Seed for bean production in sub-Saharan Africa: Issues, problems, and possible solutions

Abstract

The bean seed production and distribution sector in sub-Saharan Africa is investigated to determine its performance in supplying seed of currently produced and newly released cultivars to small scale farmers. The informal, small farmer seed sector is found to be efficient with regard to currently used cultivars but is unable to accommodate for the dissemination of new cultivars released from research programs. The inefficiency of public seed firms and the reluctance of large scale, private seed firms to enter the market for a self-pollinated crop that is dominated by small scale farmers will necessitate the development of non-market solutions to the dissemination problem if small-scale farmers are to benefit from new, higher yields cultivars. A non-market dissemination of the Carioca bean cultivar was found to be successful and economically viable in Zambia.