Better seeds to smallholder farmers for better food security and incomes:
We have published recently a Seed Systems Models and Lessons Learned booklet that showcases ICRISAT’s work on seed systems in the drylands, with different approaches and their impact on the ground. Improving farmers’ access to improved seeds in the drylands is seen as a cost-effective strategy to improve farm productivity and food security. For more details click here.
In particular, the Groundnut seed revolving fund in Malawi established in 1999 has trained many smallholder seed growers (from 235 in 2008 to 1,736 in 2012, about half being women farmers) and boosted the production of quality controlled seeds of groundnut, and now pigeonpea and rice seeds. Further impact through establishment of village seed banks (total of 48,000 beneficiaries in 2016). Local private seed companies are now engaged in production of certified seeds of groundnut and farmers get better harvests by using improved seeds. The projected return for the next five years on investing in the seed revolving fund is US$14 for each dollar invested. Farmer story published on Agrilinks.
Download Seed system booklet
