Strengthening seed delivery system for enhanced adoption of improved sorghum varieties among smallholder farmers in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia
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Date
2020
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IAARD Press
Abstract
Many improved sorghum varieties and hybrids have been developed by public research institutions in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. However, the seeds are not readily available to small-scale farmers in remote rural areas. The non-availability of improved seed is due to various reasons, including low demand for certified seed and therefore, low profitability. Sorghum has been unattractive to large seed companies, and hence is not taking up production and distribution of these improved sorghum varieties to farming communities leading to low adoption. As a result, a seed system strengthening project was initiated to enhance seed delivery in remote rural areas that cannot access seeds easily. The project is in the first year stage and is being implemented in fourteen districts of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. The project activities include early generation seed production of selected sorghum varieties, the establishment of promotional demonstration fields, building the capacity of seed producers and farmers in seed production through training and creating a platform for players in the sorghum seed value chain. The specific objectives are: (i) to improve the availability of sufficient quantities of early generation seed to seed producers, (ii) to strengthen the capacity of sorghum seed value chain players involved in the promotion of released sorghum varieties, and (iii) to promote the use of sorghum certified seed by small scale farmers. The research outputs so far achieved are 250 farmers have been trained in seed production, 10 tons of basic seed of selected varieties have been produced and 144 sites have been established.
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Keywords
food security, Malawi, Mozambique, sorghum varieties, Zambia.