SEED PRODUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT: ASSESSMENT FOR
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
SEED PRODUCTION OF MAJOR CROPS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
A.1.1 Cereals
Countries of the Sahelian region, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria cultivate more than 50% of the arable land with cereals, including mostly sorghum, millet, maize, and rice. Countries of the Central African region, which are Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Rwanda, have around 20% of their arable land under cereals such as maize, sorghum and rice. The West African region, comprised of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, have 40 to 80% of their arable land cultivating cereals such as rice, maize, millet, and sorghum. Crop production in the southern region is limited to maize, sorghum, and millet and covers an area of 30-60% of the arable land. Over 50-60% of arable land in the East African region is used to cultivate cereals like maize, rice, sorghum, millet and wheat. However, the percentage of improved varieties that are used by farmers is very low in SSA (Table A.1.1).
A.1.2 Grain legumes
Although it is an important group of crops that can be grown by small farmers farming on impoverished soils (legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen and enrich depleted soils), the breeding of food legumes has received less attention than cereals. Legumes are commonly used in mixed cropping systems in SSA. Seed production of some legume crops in SSA is illustrated in table A.1.2.
In the field of seed production, legumes have not received the attention they deserve. As a result, SSA countries lack seeds of varieties for different seasons and different cropping systems.
There are several problems related to legume seed production that should be mentioned. Seed viability decreases rapidly under tropical conditions, especially in large seeded legumes. In addition, threshing methods such as hand threshing, and use of animals or tractors often damage seeds, and as a result germinability is lost. Crops like faba bean are easily outcrossed (about 35%) and unless safe isolation distances are maintained at multiplication time, varieties can get contaminated genetically. In addition, genetic integrity of varieties cannot be assured due to bee activity in the area which creates the problem of outcrossing.
Legumes also have seed borne pathogens, viruses and nematode infestation. Since most legumes are grown only one season in a year, the problem of maintaining viability poses a problem to farmers.
Seeds from other areas are sometimes purchased from local markets with no assurance of quality. The seed industries in most countries have not developed their own legume seed production programmes. Cowpea and groundnut have relatively good seed production programmes in Western, Central and Southern Africa.
A.1.3 Root/tuber crops
Root crops such as cassava, sweet potato and yams, and tubers like potato and aroids, are of immense importance to many communities that survive on these starch staple crops. Most people living in countries in the tropical belt rely on root crops as their main staple. The most common root crops in the region are manioc, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yam, and taro. Advantages to root crop production are easy propagation, multiple harvests throughout the year, and that both roots and leaves are consumed. As a result, root crops give a fair degree of food security to areas where production is high. Due to the simplicity in root crop production technology, they also blend well with the traditional farming systems in SSA.
Three IARCs, namely CIP (potato and sweet potato), CIAT (cassava) and IITA (cassava and sweet potato) assist countries in the development of these crops. However, in SSA countries very little of this technology has reached rural farmers. Varieties used are generally acquired from other farmers. None of the IARCs are working with these crops with the exception of yams, some effort being conducted by IITA. Given the present situation, there is a strong case for the development of a network similar to SADC, in other parts of SSA.
A.1.4 Vegetable Crops
Seed production of vegetable crops is almost exclusively conducted by the informal seed sector as seed production and marketing of seeds is carried out by only a handful of countries. In recent times, the private seed industry is emerging as a potential source for vegetable seed. Seed traders also import and market the popular varieties that consumers prefer. Very little research and seed production has been carried out except in the more advanced seed industries of countries mentioned earlier such as South Africa and Kenya. An exception is onion seed production, which is an important activity. In some countries, with the collaboration of multinational seed companies, some hybrids are even being attempted.
Among vegetable crops, there are great differences in reproductive systems, crop improvement and breeding methods, purity maintenance, and special seed production systems. The wide range of genetic characteristics among different varieties within the same species calls for special techniques for propagation and production of seed. Although there is a large number of vegetables with adaptability to many cropping systems, there are only a few environments suitable for seed production. For example, large onion or garlic grow well in warmer climates or during warm seasons, but seed production can only be carried out in cooler areas during cooler weather. Selected bulbs from growing areas have to be either stored and transported to cooler climates or re-planted in the cool season for seed production.
Except for the imported ‘standard’ and hybrid seed of cool season vegetables from foreign seed companies, most other vegetables are grown from seed saved by farmers. This void in vegetable seed production points to the vast potential for the development of a viable vegetable seed industry in every country, possibly with the active participation of the private sector.
A.1.5 Fruit crops
In SSA fruit cultivation is mainly carried out on a home garden scale and propagation is from true seed, especially in mango, citrus, avocado, guava, etc. With the exception of INIBAP, IARCs have not become involved in consideration of development strategies for fruits. On the other hand, due to economic incentives, the private sector has invested heavily in fruit crop research and development in some countries of the region.
A.1.6 Pasture and forage species
Although food crops are critical for survival in SSA, the region also depends heavily on livestock for sustenance. There are more pastoral communities in this part of the globe than on any other continent.
Forage crops are raised from seed, especially if they are annuals. Many others are perennials, and seed production of such species becomes problematic. ILRI scientists have now developed techniques in such species to recover sufficient seed for establishing new forage crops in favorable environments. All across SSA, it has been the challenge of forage agronomists to select suitable strains of these crops for micro-environments of the lowland, mid-elevation and upland areas. At present most of the naturally occurring forage crops have never been selected for nutritive value or palatability. Local seed production programmes are almost non-existent. Estimates reveal that only a few countries such as Zimbabwe and South Africa produce more than 10% of their existing forage requirements.
With the assistance of ILRI scientists, work on fodder grasses and development of varieties is under way in several countries. Many superior varieties available in the market are from higher latitudes of the temperate zone and these tend to be dormant in the dry season, with active growth only during rainy seasons, which is the opposite of what is required in the region. Forage requirements are mainly required for the dry seasons when crop residues and feed stocks are low. Regional programmes should therefore concentrate on the exploitation of local germplasm. In this connection, ILRI has a genebank of pasture and forage species, with a network of seed multiplication stations in most countries of the region, from which basic seed is supplied to national research systems for testing, multiplication and distribution.
The commercial seed industry of pasture and forage species requires special harvesting and cleaning machinery, technical information regarding their culture, purity maintenance and correct certification procedures. These techniques and production methodology are provided to prospective forage seed specialists and trainees from different countries through workshops, seminars, field days, etc.
SUMMARY DATA ON THE AGRICULTURAL AND SEED SUPPLY
SECTORS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
In the following pages, Sub-Saharan African countries are grouped into the following agro-ecological regions: Sahelian, Eastern, Central, Western, and Southern.
For each country, within each region, the following data are reported:
- land data;
- area harvested for major crops; and
- yield for major crops.
For each country, information is reported in respect to:
- breeding activity;
- kind of release procedure applied;
- main institutions involved in seed production;
- seed marketing;
- extension services; and
- seed laws and regulations.
Additional data on the seed supply sectors was obtained from the FAO Seed Review 1989-90, FAO Yearbook 1996, and reports of seed- related workshops and expert visits in the region.
A 2.1 Sahelian SSA Region
A 2.1.1 Land data, area harvested as percent of arable land, and average yield (t/ha) for the major crops in the Sahelian region.
A 2.1.2 Breeding, variety release, seed production and distribution, and extension in the Sahelian region.
A 2.1.3 Seed regulation and legislation in the Sahelion region.
A 2.2 Eastern SSA Region
A 2.2.1 Land data, area harvested as percent of arable land, and yield (t/ha) for the major crops in the Eastern region.
A 2.2.2 Breeding, variety release and multiplication in the Eastern region.
A 2.2.3 Seed distribution, extension services, seed regulation and legislation in the Eastern region.
A. 2.3 Central SSA Region
A 2.3.1 Land data, area harvested as percent of arable land, and average yield (t/ha) for the major crops in the Central region.A 2.3.2 Average yield (t/ha) for the major crops in the Central SSa region.
A 2.3.3 Breeding, variety release and seed production in the Central SSA region.
A 2.3.4 Seed distribution, extension services, seed regulation and legislation in the Central SSA region.
A.2.4 Western SSA Region
A 2.4.1 Land data, area harvested as percent of arable land for the major crops in the Western SSA region.
A 2.4.2 Average yield (t/ha) for the major crops in the Western SSA region.
A 2.4.3 Breeding, variety release, and seed production in the Western SSA region.
A 2.4.4 Seed distribution, marketing and extension services in the Western SSA region.
A 2.4.5 Seed regulation and legislation in the Western SSA region
A.2.5 Southern SSA region
A 2.5.1 Land data and area harvested as percent of arable land for the major crops in the Southern SSA region
A 2.5.2 Average yield (t/ha) for the major crops in the Southern SSA region
A 2.5.3 Breeding, variety release, and seed production in the Southern SSA region
A 2.5.4 Seed distribution, marketing and extension services in the Southern SSA region
A 2.5.5 Seed regulation and legislation in the Southern SSA region
MULTI-NATIONAL SEED COMPANIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Cargill are the two major multinational seed companies which have been active in the seed industry in SSA. There are other companies, such as Lever Brothers, which have also recently show interest in the SSA seed supply sectors.
A 3.1 Summary of activities conducted by Pioneer Hi-Bred seed company in SSA
A 3.2 Summary of activities conducted by Cargill Seed company in SSA
This document has been prepared by the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service (AGPS) of the Plant Production and Protection Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The document is designed to be used as a working paper to stimulate debate in the upcoming meeting on Seed Policy and Programmes in Africa.
The present document was developed based on data collected from 39 Sub-Saharan African countries, FAO expert consultation reports in the region, and national and regional workshop reports on issues related to seed production and distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa. This document is based on the work of Dr. Luciana Quagliotti and Dr. Sergio Lanteri of the Plant Genetic Research Institute at the University of Turin, Italy. Dr. Edward Herath, former head of the Department of Agricultural Research in Sri Lanka, also contributed. Comments and suggestions from Dr. N. Murthi Anishetty, Dr. Ivan Sikora, Dr. David Cooper, and Dr. William Fiebig, AGPS Officers, were incorporated into the document. The conclusive technical analysis, elaboration, and finalization of this technical document has been accomplished by Dr. Victor N. Bushamuka, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
This work has been developed under the technical guidance and scientific coordination of Dr. U. G. Menini, Chief of the the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service.
