Seed Sector Research Articles

Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Interplay in Indian Seed Sector

Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Interplay in Indian Seed Sector

The Seed Sector Development: Experiences in South Sudan

The Seed Sector Development: Experiences in South Sudan

An Empirical Study of Regulatory Capture in Kenya's Maize Seed Sector.

In sub-Saharan Africa, public sector breeding programs depend on local seed companies to deliver new maize varieties to farmers. Such varieties are needed to adapt cropping systems to climate change. While dozens of small and medium seed companies have emerged in the last two decades, the maize seed market in Kenya remains dominated by the parastatal seed company Kenya Seed Company, with multinational seed companies making major inroads. We assess whether parastatal and multinational seed companies have captured Kenya's seed laws to the detriment of local small and medium seed companies ('regulatory capture'), negatively effecting competition and the capacity of local companies to introduce new varieties in the hybrid maize seed market. We conducted in-depth interviews based on legal clauses with maize seed companies active in Kenya, as well as interviews with regulators and stakeholders. Results show that local companies do not feel disadvantaged compared to their multinational counterparts or the parastatal. However, all of them are wary of the entry of new actors. Moreover, through excessive procedures, the Kenyan government keeps a sovereign grasp over the seed sector. Despite frustrations with some of these excessive procedures, seed companies felt comfortable in the protective environment of the Kenyan seed market and were generally happy with the technical aspects of Kenya's seed laws, which are based on international norms. We suggest some improvements to make Kenyan seed laws more conducive to varietal turnover, in line with seed companies' suggestions and taking into account the political sensitivities of the Kenyan government.

Automation and Digitization in the Seed Sector: Offline to Online

As automation has become an integral part of today's world, the Internet of things (IoT) and Machine learning (ML) offers a platform for tracking and controlling different environments remotely with the help of sensors, controllers and the internet. Today IoT and ML are taking over control of agriculture industries and playing an important role in smart farming. The literature highlights the potential use of IoT and ML in agriculture and even in seed sector which is feasible for surveillance and monitoring from sowing to harvesting and similar packaging operations. In this review, we have highlighted the use of IoT applications with remote sensors such as temperature, humidity, soil moisture, water level sensors and pH value providing an idea of automation in seed sowing, seedling development and yield, which displays precision as well as practical utility to cope with difficulties in the field. It also addresses the digitalization in seed distribution and market systems. Some notable prospects by ML in the seed industry viz., seed tracking and smart storage system has also been stated.

Guiding sector transformation: Power strategies of a non-state actor in the centrally planned seed sector of Ethiopia

After years of political turmoil and the rise to power of Abiy Ahmed as prime minister in 2018, the ‘developmental state’ as a model for economic growth and development was jettisoned – at least discursively – and the government set a reform agenda focused on democratisation and liberalisation. However, central planning is still deeply rooted in the seed sector and seed plays the role of political commodity. Governance and transformation processes find themselves in a complex – if not contradictory – environment in Ethiopia that on the one hand stimulates market-led and participatory approaches but on the other sustains hierarchy and political control. Our study draws from the literature on cross-sector partnerships and explores the role and strategies of facilitators of Integrated Seed Sector Development in mobilising sources of power to exercise control over the Regional Seed Core Group – a new governance arena – and in its contribution to transforming the seed sector. We attribute part of the success of their strategies to carefully blending hierarchical with collaborative modes of governance and strategically mobilising power of a formal authority. This first insight offers a contribution to the literature on collaborative governance that is predominantly based on cases from western societies and mature democracies. Our second insight is that ideational power from a non-state actor is a much-needed counterweight to formal authority. And third, whilst mobilising political power may be necessary in a context like Ethiopia – where having formal authority is a key asset for getting things done – it is not without risks. We share these insights not only for scientific debate, but also for policymakers and practitioners attempting to transform systems in similar contexts with a long tradition of centralising power.

Agriculture Extension and Value Chain Support Services for Seed Sector Development in Nepal

Agriculture Extension and Value Chain Support Services for Seed Sector Development in Nepal

Australian native seed sector characteristics and perceptions indicate low capacity for upscaled ecological restoration: insights from the Australian Native Seed Report

The Australian Native Seed Sector survey was conducted in 2016–2017 under the auspices of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation. Respondents self‐selected into a seed supply (Seed Collector, Seed Production Area Grower) or seed demand (Seed Purchaser, Other User) group category. Issue statements facing the sector with respect to limiting opportunities for ecological restoration were presented to survey respondents who ranked them in order of importance. Findings revealed that the order of statement importance varied depending on the primary role (Group) of the respondent in the sector. When combined across groups, the issues of most importance were: future seed demand will be difficult to meet from wild harvest; the seed market is unwilling to pay for the true cost of seed collection/seed production; there is a lack of available seed from a broad range of species; and demand for seed is inconsistent and/or unpredictable. The survey also revealed that the native seed sector is underpinned by a remarkably small and underresourced workforce, composed primarily of sole or small operators, which presents a clear concern to all users of native seed, not only in terms of current capacity for ecological restoration, but also to meet any large and rapid increases in future demand.

Price Effects of Common Ownership in the Seed Sector

We investigate the effects of common ownership on firms’ incentives to compete. Using a theoretical model, we illustrate how common ownership changes the nature of competition among firms in the same sector. Our empirical analysis examines these dynamics in the U.S. seed industry and shows that the rise of common ownership concentration is a significant contributor to increase in soy, corn, and cotton seed prices over the 1997–2017 period. These findings contribute to the current literature regarding the anticompetitive effects of common ownership and confirm the result of studies performed in other sectors, such as airlines.

Decentralized Seed Services in Africa: An Assessment of Tanzania and Uganda

The overall goal of decentralizing seed services is to increase the availability and accessibility of quality seed to farmers. The governments of Uganda and Tanzania have endeavoured to enhance access to improved seed for smallholder farmers. These efforts have achieved results and encountered challenges. The successes include an increase in the number of key players in the seed sector in general. In Uganda, the number of community seed banks (CSBs) has increased from one to five over the last five years (Adokorach et al., 2020). The number of Local Seed Businesses (LSBs)has increased from 27 in 2012 to 256 in 2020. In addition to the increase in actors involved in improved seed production, the interaction between them has also improved. The LSBs are developing strong links with the Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ZARDI), and the CSBs are working closely with the Plant Genetic Resources Centre. In Tanzania, the government has demonstrated willingness to support the production of Quality Declared Seed (QDS) through the enactment of the QDS Regulations in July 2020. The new regulations clarify hitherto grey areas and introduce fees for inspection, germination, and moisture tests, among others. In addition to introducing the regulations, the sector has also demonstrated steady performance over the years. QDS production has increased five-fold between 2015 and 2019. QDS farmers work closely with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) and district agricultural officers to ensure that farmers produce quality seeds. Despite these notable improvements, various challenges affect the performance of the decentralized seed system. The two specific services that have yet to be fully decentralized are the management of plant genetic resources in Tanzania and seed testing in both countries. Even though other seed services have been decentralized, further challenges persist. For example, some of the system's key players, namely the CSBs, LSBs, and QDS farmers, are not yet financially sustainable. These entities are still dependent on external project support. Without it they may not cover some of their operational costs. It is important to note that the decentralized system's challenges may be, because the system and some of the players are still in their infancy. The regulatory framework for QDS is yet to be finalized and implemented in Uganda. In addition, most of the CSBs and LSBs are less than seven years old. The first few years of their operations were mainly dedicated to setting up their governance and operational structures. An evaluation of their performance over the next few years would provide a completer and more comprehensive picture of their performance and the viability of various decentralized services. One notable difference between the QDS system in Uganda and Tanzania is the presence of a coordinating entity. In Uganda, Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Uganda has actively played the role of a coordinating agency to advance the production of QDS in the country. In Tanzania, such an agency does not exist. As such, many activities in Tanzania are less coordinated.

Analysis of the Formal Sesame Seed Supply System in West Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia

Background: Improved Sesame Seed is a key input for improving Sesame production and productivity. However, the supply sector could not satisfy the growing demands for improved Sesame Seed in West Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia. The study, therefore, aims at the assessment of the formal sesame seed supply system in West Gondar Zone.Method: The information was collected from a total of 230 sample household heads, selected using a systematic random sampling technique was collected through interview. Secondary information was also collected from published documents and reports of different agricultural organizations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyses the information. Result: The study reveals that the Gondar research center and organizations like International Seed Sector Development, Seed Business Network, Agricultural Transformation Agency and Agricultural Growth Program was the strong actors of Sesame seed supply in the study area. The supply of improved Sesame seed through formal sources is constrained with various factors like shortage of improved seeds supply, cost of improved seeds, lack of awareness and delay in seed supply. It is important to strengthen community-based improved seed multiplication centers to produce an adequate amount of Sesame seed and supply the same time to smallholder farmers at a fair price.

A Study on Employer Branding in Seed Sector in Tamil Nadu

As an agricultural country, seed sector is one among the important segments in India. In this competitive world, hiring and retaining talent is tough. Attracting the key talent to the right position can be pretty much impossible without solid employer brand. At present, turnover intention of employees is the universal problem that haunts the organization. The present study investigated the relationship between dimensions of employer branding (social value, interest value, application value, economic value and development value) and turnover intention of employees working in Tamil Nadu seed companies.
 According to the survey conducted by Indian Seed Market for the year 2019, five seed companies were selected based on the respondent’s willingness to participate in the study. The participants were contacted through online. Google forms were sent to 390 respondents via mail and 150 usable responses were collected. Survey was conducted from March 2020 to June 2020. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was done to assess the relationship between employer branding and turnover intention.
 The results showed that employer branding dimensions such as social value, interest value, development value was significantly negative to turnover intention, whereas application value and economic value showed non-significant relation. Hence, the study revealed that increase in employer branding resulted in lower turnover intention. Lower turnover rate further lead to reduction in hiring and training cost for new employees and thereby would increase organization’s profitability.

Türkiye’de Tohumculuk Sektörünün Mevcut Durumu, Sorunlar ve Öneriler

Dünya nüfusunun 7.5 milyarı geçerek günbegün artmasından dolayı, hem insan hem hayvan beslenmesinde kullanılan bitkisel ürünlerin üretimi daha çok önem kazanmaktadır. Bitkisel üretimin temelini de tohumluk oluşturmaktadır. Tarımsal üretimde yüksek nitelikte tohumluk kullanımı ile %20 ile %100’ü aşan oranlarda verim artışı sağlanabilmektedir. Ülkemiz tohumculuğu açısından, bazıları yapısal olan çeşitli sorunlar mevcut olmakla birlikte bunlar çözülebilecek sorunlardır. Tarımsal girdi fiyatlarının yüksekliği, destekleme uygulamalarındaki eksiklikler, tohumculuk alanındaki teknoloji kullanımının istenilen düzeyde olmaması, denetim eksikliği ve paydaşlar arası işbirliğinin yetersizliği bunların başında gelmektedir. Tüm bunlara rağmen Türkiye tohum sektörü gün geçtikçe gelişmekte ve paralelinde de sertifikalı tohumluk üretim miktarımız yıldan yıla artmaktadır. 2019 yılı başı itibarı ile yetkili özel tohumcu kuruluş sayısı 600’ün üzerindedir. 2007 yılı toplam sertifikalı tohum üretimimiz 325 bin ton ve ihracat değerimiz 50 milyon dolar iken 2017 yılında bu rakamlar 1 milyon tonun ve 136 milyon doların üzerinde gerçekleşmiştir. Orta vadede, tohum üretiminin 1.5-2 milyon ton ve ihracat değerinin de 500 milyon dolara ulaşması hedeflenmektedir. Sertifikalı tohum üretimi ve tüketiminin artırılması için özellikle, üretimde kullanılan girdiler için üreticilere yapılan desteklemeler artırılmalı, ürün alım fiyatları için kalite kriterleri belirlenmeli ve tohumculuk alanındaki yayım ve işbirliği faaliyetleri artırılmalıdır. Bu çalışmada ülkemizde ve dünyada tohumculuğun durumu, sertifikalı tohum üretiminde görülen bazı sorunlar ve çözüm önerileri ele alınmaya çalışılmıştır.

Price Effects of Common Ownership in the Seed Sector

We evaluate the effects of the rise of common ownership in the U.S. seed sector. Using a theoretical model, we illustrate how common ownership changes the nature of competition among firms. Our empirical analysis shows that, even when taking measures to fully separate the effects of market concentration and common ownership, a significant contributor to increase in soy, corn and cotton seed prices over the 1997-2017 period is the rise of common ownership. These findings contribute to the current literature regarding the anticompetitive effects of common ownership and confirm the result of studies performed in other sectors, such as airlines.

Prospects and Challenges in Seed Sector Development: Lessons from Eastern Ethiopia

Ethiopian seed system aim to enhance efficiency and satisfy the farmer's seed demand for reliable supply of a range of improved seed varieties of assured quality at an acceptable price. To ensure this goal different actors (operators, supporters, and enablers) are involving in seed value chain. Currently, the seed demand and supply in Ethiopia in general and Hararghe zones in particular is a paradox. Although seed supply does not meet the demand of farmers, significant amount of seed leftover every year at unions and primary cooperatives stores. The objectives of this study were to analyze seed production and utilization trends and assesses institutional and technical capacity of actors across seed value chain in Eastern Ethiopia. The outcome of the assessment revealed that limited availability and access of basic seed for seed production; limited infrastructural and technical capacity of seed producers; fragmented land for seed production; weak internal seed quality inspection; poor post-harvest seed processing and value addition; weak external seed quality inspection and certification services; lack of market information and linkage; poor coordination and collaboration among actors; and natural disasters are some of the key challenges affecting seed business. For seed marketing and distribution the existing conventional seed marketing system in which government plays a dominant role is inefficient to satisfy farmer’s seed demand. Our result also revealed that direct seed marketing system cannot address all farmers located over wider agro-ecologies due to geo-location, limited volume, limited infrastructure facilities and diversity. It is recommended that defining clear roles and responsibilities of different actors in the seed value chain and working according to the agreed responsibilities; strengthening institutional and technical capacity of research centers and unions for continues supply of early generation seed and certified seeds, respectively and enforcement of seed regulatory functions to ensure transparency and accountability.

English

Seed producer cooperatives were initiated by the Integrated Seed Sector Development Program in five regions of Ethiopia including Oromia region since 2009 as an alternative mechanism to narrow the gap between seed supply and demand in the country. Seed marketing is one of the key activities of the program to satisfy the demand of farmers by providing quality seeds in the right place, at the right time and with the right price for sale. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze market performance of potato seed through producer cooperatives in Haramay, Kersa and Chiro districts of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia by identifying factors affecting potato seed market supply and its intensity. Three stage sampling procedure was used to select potato seed producer households. In the first stage, kebeles in the three districts were categorized into two: those with and without Seed Producer Cooperatives. In the second stage, kebele administrations with Seed Producer Cooperatives were purposively targeted from each district. In the third stage, households in the sample kebeles were stratified into two: member and non-member households. Finally, all farm households who are members of Seed Producer Cooperatives (157) in the sample kebeles were included in the sample. The Tobit model was used to analyze the data. The result of the analysis indicated that Haramaya district, literacy status, family size, extension contact, households’ perception to price offered by cooperatives and distance from cooperative market center are the significant factors affecting members’ potato seed market supply through cooperatives. Based on the findings, policy interventions like cooperatives capacity building, providing adult education, awareness creation on family planning, provision of extension service and accessible cooperative market center are suggested and forwarded. Key words: Intensity, marginal effect, seed producer cooperatives, Tobit model.

How do the Stakeholders Perceive Plant Variety Protection in Indian Seed Sector?

Creativity and innovation are important factors for sustainable agricultural growth. Intellectual property rights (IPR) is the key driver of innovation. However, many argue against this view, as it would benefit only a certain section in a country. The present study analyses the perception of stakeholders on Indian IPR system for plant varieties. A perception survey was conducted among various stakeholders of the seed industry across the country during 2011-12. Contrary to the view that IPR plays no role in innovation, this study finds a positive perception of majority of stakeholders on plant variety protection (PVP), while highlighting the hits and misses of Indian PVP.

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD)-How Informal and Formal Seed Systems Can Work Together for the Conservation and Use of Agricultural Biodiversity

Agricultural biodiversity conservation and its availability for use are central to robust seed systems that support food security, poverty eradication and resilience to climate change. Recognising that smallholder farmers source seed of different qualities from a diversity of seed systems has resulted in the Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) approach that supports the development of a pluralistic seed sector, which provides smallholder farmers with quality seed of the varieties they desire. The focus of the ISSD approach on the importance of different seed sources to cater for the diversity in demand by farmers offers also opportunities for better and more balanced support for both in situ and ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources, and strengthened use of agricultural biodiversity on farmers’ fields and in both community and commercial seed development programmes.

Analysis of Quality Control in the Informal Seed Sector: Case of Smallholder Bean Farmers in Bondo Sub-County, Kenya

Common bean is the most widely grown and consumed grain legume in Kenya. However, its contribution to nutrition and income has not been fully felt by smallholder farmers in western Kenya due to low yields. Good quality seed, if used with complementary practices can increase bean productivity. This study was conducted in Bondo sub-County to determine the methods used by farmers in seed quality control; factors affecting the choice preferences for informal bean seed sources; and the structure and contribution of social networks in seed quality control. Primary data were collected from 100 respondents through scheduled interviews using structured questionnaires. Excel, SPSS, STATA and UCINET computer packages were used to run data. A multinomial logit model was used to analyse the effects of socio-economic characteristics on the choice of seed sources. Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate the seed quality control methods. The nature of social networks was determined using measures of centrality and brokerage positions and visualized through network graphs. The results showed that farmers use pre-planting, post-planting, harvest and post harvest methods in controlling seed quality; and are influenced by socio-economic characteristics while choosing seed sources in the informal sector. It was determined that social networks exist, and farmers rely mainly on fellow farmers to access bean seed. Therefore, the study suggests policy interventions to design integrated bean seed system with aspects of formal and informal sector to enhance supply of quality seed to smallholder farmers. Preference for certain bean varieties should be used for strategic varietal development. Finally, youth groups should be used as springboards for seed related interventions. Keywords: Common bean, seed, quality control, smallholder farmers, social networks, western Kenya

The Role of Agricultural Cooperatives in Risk Management and Impact on Farm Income: <i>Evidence from Southern Ethiopia</i>

Rural households face considerable risks related to farm business such as variability of yield and market conditions. These risks are especially important if they result in income fluctuations. One possible strategy for household is to take up low-risk activities, even if they imply lower returns. This is likely if the households are constrained with risk management instruments. Integrated Seed Sector development Ethiopia program has been intervening to reduce such sub-optimal decision by organizing farmers under Agricultural Cooperatives and establishing market linkage. In this paper, Author examined the role of the intervention on risk-management behavior of farm households (manifested by crop choice) and impact on farm income in case of Southern Ethiopia. The two-step Instrumental Variable estimates confirm positive impact of agricultural cooperatives on crop choice and farm income. In attempt to identify major determinants of participation in the program, the binary probit estimates shed light on factors behind the participation decision and indicates that participation in agricultural cooperatives is strongly linked to access to the program, access to information, having contact with farm extension agents, land size, distance from main road and household size. Majority of non-participants are poor, women, and young headed households. Thus, enhancing participation of the poor, women and young headed households will have favorable impact for increasing resilience of farm households and poverty reduction.

Seed Systems Support in Kenya: Consideration for an Integrated Seed Sector Development Approach

The threats of climate change and rising food prices have stirred renewed attention for seed and food security in Africa, inviting new thinking on the role of seed sector development in coping with these concerns. One conceptual framework that has gained attention is the Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) approach. The ISSD approach has evolved as a response to the almost exclusive focus on formal seed systems in seed sector development programs. Instead, ISSD aims to recognize and support all the diverse seed systems that exist in a particular country. An analysis of the evolution of seed policies and regulatory frameworks in Kenya since independence indeed exposes a continuous support for the formal seed sector while support given to the informal sector has merely been intended to transform it into formal. In reality, however, the formal and informal sectors appear to be made up of a plurality of seed systems, with the informal seed systems being the main source of seed for most crops. The article continues with analysing some of Kenya’s recent policy shifts in order to explore how its new seed policy and legislative framework may fit within ISSD principles, and concludes with some recommendations on how the variety of seeds systems that exists on the ground and in particular local seed systems can be supported.