77
6.6 Implications for development
The emerging private seed sector in ESA provides a significant opportunity to
develop partnerships with established public plant breeding programmes, to accelerate the development of improved varieties with CS traits and their subsequent
distribution through scalable, certified seed systems. Some 50% of yield gains in
most global regions are commonly attributed to genetic gains made through plant
breeding. Providing smallholder farmers in ESA with access to the latest, improved
germplasm can therefore play a major role in adapting agricultural systems in ESA
to CC. The promotion of an enabling regulatory environment for the release and
adoption of improved varieties with CS traits will further stimulate private sector
interest and investment. This is particularly applicable to the smallholder maize
seed market, which is the primary basis for the growth of the emerging seed industry
and the foundation of regional food security in ESA.
References
Abate T, Fisher M, Abdoulaye T et al (2017) Characteristics of maize cultivars in Africa: how
modern are they and how many do smallholder farmers grow? Agric Food Secur 6:30
AGRA (2011) Country case studies on the PASS value chain strategy/approach and its impact/
effect on smallholder farmer yields in Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, East Africa synthesis
report. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Nairobi
AGRA (2017) Africa agriculture status report: the business of smallholder agriculture in SubSaharan Africa (issue 5). Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Nairobi
Atlin GN, Cairns J, Das B (2017) Rapid Breeding and varietal replacement are critical to adaptation of cropping systems in the developing world to climate change. Glob Food Sec 12:31–37
Beintema N, Stads GJ (2011) African agricultural R&D in the new millennium progress for some,
challenges for many. International Food Policy Research Institute/Agricultural Science and
Technology Indicators, Washington, DC/Rome
Bett W (2017) Harmonizing Seed Laws in COMESA. Opening address of Secretary of State
for Agriculture, Republic of Kenya. COMESA national seed law harmonization conference,
Nairobi, Jun 2017
Bold T, Kaizzi KC, Svensson J et al (2015) Low quality, low returns, low adoption: evidence
from the market for fertilizer and hybrid seed in Uganda, IGC working paper F-43805-UGA-1.
International Growth Centre, London
Cairns JE, Hellin J, Sonder K et al (2013) Adapting maize production to climate change in subSaharan Africa. Food Secur 5:345–360
Challinor AJ, Koehler A-K, Ramirez-Villegas J et al (2016) Current warming will reduce yields
unless maize breeding and seed systems adapt immediately. Nat Clim Chang 6(10):954–958
COMESA (2014) COMESA seed harmonization implementation plant (COM-SHIP). In: Mukuka
J (ed) Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Alliance for Commodity
ftf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/COMESA-Seed-Harmonisation-Implementation-PlanCOM-SHIP-_JULY-2014.pdf
FAO (2018) FAOSTAT. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC. Accessed 18 Jan 2018
6 Role and Challenges of the Private Seed Sector in Developing and Disseminating…
6.6 Implications for development
The emerging private seed sector in ESA provides a significant opportunity to
develop partnerships with established public plant breeding programmes, to accelerate the development of improved varieties with CS traits and their subsequent
distribution through scalable, certified seed systems. Some 50% of yield gains in
most global regions are commonly attributed to genetic gains made through plant
breeding. Providing smallholder farmers in ESA with access to the latest, improved
germplasm can therefore play a major role in adapting agricultural systems in ESA
to CC. The promotion of an enabling regulatory environment for the release and
adoption of improved varieties with CS traits will further stimulate private sector
interest and investment. This is particularly applicable to the smallholder maize
seed market, which is the primary basis for the growth of the emerging seed industry
and the foundation of regional food security in ESA.
References
Abate T, Fisher M, Abdoulaye T et al (2017) Characteristics of maize cultivars in Africa: how
modern are they and how many do smallholder farmers grow? Agric Food Secur 6:30
AGRA (2011) Country case studies on the PASS value chain strategy/approach and its impact/
effect on smallholder farmer yields in Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, East Africa synthesis
report. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Nairobi
AGRA (2017) Africa agriculture status report: the business of smallholder agriculture in SubSaharan Africa (issue 5). Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Nairobi
Atlin GN, Cairns J, Das B (2017) Rapid Breeding and varietal replacement are critical to adaptation of cropping systems in the developing world to climate change. Glob Food Sec 12:31–37
Beintema N, Stads GJ (2011) African agricultural R&D in the new millennium progress for some,
challenges for many. International Food Policy Research Institute/Agricultural Science and
Technology Indicators, Washington, DC/Rome
Bett W (2017) Harmonizing Seed Laws in COMESA. Opening address of Secretary of State
for Agriculture, Republic of Kenya. COMESA national seed law harmonization conference,
Nairobi, Jun 2017
Bold T, Kaizzi KC, Svensson J et al (2015) Low quality, low returns, low adoption: evidence
from the market for fertilizer and hybrid seed in Uganda, IGC working paper F-43805-UGA-1.
International Growth Centre, London
Cairns JE, Hellin J, Sonder K et al (2013) Adapting maize production to climate change in subSaharan Africa. Food Secur 5:345–360
Challinor AJ, Koehler A-K, Ramirez-Villegas J et al (2016) Current warming will reduce yields
unless maize breeding and seed systems adapt immediately. Nat Clim Chang 6(10):954–958
COMESA (2014) COMESA seed harmonization implementation plant (COM-SHIP). In: Mukuka
J (ed) Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Alliance for Commodity
ftf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/COMESA-Seed-Harmonisation-Implementation-PlanCOM-SHIP-_JULY-2014.pdf
FAO (2018) FAOSTAT. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC. Accessed 18 Jan 2018
6 Role and Challenges of the Private Seed Sector in Developing and Disseminating…