 1990s. The emerging private seed sector provides a unique and timely opportunity to promote the development and dissemination of improved, CS crop varieties through certified, scalable
seed systems that can potentially impact millions of livelihoods in SSA. In this
chapter, the specific roles and constraints for the private sector in ESA in developing
and disseminating improved, CS crop varieties are discussed, with particular
emphasis on maize (Zeae maydis), the staple food crop and primary source of daily
calorie intake in the region.
6.2 The Emerging Private Seed Sector in ESA
In most of ESA, the plant breeding and seed industries were dominated by public
institutions until the mid-1990s, when the seed sector was deregulated. Since then,
dozens of private, local seed companies have been established, and several global
multinational seed corporations have entered the ESA seed market. The primary
focus of seed companies in ESA is maize, the driver of the global seed industry by
virtue of acreage and potential for hybridization. The effect of deregulating the seed
sector in ESA is highlighted in Fig. 6.1a, b, which show maize variety releases in
Zambia and Kenya respectively. Both countries have emerged as leading centers for
the seed industry in SSA and serve as important bellwethers of regional trends. In
both cases, deregulation of the seed industry has led to a marked increase in the total
number of seed companies and, subsequently, maize variety releases. However, the
majority of these variety releases have been licensed from existing public breeding
pipelines, and it is estimated that less than 25% of seed companies in the region
(estimated to be 80 in total) have invested in proprietary germplasm improvement
(Langyintuo et al. 2008).
Variety releases of other important staple crops in ESA have not emulated
maize, in large part due to low commercialisation opportunities for the private sector. Total variety releases for maize, sorghum (Sorghum bicolour), common bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and cassava (Manihot esculentum) are shown in Fig. 6.2a, b
for Zambia and Kenya respectively. Even though variety releases of these crops
have doubled since deregulation, the cumulative number of releases (for sorghum,
common bean and cassava) is still less than 30% that of maize, and dominated by
the public sector (over 80% of releases). In Zambia, cassava is an important secondary staple crop, yet only seven varieties (all publically bred) have been released
since 1970, the latest in 2001. These crops are important components of food and
B. Das et al.
affected areas of ESA will largely depend on increasing the rate of genetic gain
(genetic improvement through artificial selection) for CS traits and the establishment of scalable, competitive seed delivery systems that ensure improved varieties
reach smallholder farmers in the shortest time (Atlin et al. 2017).
Smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved crop varieties in SSA is amongst the
lowest in the world (estimated to be 20% by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in
Africa (AGRA) 2017), yet the formal seed sector has grown significantly following
deregulation of the seed industry regionally in the early 1990s. The emerging private seed sector provides a unique and timely opportunity to promote the development and dissemination of improved, CS crop varieties through certified, scalable
seed systems that can potentially impact millions of livelihoods in SSA. In this
chapter, the specific roles and constraints for the private sector in ESA in developing
and disseminating improved, CS crop varieties are discussed, with particular
emphasis on maize (Zeae maydis), the staple food crop and primary source of daily
calorie intake in the region.
6.2 The Emerging Private Seed Sector in ESA
In most of ESA, the plant breeding and seed industries were dominated by public
institutions until the mid-1990s, when the seed sector was deregulated. Since then,
dozens of private, local seed companies have been established, and several global
multinational seed corporations have entered the ESA seed market. The primary
focus of seed companies in ESA is maize, the driver of the global seed industry by
virtue of acreage and potential for hybridization. The effect of deregulating the seed
sector in ESA is highlighted in Fig. 6.1a, b, which show maize variety releases in
Zambia and Kenya respectively. Both countries have emerged as leading centers for
the seed industry in SSA and serve as important bellwethers of regional trends. In
both cases, deregulation of the seed industry has led to a marked increase in the total
number of seed companies and, subsequently, maize variety releases. However, the
majority of these variety releases have been licensed from existing public breeding
pipelines, and it is estimated that less than 25% of seed companies in the region
(estimated to be 80 in total) have invested in proprietary germplasm improvement
(Langyintuo et al. 2008).
Variety releases of other important staple crops in ESA have not emulated
maize, in large part due to low commercialisation opportunities for the private sector. Total variety releases for maize, sorghum (Sorghum bicolour), common bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and cassava (Manihot esculentum) are shown in Fig. 6.2a, b
for Zambia and Kenya respectively. Even though variety releases of these crops
have doubled since deregulation, the cumulative number of releases (for sorghum,
common bean and cassava) is still less than 30% that of maize, and dominated by
the public sector (over 80% of releases). In Zambia, cassava is an important secondary staple crop, yet only seven varieties (all publically bred) have been released
since 1970, the latest in 2001. These crops are important components of food and
B. Das et al.