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Comparative study of three community seed supply strategies in Tanzania

OAR@ICRISAT

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/2874/
 
Title Comparative study of three community seed supply strategies in Tanzania
 
Creator Rohrbach, D D
Saadan, H M
Monyo, E S
Kiriwaggulu, J A B
Mtenga, K
Mwaisela, F
 
Subject Oil seeds
Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
 
Description Community seed production projects are being implemented throughout Africa. This case study compares three such projects in central Tanzania. All three programs seek to encourage small-scale farmers to produce and sell sorghum and pearl millet varieties, but use different approaches to solve the common problems of seed multiplication and distribution. Three projects were relatively successful in promoting seed production. Training was provided in seed quality control, and growers generally understood the differences between seed and grain. However, questions remain about the practicality of producing certified seed, quality declared seed, or common grade seed. External investments remain necessary for the production and delivery of source seed. The biggest threat to the viability of these programs is the problem of seed marketing. While farmers are expected to sell seed to their neighbors, most sought marketing assistance from external buyers. Further investments are still needed in testing alternative marketing strategies. The study highlights a number of policy issues. None of the three programs is likely to continue without external technical support and funding. The appropriate, long-term levels of public investment need to be defined. In addition, the relationship between public and private sector investments in seed production and distribution needs to be explicitly defined
 
Publisher International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
 
Date 2002
 
Type Monograph
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
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Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/2874/1/Comparative_Study_of_Three_Community_Seed_Supply_Strategies_in_Tanzania.pdf
Rohrbach, D D and Saadan, H M and Monyo, E S and Kiriwaggulu, J A B and Mtenga, K and Mwaisela, F (2002) Comparative study of three community seed supply strategies in Tanzania. Project Report. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics , Bulawayo, Zimbabawe.