71
maize varieties in ESA is estimated to be 13 years. South Africa is an exception;
with the most competitive seed industry in the region, the life of the typical maize
variety here spans 3–4 years, similar to the United States. Most smallholder farmers
in ESA are therefore not cultivating the best available varieties for their environment, and in many cases are persevering with obsolete cultivars that were developed
under climatic, agronomic and pest conditions distinct from current and future
climes. This has contributed to modest yield gains for maize in many countries in
ESA (Fig. 6.3).
Reasons for slow rates of maize variety turnover in ESA are several and complex. The majority of smallholder farmers in the region grow maize in unpredictable, rain-fed conditions, and are risk averse to investing in inputs and new
technologies. Average yields throughout the region are low and genetic gains in
yield through crop improvement (usually 1% per year in well managed breeding
programmes) are frequently overshadowed by seasonal variations in on-farm climatic conditions and crop management. The incentive for smallholder farmers to
invest in new agricultural technologies is further reduced by limited access to grain
markets, poor storage and transport infrastructure, as well as counterfeit seed and
fertilizer. Without strong demand for new varieties, seed companies are reluctant to
withdraw established, well-known varieties and invest in launching and marketing
new products.
In addition to low rates of variety turnover, investment in agricultural research
and development is very limited in ESA. Low income countries (including most of
those in ESA) account for less than 3% of global agricultural research and development expenditure, despite being some of the most vulnerable to CC (Pardey et al.
2016). Of this expenditure in ESA, 90% is by the public sector, which continues to
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
Average Maize Yield (t/ha)
Kenya
Zambia
USA
South Africa
Deregulation of the seed/grain
industry in Kenya, South Africa
and Zambia -average maize yield
below 2t/ha in all 3 countries.
South Africa: Variety
life span of 3 to 4 years.
Fig. 6.3 Average maize yields (1961–2016) in Kenya, Zambia, United States and South Africa
(FAO 2018)
6 Role and Challenges of the Private Seed Sector in Developing and Disseminating…
maize varieties in ESA is estimated to be 13 years. South Africa is an exception;
with the most competitive seed industry in the region, the life of the typical maize
variety here spans 3–4 years, similar to the United States. Most smallholder farmers
in ESA are therefore not cultivating the best available varieties for their environment, and in many cases are persevering with obsolete cultivars that were developed
under climatic, agronomic and pest conditions distinct from current and future
climes. This has contributed to modest yield gains for maize in many countries in
ESA (Fig. 6.3).
Reasons for slow rates of maize variety turnover in ESA are several and complex. The majority of smallholder farmers in the region grow maize in unpredictable, rain-fed conditions, and are risk averse to investing in inputs and new
technologies. Average yields throughout the region are low and genetic gains in
yield through crop improvement (usually 1% per year in well managed breeding
programmes) are frequently overshadowed by seasonal variations in on-farm climatic conditions and crop management. The incentive for smallholder farmers to
invest in new agricultural technologies is further reduced by limited access to grain
markets, poor storage and transport infrastructure, as well as counterfeit seed and
fertilizer. Without strong demand for new varieties, seed companies are reluctant to
withdraw established, well-known varieties and invest in launching and marketing
new products.
In addition to low rates of variety turnover, investment in agricultural research
and development is very limited in ESA. Low income countries (including most of
those in ESA) account for less than 3% of global agricultural research and development expenditure, despite being some of the most vulnerable to CC (Pardey et al.
2016). Of this expenditure in ESA, 90% is by the public sector, which continues to
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
Average Maize Yield (t/ha)
Kenya
Zambia
USA
South Africa
Deregulation of the seed/grain
industry in Kenya, South Africa
and Zambia -average maize yield
below 2t/ha in all 3 countries.
South Africa: Variety
life span of 3 to 4 years.
Fig. 6.3 Average maize yields (1961–2016) in Kenya, Zambia, United States and South Africa
(FAO 2018)
6 Role and Challenges of the Private Seed Sector in Developing and Disseminating…