Summary of discussions

1. identification of the components of seed production systems
2. Possible strategies for developing smallholder seed systems
3. Role of international centres
4. Workshop recommendations

1. identification of the components of seed production systems

The Workshop participants discussed - the components of seed systems and tried to identify researchable problems which are currently constraints to the development of seed production by smallholder farmers. The major factors to be taken into consideration when developing seed production systems for use by smallholder farmers were listed and grouped as:

I) Diagnostic studies/need assessment

- Information on local seed systems
- Farming system
- Gender issues
- Farmers attitude and skills
- Seed consciousness
- Physical isolation of target group
- Local variance
- Needs assessment and impact studies

II) Policy issues

- Legal
- Institutional roles
- Institutional linkages

III) Market issues

- Market linkages
- Price
- Demand forecast
- Market intelligence
- Timeliness
- Availability

IV) Appropriate technology requirements

- Harvesting

- Conditioning
- Storage
- Local seed testing

V) Seed system studies

- Terminology - conceptualisation
- Alternatives for producer organisations
- Alternatives for seed procurement
- Integration into farming system
- Institutional roles

VI) Inputs

- Stock seed
- Linkages to research
- Technical assistance
- Farmer skills
- Adequate variety

VII) Strengthening national capacity

- Documentation/Dissemination of information
- Training
- Transfer of technology

VIII) Funding

2. Possible strategies for developing smallholder seed systems

There is very little well-documented description and analysis of smallholder seed production projects. Although a number of projects have been attempted or are underway, there is as yet not a set of guidelines for making such projects sustainable. The experience in forage seed production at the small farm level is even more deficient.

Any planning for the establishment of smallholder seed production capacity will require a long-term strategy and support over many years. This is not to say that such an effort will be excessively expensive, but there are several stages to any effort and at each stage a degree of testing and initial support is necessary.

It may be helpful to think of several stages in a continuum of research.

Stage I: Agro-economic systems research
Stage II: Agro-economic and seed systems research
Stage III: Seed systems research

No matter where one is in the continuum, strategy development requires a selective approach that is specific about countries, agricultural systems and species. A global, all-on compassing strategy cannot be developed. The specific identity of the species under consideration is crucial for defining seed multiplication and seed production options.

Agro-economic systems research, with significant farmer participation, is required as the initial stage, in order to set priorities and identify species that are candidates for promotion. If this type of work is already underway, as it is at ILCA and ICARDA, a critical synthesis and evaluation of the work, in which the International Agricultural Research Centre (IARC), national partners, and other national institutions as full partners, is called for. The debates and conclusions of such an analysis should be well-documented and should serve to identify "best-bets" for the next stage of research. The best-bets" are identified by country, system, and species. Once candidate species are agreed upon, stage II should further refine crop production aspects and critically analyse seed supply necessary for promotion. Thus attention should turn to seed multiplication, so that there is a clear assignment of responsibilities between IARCs and national programmes with respect to the maintenance and multiplication of stock seed. This will almost certainly include some training and other support provided by the IARC.

The final stage in the continuum involves strategies for seed production. ILCA and ICARDA have the reasonable goal that seed production eventually be carried out in a self sustaining fashion at the local level. The exact manner of achieving this will depend on the country, the species, and the farming system. There are several guidelines useful for organising the research required in stage III. First, there should be no preconceptions about who will ultimately be the most efficient seed producers; the possibilities range from farmer-saved seed to provision from outside the target area. Second, analysis should include a thorough understanding of local seed systems and the related organisational and farming experience that may prove useful in stabilising new seed systems for a new species. Whatever seed production option is selected, its chances of success are highest if it builds upon local systems and knowledge. Third, terms such as public/private or format/informal may get in the way of designing an innovative seed system. An appropriate strategy would be to organise a demonstration of the species and its place in the system; farmers demand for seed; and current seed production/supply problems. This demonstration should be at the national, or more local level and should be attended by the range of institutions that might be able to contribute to, or even bid on, the development of a seed production system. This would include farmer groups, NGOs, entrepreneurs, and state agencies. The best solution may involve a combination of several of these institutions. IARCs will then have to provide some initial support for the establishment of the system.

These three stages cover the development of seed production, where stage I is mostly initial seed production of germplasm, stage II includes multiplication of promising material and stage III is seed production of specific adapted varieties/cultivars

Many organisations will be involved in the development of seed production. The major players in the three stages will be among others:

I - NARS (extension) producers IARCs/advanced institutes Farmers (clients) (NGOs)
II - NARS IARCs/advanced institutes Farmers (NGOs) (Seed Industry)
III - Farmer seed Extension NGOs (IARCs/advanced inst)

The goal of the seed production system should be provision of seeds of adequate varieties for use by small farmers. Farmers at different levels have different needs. The group identified four major requirements for effective farmer seed production:

1. Outlet/market
2. Training the trainers in how to do it
3. Awareness at the policy level
4. Starting point of seed supply of adequate variety

The identified activities will be targeted during the three phases as:

I	II	III
Research
Diagnostic	Diagnostic
Policy	Policy	Policy
Marketing	Marketing
Technology	Technology
Seed systems	Seed systems	Seed systems
Support
Inputs	Inputs	Inputs
Documentation	Documentation	Documentation
Training	Training	Training

3. Role of international centres

The participants suggested that the role of the IARCs should be to work through existing national structures, including extension, seed industry, national institutes and ministries. The IARCs should assist in training, research support through collaborative projects, support for transfer of technology, supply of stock seeds, establishing a network to exchange information, developing policy and creating awareness to influence governments and evaluate and assess impact of the work.

All participants agreed that the IARCs should have a supporting role to develop national seed production to get the results of IARCs research to farmers, but should not be executing the work themselves.

4. Workshop recommendations

The participants recommended the following actions by ILCA and ICARDA to advance farmer seed production:

1. Research should be done on diagnostics, production methodology and seed systems, including the development of methodologies for incorporation of indigenous knowledge on seed systems.

2. Attention should be given to assembling and dissemination of information and documentation through a newsletter and workshops and creating public awareness.

3. Training should be focused towards training trainers and producing training materials to support the activities in seed production and seed systems.

4. IARCs should assist in the provision of stock seed in the initial stages to enable seed production.

5. IARCs should be active in evaluation and monitoring, including impact assessment studies.