Sorghum seed systems Mary Mgonja and Richard J ones Jones

Transcription

1 Sorghum seed systems Mary Mgonja and Richard Jones

2 Outline The sorghum crop Opportunities Breeding investments Understanding seed demand Existing seed systems Conceptual framework The seed system challenge Creating an enabling policy environment Supporting seed enterprise Seed alliances Conclusions

3 The sorghum crop Evolved in Africa Guinea types Kaffir types Caudatum types Durra types Grows from >2,000 m to sea level Photoperiod sensitive

4 Africa is diverse and large!

5 Simplified Sub-Sahara Primary Grain Agro-Ecozones Forest/Transitional zone Moist Savannah Mid-altitude zone Dry savannah Courtesy: IITA

6 Genetic requirements Broadly adapted d single varieties or technologies are the exception Conditions are less uniform in Africa Very limited irrigation Highly weathered soils Limited use of fertilizers and other inputs High climatic variability Dominance of local l use in Africa increases the list of required characteristics

7 Opportunities Strong adaptation Increasing market demand Brewing Poultry feed Processed cereals-based products Bioethanol Grain and fodder after juice extraction

8 Breeding investments Drought escape Short-duration determinate types (USAID) Targeted improvement of local materials Striga resistance through MAB (BMZ) Introgression of stay-green (Syngenta) Increased nutrient density y( (ABS-BMGF) Iron and Zinc Vitamin A Hybrid development (Rockefeller) Guinea types

9 Understanding seed demand Four major types of demand (Tripp, 2002): Acute seed insecurity Civil and/or natural disasters Chronic seed insecurity Usually as a result of poverty Demand for quality seed Hybrids Vegetables Demand for new varieties Development of commercial seed systems requires regular demand

10 Existing seed sources Farmers rely mainly on informal seed sources Own-saved seed Seed sourced through informal networks

11 Existing seed systems Informal (farmer) seed Formal (commercial) system seed system Seed production integral to crop production Farmer seed selection Regulation through good neighborliness Range of seed acquisition methods New varieties through social networks, local selection, and formal seed system Very resilient Seed multiplication separate from crop production Quality control regulated externally (seed legislation) Seed acquired for cash New varieties through research and development

12 Seed value chain Plant Breeding Foundation Seed Production Commercial Commercial Seed Seed Production / Production Sales Seed Distribution & Sales Crop Production Crop Sales

13 The model Public sector Private sector Farmer sector

14 The challenge Short-term agenda How to link public sector breeding efforts to private sector entrepreneurs? How to increase farmer choice? Medium- to long-term agenda How to increase commercial investments in research?

15 Vertically integrated seed production High returns to seed sales Stimulates private-sector investments Research and development Seed production Seed marketing Seed cost typically 7-10 times grain price Best developed for hybrid crops Need for fresh seed -repeat sales In high-quality product markets French beans Where seed management is difficult Vegetable crops

16 Vertically coordinated seed production Returns to seed sales alone are low Cost sharing between public and private sectors Public-sector investment Research and development Breeder seed production Private-sector investment Foundation seed production Certified seed production

17 Vertically integrated versus vertically coordinated d Vertically integrated t Vertically coordinated d Strategic research Public and private sector investment Applied research Mainly private sector investment Market research Private sector Marketing Private sector Strategic research Mainly public sector investment Applied research Mainly public sector investment Market research Public and private sectors

18 Seed policy reform Regional policy harmonization, implementation, and capacity building Regional variety release Regional seed certification Develop science based plant quarantine lists Harmonization of biosafety regulations Intellectual property rights

19 Evidence for seed policy reform Small national seed markets Different agro-ecologies within countries Similar agro-ecologies g between countries Different regulations between countries Variety release Phyto-sanitary y standards Very limited plant variety protection laws

20 Support to seed policy reform Development of a web-based database DUS and VCU Development of a web-based catalogue Regional variety release ECOWAS SADC COMESA

21 Supporting seed enterprise Development of a seed business management tool + manual In partnership with the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University Based on analysis and experience operating a seed revolving fund

22 Sorghum hybrid seed parents consortium How can the public sector serve both the public and private sectors? How do we ensure that our research remains in the public domain? Establish hybrid seed parents consortium Annual membership fee of $10,000 Private sector invited to see nurseries and to select materials (F2-F3) Provided under SMTA Network of breeders provide feedback to ICRISAT

23 Seed alliances Goal To establish a sustainable commercial seed industry capable of ensuring that small-scale farmers have affordable, timely and reliable access to adapted genetics and traits in high quality seeds and planting materials Establishment of WASA and development of ESASA Alliances designed using research outputs

24 Seed alliances Bi Brings together th different ttypes of fimplementing partners To address seed sector development in a coordinated way Provides opportunities for action research Policies Institutional development Knowledge dissemination Capacity building Will lead to increased adoption of improved varieties Provide a vehicle for collective action in multiple areas including micro-dosing, institutional development, credit provision, and extension provision

25 Conclusions Under-developed d d seed industry in Africa Poor seed enabling environment necessitating seed policy reform Lack of seed production, distribution and marketing capacity Uncoordinated seed development efforts Limited impacts from public investment in crop improvement Need for an integrated approach

26 Thank you!