info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
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According to relevant reports, the poor performance of the African seed industry is threatening the food security of the African continent.
"The overall picture is one of international and African seed companies falling short in delivering quality seed and new varieties to smallholder farmers. This limits the potential to address food security, nutrition and climate resilience," revealed the study by Amsterdam-based Access to Seeds Foundation on the performance of 23 major seed companies in 22 West and Central African countries.
"Plant breeding is the core activity of many seed companies around the world, but this is not the case in Western and Central Africa," the report added. "Only 11 of the 23 index companies conduct plant breeding. In 15 of the 22 countries in scope (representing 70 percent), no breeding by index companies was found."
This has resulted in a situation where many of the varieties being sold by African seed companies are more than five years old, making it impossible for farmers to cope with rapid developments such as new pests and diseases or erratic weather conditions resulting from a changing climate.
"The lack of newly developed varieties seriously impacts the resilience to a changing climate and emerging disease and pests, which reduces yields," the report noted.
Now, this latest report shows local companies in the West and Central African regions are struggling to fill the void created by the absence of global firms — despite their possible capacity to do so. "Our study shows the potential of homegrown seed companies. However, most operate only in their home markets, which causes geographic imbalances in seed sector development," Ido Verhagen, executive director at Access to Seeds Index, observed.
Verhagen expressed concern that the situation means "capacity-building activities offered by companies only reach farmers in a handful of countries." The report noted training is offered by index companies in only about 45 percent of the countries surveyed. "This limits the adoption of new technologies by farmers in overlooked countries," he observed.
The report noted a well-functioning seed industry has a vital role to play in helping farmers to adapt to climatic challenges while simultaneously raising production levels. "The relevance of access to seeds and plant breeding should not be underestimated," the report noted.
Scientists are calling for increased investments in the local seed industry across the African continent to help fix these challenges and ensure the availability of quality seeds to farmers. Dr. Emmanuel Chamba, a plant breeder at the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute in Ghana, said there is also a need for better regulatory policies in the local seed industry.
