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Why interventions in the seed systems of roots, tubers and bananas crops do not reach their full potential

Author

Listed:
  • Conny J. M. Almekinders

    (WUR)

  • Steve Walsh

    (WUR)

  • Kim S. Jacobsen

    (CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB), Royal Museum for Central Africa)

  • Jorge L. Andrade-Piedra

    (Crop and Systems Sciences Division, International Potato Center (CIP))

  • Margaret A. McEwan

    (Centro Internacional de la Papa)

  • Stef Haan

    (Centro Internacional para Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), c/o Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI))

  • Lava Kumar

    (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA))

  • Charles Staver

    (Bioversity, Parc scientifique Agropolis II)

Abstract

Seed systems for roots, tuber, and banana (RTB) crops receive relatively little attention from development-oriented research and commercial seed sector actors, despite their importance for food security, nutrition and rural livelihoods. We review RTB seed systems—with particular reference to potato, sweetpotato, cassava, yam and banana —to reflect on current seed system development approaches and the unique nature of these systems. We refer to our own experiences, literature and 13 case studies of RTB seed system interventions to identify gaps in our knowledge on farmer practices in sourcing and multiplying seed, and processes affecting seed quality. Currently, most approaches to developing RTB seed systems favour decentralised multiplication models to make quality seed available to smallholder farmers. Nevertheless, arguments and experiences show that in many situations, the economic sustainability of these models cannot be guaranteed, among others because the effective demand of farmers for seed from vegetatively propagated crops is unclear. Despite the understudied nature of farmers’ agronomic and social practices in relation to seed production and sourcing in RTB crops, there is sufficient evidence to show that local RTB seed systems are adaptive and dynamic. Our analysis suggests the paramount importance of understanding farmers’ effective demand for seed and how this affects the sustainable supply of quality seed from specialized producer-entrepreneurs, regardless of the seed system paradigm. From the case studies we learnt that few interventions are designed with a rigorous understanding of these issues; in particular, what types of interventions work for which actors, where, and why, although this is a necessary condition for prioritizing investments to increase the use of improved seed by smallholder farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Conny J. M. Almekinders & Steve Walsh & Kim S. Jacobsen & Jorge L. Andrade-Piedra & Margaret A. McEwan & Stef Haan & Lava Kumar & Charles Staver, 2019. "Why interventions in the seed systems of roots, tubers and bananas crops do not reach their full potential," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(1), pages 23-42, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:11:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s12571-018-0874-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-018-0874-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Christine Wamuyu Mwangi & Josiah Ateka & Robert Mbeche & Luke Oyugi & Elijah Ateka, 2022. "Comparing farmers’ willingness to pay with costs of clean sweet potato seed multiplication in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(5), pages 1279-1293, October.
    2. Thomas Pircher & Conny J. M. Almekinders, 2021. "Making sense of farmers’ demand for seed of root, tuber and banana crops: a systematic review of methods," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1285-1301, October.
    3. Joshua Sikhu Okonya & Netsayi Noris Mudege & Anne M. Rietveld & Anastase Nduwayezu & Déo Kantungeko & Bernadette Marie Hakizimana & John Njuki Nyaga & Guy Blomme & James Peter Legg & Jürgen Kroschel, 2019. "The Role of Women in Production and Management of RTB Crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do Men Decide, and Women Work?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-15, August.
    4. Lucy Mulugo & Florence Birungi Kyazze & Paul Kibwika & Bonaventure Aman Omondi & Enoch Mutebi Kikulwe, 2020. "Seed Security Factors Driving Farmer Decisions on Uptake of Tissue Culture Banana Seed in Central Uganda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia & Tran, Nhuong & Joffre, Olivier M. & Islam, Abu Hayat Md Saiful & Barman, Benoy Kumar & Ali, Shawquat & Rossignoli, Cristiano M., 2021. "Lock-ins to the dissemination of genetically improved fish seeds," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    6. Koen Beumer & Dirk Stemerding & Jac. A. A. Swart, 2021. "Innovation and the commons: lessons from the governance of genetic resources in potato breeding," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(2), pages 525-539, June.
    7. Wossen, Tesfamicheal & Spielman, David J. & Alene, Arega D. & Abdoulaye, Tahirou, 2024. "Estimating seed demand in the presence of market frictions: Evidence from an auction experiment in Nigeria," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    8. Serge Savary, 2020. "Looking back on 2019: a selection of Food Security articles," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(1), pages 1-3, February.
    9. Lilian Nkengla-Asi & Favour Eforuoku & Olamide Olaosebikan & Temitope Adejoju Ladigbolu & Delphine Amah & Rachid Hanna & P. Lava Kumar, 2021. "Gender Roles in Sourcing and Sharing of Banana Planting Material in Communities with and without Banana Bunchy Top Disease in Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Gottemukkula Bhavani & Middhe Sreenivasulu & Ravinder V. Naik & M. Jagan Mohan Reddy & Ashwini S. Darekar & Anugu Amarender Reddy, 2022. "Impact Assessment of Seed Village Programme by Using Difference in Difference (DiD) Approach in Telangana, India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-15, August.
    11. Chrispin Sunganani Kaphaika & Samson Pilanazo Katengeza & Innocent Pangapanga-Phiri & Madalitso Happy Chambukira, 2023. "More Interventions, Low Adoption: To What Extent Are the Existing Seed Sources to Blame? The Case of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato in Central and Northern Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    12. Andersen Onofre, Kelsey F. & Forbes, Gregory A. & Andrade-Piedra, Jorge L. & Buddenhagen, Chris E. & Fulton, James C. & Gatto, Marcel & Khidesheli, Zurab & Mdivani, Rusudan & Xing, Yanru & Garrett, Ka, 2021. "An integrated seed health strategy and phytosanitary risk assessment: Potato in the Republic of Georgia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).

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