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Development Options for Local Seed Systems in Mozambique. Working Paper Series no. 5

OAR@ICRISAT

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/1098/
 
Title Development Options for Local Seed Systems in Mozambique. Working Paper Series no. 5
 
Creator Rohrbach, D
Kiala, D
 
Subject Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
 
Description Large quantities of free or subsidized seed have been distributed to small-scale farmers in Mozambique under postwar
resettlement and drought/flood relief programs. A joint study by ICRISAT and World Vision assessed the
impact of relief seed distribution, the adoption of new varieties distributed through relief programs, and the
performance of local seed systems. While there was undoubtedly a need for well-targeted emergency assistance,
seed losses associated with war, drought, and floods appear to have been overestimated. Village seed systems are
remarkably efficient in meeting seed requirements and maintaining varietal diversity, even under drought or flood
conditions. However, there remains scope for improving household seed selection and storage practices. In
addition, sustainable seed supply systems (both community-level and commercial) are needed to improve the
access of small-scale farmers to new varieties.
Despite the massive demand for seed for public distribution efforts, domestic production capabilities remain
small, and most seed is still imported. The problems include shortages of breeder seed, poor market
infrastructure, high marketing costs, uncertainty about levels of commercial seed demand, and farmer
dependence on free seed. Specific recommendations are offered for strengthening both local and commercial
seed supply systems in Mozambique.
 
Publisher International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
 
Date 2000
 
Type Monograph
NonPeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Rights —
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/1098/1/RA_00366.pdf
Rohrbach, D and Kiala, D (2000) Development Options for Local Seed Systems in Mozambique. Working Paper Series no. 5. Working Paper. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.