Webinar: Policies for Scaling Smallholder Access to Seeds
Channel: Agrilinks
Date: 08/06/2017

The production of quality seed requires high technical expertise and specific equipment and infrastructure. In many developing countries, this is undertaken by the public sector’s breeding institutions. Unfortunately, these institutions often face obstacles in making adequate amounts of quality seed available to farmers in a timely manner. 

A landmark new study conducted by Monitor Deloitte and funded by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-provides a new framework that could help address seed availability issues by looking at different types of seed development and distribution systems. Pradeep Prabhala, one of the authors of this study, will join the Ag Sector Council Seminar to discuss this the policy implications of this study’s findings.

Furthermore, seed policy formulation should be designed with the wider context of national agricultural policy development in mind—ensuring synergy and consistency with environmental, trade and socioeconomic policies. Charlee Doom from the USAID East Africa Regional Mission will discuss efforts to standardize regulations and streamline the process of getting improved varieties into the hands of farmers.

This Ag Sector Council seminar explored:

•Early generation seed market archetypes in Sub-Saharan Africa
•Eastern Africa trade harmonization efforts to improve seed access

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