Soybean is an important cash crop in Southern Africa Demand is driven by the growing poultry industry Productivity of soybean is <1 t/ha due to low adoption of improved varieties and agronomic practices Low adoption is due to limited availability and affordability of seed of improved varieties

1. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR System Office
Scaling Up Improved Seed and
Agronomic Practices in Southern Africa
P4D Week
20-26 November 2016, Ibadan, Nigeria
MG Akinwale, C Malita, AH Tufa, G Chigeza, C Engoke,
J Manda, JK Mhango, S Boahen, and A Alene

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• Introduction
• Implementation approach
• Key achievements
• Lessons Learnt
• Challenges
• Next Steps
Outline

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• Soybean is an important cash crop in Southern Africa
• Demand is driven by the growing poultry industry
• Productivity of soybean is <1 t/ha due to low adoption of
improved varieties and agronomic practices
• Low adoption is due to limited availability and affordability
of seed of improved varieties
Introduction

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Introduction
• IITA is implementing two major technology scaling
up projects:
• SEMEAR(Improving Seeds for Better Agriculture) in
Mozambique(See poster)
• MISST(Malawi Improved Seed Systems and
Technology) in Malawi

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• MISST objectives:
– Support breeder, basic, and certified seed
production
– Increase adoption through variety demonstration
and promotion
– Seed distribution and marketing
– Capacity building and strengthening seed
partnerships
Introduction

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MCHINJI
LILONGWE
DEDZA
NTCHEU
 7 Target districts - USAID/Malawi FtF Zones of Influence
MISST project sites
MANGOCHI
BALAKA
.MACHINGA

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DARS/
UNIV
DAES
NGOs
NATIONAL PARTNERS
 NASFAM
 FUM
 WASAA
 AISL
 DEMETER
 KUKUYU FARM
 EXAGRIS
 SUNSEED OIL
 MUSECO
 AGRO-DEALERS
PRIVATE SECTOR CG centers
MISST
IITA
ICRISAT
CIP
CIMMYT
OTHER PROJECTs
Implementation Approach

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Public
Sector
(DARS
&IITA)
Breeder seed
production
Basic seed
Production
Certified
Seed
Production
Distribution and
marketing
Private Seed
Companies
NGOs,
farmers’ assn.,
private seed
growers
Agro-dealers,
NGOs,
farmers’ assn.,
FISP
Certification
services
Public sector
(SSU)
Implementation Approach
Public-Private Partnerships

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Innovative seed production & delivery
pathways
$1/kg$2/Kg

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• 1,063 tons of 3 classes of soybean seed produced and distributed
• 21,000 rural households reached with seed and other technologies
• 15,000 ha covered with improved seed of soybean varieties
Key Achievements

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• 692 variety demonstration plots
established
• 11,349 soybean farmers (5,495
men and 5,795 women) trained
on good agronomic practices
Key Achievements

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Key Achievements
• 5,116 farmers trained on seed production and seed
quality control
• 108 partners and extension agents trained on good
agronomic practices for both seed and grain production

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• Partnering with farmer organizations, NGO and Ministry of
Agriculture resulted in rapid scale-out of certified seed
production and distribution
• Engagement of farmers organization as an entry point
facilitated extensive outreach to many smallholder farmers
• Smallholder farmers can produce high quality soybean
seed if they have access to basic seed and knowledge on
seed production
• Sustainability of community based seed production
system will require robust market strategy
Lessons Learnt

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• Late submission of technical and financial reports by
some partners
• Poor performance of some partners in implementing
project activities
• Some community based seed producers sold their
seeds as grain
• Drought affected seed farms and demonstration plots
Challenges

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Next Steps
• Facilitate seed production and distribution
• Establish variety and ICM demonstration plots
• Train farmers, seed inspectors and extension agents
• Link community based seed producers to seed
companies
• Determine the cost of seed production for all classes of
seed

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Thank you for your attention