Getting back to basics [compatibility mode]
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This project aimed to improve food security and incomes of smallholders in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania through improved bean productivity. The project identified farmers' preferred bean varieties, trained partners in participatory variety selection and decentralized seed systems, and developed impact-oriented bean seed production and delivery systems. Through these efforts, over 50,000 farmers gained access to improved bean varieties and over 50 metric tons of bean seed was produced and distributed between 2007-2010. Key lessons included that demand for bean seed is increasing in all three countries, and that policy changes like Malawi's seed regulations can influence the development of commercial seed supply systems.
Getting back to basics [compatibility mode]
- 1. Getting Back to Basics: Creating Getting Back to Basics: Creating Impact Oriented Bean Seed Delivery Systems for the Poor (and others) in S t f th P ( d th ) i Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania q Chirwa, R.M, J.C. Rubyogo, M. Amane, E. D.L. Mazuma, C. Madata and R. Magreta SAf‐CoP4 meeting Held at Club Makokola, Mangochi, Malawi Mangochi Malawi September 27‐October 1, 2010
- 2. Background • Importance of Beans Importance of Beans • Major Challenges to Production • Why this project was conceived? h hi j i d?
- 3. Importance of bean • Good source of plant protein/minerals/vitamins • Leaves are good g vegetables • Reduced hunger/cash strap period – early maturing – 3 months • Sold for cash – leaves and grain • Fixes nitrogen
- 4. Limiting factors to bean production • Limited varieties for specific agro‐ecologies and market niches • Unavailability of seed of improved bean varieties • Lack of knowledge about the existence or availability of non‐variety bean technologies • Poor linkages between producers and Poor linkages between producers and consumers/markets
- 5. This Project was to Address: This Project was to Address: • Inadequate exposure of farmers, other consumers, q p , , traders, other rural service providers to identify their preferred varieties and stimulate their wider utilization. utilization • Unavailability and inaccessibility of seeds of these varieties, resulting from disconnection between varieties, resulting from disconnection between National Agricultural Research Services (NARS) products (improved bean varieties, knowledge and skills) and existing farmer, rural service providers kill ) d i ti f l i id and local bean seed systems.
- 6. Project Goal and Objectives: Project Goal and Objectives: To identify/verify farmers’ bean variety preferences • Goal: Improved Improved food/Nutrition To enhance skills and knowledge of partners security and incomes in Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) and of small holders of small holders decentralized seed systems decentralized seed systems through use of improved bean To develop impact‐oriented bean seed productivity productivity p production and delivery systems of preferred y y p varieties serving a range of end‐users
- 7. Project Sites Project Sites • Southern Highlands of Tanzania: Mbeya, Iringa and Rukwa Regions • Malawi: North, central and southern regions • Mozambique: Tete, Zambezia Tete Zambezia, Nampula and Niassa provinces
- 8. Project strategy: Partnership Project strategy: Partnership Partners included: • Government Extension Agents Country y Partners • NGOs, NGOs Organizations • CBOs Malawi 12 • Private sector and • Farmer organizations Mozambique 16 • Church organizations Tanzania 24 • Bean t d B traders Total 52 The partners, farmers and traders The partners farmers and traders were trained to build their skills in PVS
- 9. Participatory Variety Selection Participatory Variety Selection Picture ‐ Process of PVS: Country Participants in PVS Ribbons Fe Male Total mal e Malawi Tanzani 146 1238 2704 a 6 Mozam 418 603 1021 bique q Total Photo‐Process of PVS: cooking evaluation
- 10. Results of PVS: Results of PVS: • Clients’ variety selection • Varieties Selected Clients variety selection Varieties Selected criteria Country Varieties Tested Selected Released Malawi Mozambique Tanzania
- 11. Seed Multiplication Partners and Farmers were trained in seed production Year Seed (kg) Malawi Tanzania Mozambique 2007 4411 760 2008 1525 2500 2009 1562 6630 2010 1872 9800 Background picture of seed multiplication
- 12. On station seed production On‐station seed production Table with breeder and foundation 2007 2008 2009 2010 Malawi Mozambique Tanzania 10840 7050 4181 7200
- 13. QDS QDS production In collaboration with extension • Minimum inspection supported by district db d • Sometimes bureaucratic limitations: limitations: o lack of funds o transport means o time availability Can farmers sustain the cost of inspections? f h f ? Does inspection pay off?
- 14. Empowering small seed entrepreneurs (SHT) E i ll d (SHT) • Small seed entrepreneurs (own production/contract) marketing small packs in k i ll k i SHT Should regulations apply equally to large and small seed entrepreneurs or what d h measures to support their p development??
- 15. Engaging large scale ‘ able’ seed private g g g g p suppliers • e.g. in 2009 Demeter seed company in Malawi close to 400 T through close to 400 T through MG TIP (about 230,000 households)‐ • 2010: Similar amount of seeds (details with Martin) What next after TIP? What next after TIP?
- 16. Supply of Starter Seed (PVS) and Basic for pp y ( ) Commercial Seed Production Malawi: Due to seed rules under TIP: ‘One to One’ generation, Demeter Agric. Ltd requires every year about 5 tons of breeder seeds to produce 400 MTs commercial seeds breeder seeds to produce 400 MTs commercial seeds
- 17. Seed systems environment – Malawi Situation • 2006 • 2010 • Increasing in commercial • No formal seed supply seed due to exposure and also big seed market • Limited partners in three Limited partners in three countries • Increasing use of certified (5% in Malawi) • Certified seed uses (<1%) • E Emerging local i l l entrepreneurs (several in three countries • Di Diverse partners The demand for bean seed of various categories is increasing in all the 3 • Increased demand of countries breeder/basic seeds
- 18. Lessons Learnt Lessons Learnt • Policy makers can provide a drive to influence Policy makers can provide a drive to influence changes in seed supply and delivery systems – the case of Malawi. the case of Malawi
- 19. What next ? RESEARCH: Variables for Compare/Contrast p Seed Operations Institutional Scale Speed Type of Quality of production/Cha efficiency mix farmer seed nnels reached supplied Private company QDS Certified entrepreneurs t Farmer non certified seeds Use of small packs Non market channels: schools, church