Community Based Seed Production- practicable strategy for Nigeria seed system development Emmanuel Sangodele N2Africa-Nigeria

CURRENT SEED SYSTEM SCENARIO

•No sustainable supply of improved and appropriate varieties to different category of farmers in the community

•Government interference in the seed business

•Lack of synergy of different seed system development scheme

•Lack of continuity of various initiatives and intervention

•Lack of enough human resources to handle mammoth load of certification and seed quality control

•Low rate of adoption of improved varieties

•Lack of effective seed production plan

CURRENT SEED SYSTEM SCENARIO

•Capacity of private seed companies to deliver quality seed as at when required

•Weak seed law enforcement

•Seed production system not conducive to evolution

–Genetic diversity allows crops to adapt to climate changes by providing a range of possible phenotypes, genetic diversity and gives plant populations more insurance against detrimental environmental changes

•Creation of a shrinking gene pool that leaves

–fewer and fewer mating partners

THE CURRENT SCENARIO: How much of the released varieties are available in our gene bank?

•Gene banking capacities

– both in terms of physical and human resources in the countries is generally low

•Consequently,

–genetic resources are being lost (from fields, on farms, and in gene banks) at a fast rate through genetic erosion

•There is a great risk of varietal wipe-off in this era of climate change

•A threat to our genetic resources!

–13 cotton

–30 cowpea

–20 soybean

-9 forage legumes

–26 groundnut

–5 sesame

–46 sorghum

–106 maize including 15 hybrids

–12 Pearl millet

–67 rice

–9 wheat

–10 yam

–8 sweet potato

–3 Irish potato

–46 cassava

CBSP-A FUNCTIONAL SEED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

•Provide appropriate varieties for use by smallholder farmers at community level

•Maintain released varieties with traits of interest for end users and seed companies

•Multiply, distribute and popularized improved varieties among different farmers at community level

•Genome saviour- preserve genetic resources on farmers fields.

•Maintain quality control through training and regulatory system

CBSP development to research approach

•Over 80% farmers rely on farmers saved seed

•CBSP is seed system model flexible and ‘best fits’ available for all farmers – rich and poor

•Focus on continuous learning and improvement

•Enhanced role of strategic public and private partners

•Built a great network of seed farmers and collaborators across Nigeria

•Fantastic opportunity to deliver sustainable improved seed to legume value chain in Nigeria

CBSP development to research approach

ØCBSP farmers liaises with Seed Companies for timely orders of foundation seed improved varieties

ØEnhance the capacity of CBSP farmers in certified seed production

ØDevelop the seed business skill/entrepreneurship skill of the CBSP groups

ØPeriodically assess farmer demand for foundation and certified seed

ØCertified seed processing, distribution, stock, sales and pricing strategy development

ØLearning M & E for development of action plan to increase farmer access of quality seed at community level

Benefit of CBSP

•Income generation to small holder farmers

•Genome saviour for Increase legume production

•Increase access to improved seed

•Empowerment for sustainable seed business

•Sustainable seed supply to legume value chain

•Improved varieties become popular among small holder farmers at community level.

•Sustainable certified seed supply to Seed Companies

CBSP STAKE HOLDERS’ ROLES IN THE VALUE CHAIN

•N2Africa & Partners;

vFacilitate community based seed business development

vCapacity building

vSeed business development at community level

vMarket linkages

vBuild national capacity to lead CBSP activities across the legume value chain

vDevelop strategic partnerships to share outcomes and disseminate legume technologies

vFacilitate National stakeholder platforms of public and private partners to support local business clusters in community based seed production

CBSP STAKE HOLDERS’ ROLES IN THE VALUE CHAIN

•NASC

ØDevelop strategy for national seed production and monitor the implementation of the national action plan

ØEnforce seed law and regulation in Nigeria

ØRegulate seed system and take responsibility for seed quality control

ØPut in place practicable policy for sustainable seed system around different crop value chain in Nigeria

ØFacilitate the synergy of various interventions by various stakeholders.

ØInstitutionalize seed system model that can make improved varieties available to smallholder’ farmers

ØFacilitate sustainable system for improved seed supply to smallholder’ farmers at affordable price

CBSP STAKE HOLDERS’ ROLES IN THE VALUE CHAIN

•Seed Companies

oLink person between researchers and resource seed producers

oDevelop company seed production plan in line with national action plan

oSupply foundation seed, right quantity, quality and time

oTeam up with stakeholders to build the capacity of community seed producers

oCertified seed buy-back from CBO

•Community Based Seed Producers (CBSP)

oProduce and market high quality and right variety of seeds to farmers/seed companies

oForm community based cooperative /association (CBO) for variety maintenance / genome preservation and capacity building

oJoin the value chain actors to develop supply chain for seed produced by farmers

CBSP STAKE HOLDERS’ ROLES IN THE VALUE CHAIN

•Grain producers

oProduce and market grain at community level

oForm community based cooperative /association for variety maintenance / genome preservation and capacity building

oJoin the value chain actors to develop supply chain for grain produced by farmers

•Grain processors

•Grain buy-back from producers and marketers at community level

•Join the value chain actors to develop supply chain for grain produced by farmers

RECOMMENDATION

•Nigeria seed law enforcement to move from text to operational system

–Maintain policy and operational coherence in seed regulation in Nigeria

•Establish a national mechanism for sharing responsibilities in plant genetic resources management among communities to arrest the genetic erosion

•Stakeholders to agree to adopt CBSP as option to preserve promote and popularize improved verities.

Establish a well-developed and well equipped

Gene banks and laboratories,

– having trained personnel and adequate budgets.

•Set up network of services to work with national gene banks and the CG Centers' genetic resources units.

•Address the challenges of the seed sector in a changing environment to prevent loss of genetic resources

Promote farmer-based seeds production, saving and exchange systems

–partnerships with governments on research, production and commercialization

•Education and Awareness-raising about CBSP

•Broadening research participation

–Governments and NGOs increase contributions, supports and strengthen their long-term commitment to seed system research and development.