Abstract
<p>Africa lacks a steady supply of good quality seed due in part to lack of timely development and conveyance of seed technologies to farmers. This study evaluated the performance of national seed systems of five countries in eastern and southern Africa where a consortium of public-private organizations are implementing the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project. WEMA aimed at developing and deploying drought-tolerant and insect-pest-protected maize hybrids (climate-smart hybrids) to smallholder farmers royalty-free. The objectives of the study were to assess the main components of the seed maize systems, their institutional frameworks, and estimate the potential demand for WEMA climate-smart hybrid maize seed to guide in upscaling the seed technology to other African countries. Primary data was gathered from key experts in the seed maize value-chain of each country. Secondary data came from national statistics bureaux to estimate the potential demand for WEMA seed maize. Results showed that farmers in all five countries except South Africa overwhelming rely on the informal seed system. The formal seed system is over-regulated creating unnecessary delays in the release and commercialization of improved seed varieties. It also increases the cost of developing new seed technology. Except South Africa, the demand for seed maize in the other four WEMA countries will grow by 4.1% annually from 31,614 to 35,863 metric tons of certified seed over 2014-2020 period. The study advances several recommendations to improve the efficiency of the seed maize systems, which when implemented, will undoubtedly improve food security in Africa.</p>
Highlights
Maize (Zea mais) is the leading food staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) whose consumption is second only to cassava
The crop plays a key role in food security, income generation and poverty alleviation among the millions of African farmers engaged in its production, value addition and marketing (“Maize crop-IITA”, n.d.)
Maredia et al (1999) define a seed system as organizations, individuals and institutions involved in different seed system functions, i.e., the development, multiplication, processing, storage, distribution and marketing of seeds
Summary
Maize (Zea mais) is the leading food staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) whose consumption is second only to cassava. One of the main challenges to maize production in SSA is lack of good quality seed This has constrained efforts to increase maize yields thereby consigning millions of Africans to hunger, food insecurity and poverty. Following the adoption of neo-liberal economic reforms in Africa in the early 1990s, the seed maize sector in most SSA countries has undergone significant changes (Nambiro, De Groote, & Kosura, 2001). These reforms reduced the dominant role hitherto played by the public sector in the production and distribution of hybrid seed and allowed more private sector participation in the seed value chain. Efforts geared towards increasing food production in SSA are likely to fail given the differing levels of private sector participation in the seed sector in the continent
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
