scaling up improved seed and agronomic practices in southern africa

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Scaling Up Improved Seed and Agronomic Practices in Southern Africa

P4D Week

20-26 November 2016, Ibadan, Nigeria

MG Akinwale, C Malita, AH Tufa, G Chigeza, C Engoke,J Manda, JK Mhango, S Boahen, and A Alene

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• Introduction• Implementation approach• Key achievements• Lessons Learnt• Challenges• Next Steps

Outline

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• Soybean is an important cash crop in Southern Africa• Demand is driven by the growing poultry industry • Productivity of soybean is <1 t/ha due to low adoption of

improved varieties and agronomic practices • Low adoption is due to limited availability and affordability

of seed of improved varieties

Introduction

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Introduction

• IITA is implementing two major technology scaling

up projects:

• SEMEAR(Improving Seeds for Better Agriculture) in

Mozambique(See poster)

• MISST(Malawi Improved Seed Systems and

Technology) in Malawi

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• MISST objectives:

– Support breeder, basic, and certified seed

production

– Increase adoption through variety demonstration

and promotion

– Seed distribution and marketing

– Capacity building and strengthening seed

partnerships

Introduction

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MCHINJI

LILONGWE

DEDZA

NTCHEU

7 Target districts - USAID/Malawi FtF Zones of Influence

MISST project sites

MANGOCHI

BALAKA

.MACHINGA

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DARS/UNIV

DAES NGOs

NATIONAL PARTNERS

NASFAM FUM WASAA AISL DEMETER KUKUYU FARM EXAGRIS SUNSEED OIL MUSECO AGRO-DEALERS

PRIVATE SECTOR CG centers

MISST

IITAICRISATCIPCIMMYT

OTHER PROJECTs

Implementation Approach

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Public Sector(DARS &IITA)

Breeder seed production

Basic seed Production

Certified Seed

ProductionDistribution and

marketing

Private Seed Companies

NGOs,farmers’ assn.,private seed

growers

Agro-dealers, NGOs,

farmers’ assn.,FISP

Certification services

Public sector(SSU)

Implementation Approach

Public-Private Partnerships

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Innovative seed production & delivery pathways

$1/kg$2/Kg

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• 1,063 tons of 3 classes of soybean seed produced and distributed

• 21,000 rural households reached with seed and other technologies

• 15,000 ha covered with improved seed of soybean varieties

Key Achievements

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• 692 variety demonstration plots established

• 11,349 soybean farmers (5,495 men and 5,795 women) trained on good agronomic practices

Key Achievements

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Key Achievements

• 5,116 farmers trained on seed production and seed quality control

• 108 partners and extension agents trained on good

agronomic practices for both seed and grain production

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• Partnering with farmer organizations, NGO and Ministry of

Agriculture resulted in rapid scale-out of certified seed

production and distribution

• Engagement of farmers organization as an entry point

facilitated extensive outreach to many smallholder farmers

• Smallholder farmers can produce high quality soybean seed

if they have access to basic seed and knowledge on seed

production

• Sustainability of community based seed production system

will require robust market strategy

Lessons Learnt

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• Late submission of technical and financial reports by

some partners

• Poor performance of some partners in implementing

project activities

• Some community based seed producers sold their

seeds as grain

• Drought affected seed farms and demonstration plots

Challenges

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Next Steps

• Facilitate seed production and distribution

• Establish variety and ICM demonstration plots

• Train farmers, seed inspectors and extension agents

• Link community based seed producers to seed

companies

• Determine the cost of seed production for all classes of

seed

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Thank you for your attention