Africa’s evolving vegetable seed sector: status, policy options and lessons from Asia

Pepijn Schreinemachers (), Julie Howard, Michael Turner, Simon N. Groot, Bhupen Dubey, Learnmore Mwadzingeni, Takemore Chagomoka, Michael Ngugi, Victor Afari-Sefa, Peter Hanson and Marco C. S. Wopereis
Additional contact information
Pepijn Schreinemachers: World Vegetable Center
Julie Howard: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Michael Turner: Independent seed consultant
Simon N. Groot: East-West Seed International Ltd.
Bhupen Dubey: Advanta Seeds Ltd.
Learnmore Mwadzingeni: Seed Co Ltd.
Takemore Chagomoka: Seed Co West and Central Africa
Michael Ngugi: Simlaw Seeds Ltd.
Victor Afari-Sefa: World Vegetable Center
Peter Hanson: World Vegetable Center
Marco C. S. Wopereis: World Vegetable Center

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, No 2, 523 pages

Abstract: Abstract Fostering better access to more nutritious foods across sub-Saharan Africa will be critical to ending hunger and malnutrition. In Asia, vegetable production and consumption have grown rapidly since the 1990s and the development of a dynamic vegetable seed industry, led by the private sector, played a pivotal role in this process. The availability of locally-bred and adapted varieties facilitated the rapid expansion of production and increased the supply of affordable vegetables to consumers. In contrast, the vegetable seed sector in sub-Saharan Africa has been slow to develop and has received little attention in the development agenda. Drawing from Asia’s experience, this paper outlines a four-point strategy to accelerate the vegetable seed sector in sub-Saharan Africa. First, there is a need to strengthen the technical capacity of African seed companies to allow them to develop varieties that are well-adapted to local conditions and consumer preferences. Second, seed regulations, originally designed with food grains in mind, should be reviewed and revised to facilitate domestic vegetable breeding research and seed production. Third, more farmer extension is needed to exploit improved varieties together with good management practices. Fourth, vegetable marketing systems should be strengthened to reduce risks to farmers and traders. Investment in these four areas will help energize private sector investment in the vegetable seed sector. Asian experience suggests that investment in locally adapted vegetable varieties is a critical step in improving productivity, availability and ultimately consumption of nutritious vegetables.

Keywords: Agriculture; Green revolution; Nutrition; Plant breeding; Private sector; Research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s12571-021-01146-y

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