EVENT NAME Seed Innovation to Deliver Farmer Prosperity: Select Experts Weigh In EVENT DATE: THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2023 - 09:30 AM to 11:00 AM Posted Questions [10:40 AM] Ed Mabaya asked : Demonstration plots have a long history of use by both private companies and government extension services across Africa. Could panelists (especially David) comment on their efficacy in promoting use of improved seed varieties by smallholder farmers. 7 upvotes | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:21 AM] Fredrick Bett asked : @ David, to what extend can marketing strategies increase adoption of improved crop varieties by smallholder farmers? 6 upvotes | 2 answers | 1 reply David Wainaina answered - Seed Marketing is the core to getting farmers to adopt these new varieties. It is the only way to get the farmers to know about the varieties David Wainaina answered - Techniques that we are unpacking in the SMIA work will measure sales response (via AgNexus / transaction information) to different marketing approaches … we’ll be sharing more results on “extent” of impact of marketing Fredrick Bett replied - Thanks David, looking forward to insights on marketing strategies and how it can improve access to improved crop varieties by smallholder farmers. GDC did for us a comparative seed companies study and it's really informative as we design a new phase of seed for impact programme at AECF. [09:59 AM] Innocent Malunga asked : What business models have been incorporated into the seed marketing? Have you incorporated crop insurance in seed industry? 5 upvotes | 1 answer | 0 reply David Wainaina answered - Crop insurance has started to pick in africa and with more adoption we expect that more farmer friendly products will be available to derisk the business. We have also seen Govts provide insurance and all this will support the farmer [09:53 AM] Kate McDonald Polakiewicz asked : What considerations for creation and adoption of quality seed is focused on building demand and value for female farmer customers? 4 upvotes | 1 answer | 1 reply David Wainaina answered - In gathering customer insights marketers must pay special attention to the female farmers and have to relate the benefits and the pain points the farmer is facing Kate McDonald Polakiewicz replied - Thanks, David, and all [10:45 AM] Vern Long asked : Forecasting demand - particularly for vegetatively propagated crops (like coffee!) where timelines are long - what tools have been developed to help in demand forecasting? 4 upvotes | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:08 AM] Dick Tinsley asked : Please do an internet search for Crop Genetic Pump for a webpage on getting quality seed to smallholder communities in countries where logistics are a challenge. Relying mostly on local final seed multiplication. 3 upvotes | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:09 AM] John Leslie asked : Please describe IP issues that limit seed distribution. Especially for varieties that have been recently developed. 3 upvotes | 1 answer | 0 reply jane ininda answered - Hello-response from Jane ininda Most seed companies have prioprietry rights to varieties particularly hybrids. In the case of NARS in Africa the varieties are produced and distributed by private seed companies through an MOU or a license agreement. The agreements have limitations that may pose limitations to access and distribution [09:56 AM] David Trapp asked : What digital tools are available for seed production and tracking? 2 upvotes | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:07 AM] Grace Gitu asked : Africa is a net importer of seed, Why? Superior seed eg hybrid seed cost more than OPV while the produce from farmers fetch same price, where is the disconnect? 2 upvotes | 1 answer | 0 reply jane ininda answered - Hello-Hybrid seed is higher yielding than OPV .and is more expensive to produce. However when it comes to grain marketers do not differntiate between varieties --response by Jane Ininda for Aggie Konde [10:41 AM] Dick Tinsley asked : How much effort should be placed on how to preserve quality seed in smallholder communities so don’t have to rely on commercial seed? 2 upvotes | 0 answer | 0 reply [09:45 AM] Jan Buresh asked : What can be done to certify seed viability so farmers can trust your seeds? some plant two seeds in each hole because they expect bad quality 1 upvote | 1 answer | 0 reply George Bigirwa answered - Strengthen the seed regulatory agencies to ensure quality standards are adhered to, introduce digital tools or privaitize certification to allow private inspection by authorized institutions/individuals [09:46 AM] Dick Tinsley asked : How frequently do you need to obtain new varieties vs. using retained seed or market seed? 1 upvote | 1 answer | 0 reply George Bigirwa answered - You are talking of 2 things, retaining seed - this depends on the crop if it is maize hybrid you have to replace it every planting season. The other thing you mention is new varieties: this should be as and when better ones with superior traits are on market. [09:47 AM] Mette asked : In countries and regions with a lot of development agencies, I wonder how donor money either prevent or support getting farmers to purchase the seeds without subsidies? Is there still a competitive and well-functioning market, where producers and marketers have to compete for their customers? 1 upvote | 1 answer | 0 reply George Bigirwa answered - Not all governments in Africa have subsidy programs but even in countries where they exist, it is only for few targeted vulnerable farmers [09:48 AM] Mark Ireland asked : What do you advise to reduce (and gradually eliminate) the sale of counterfeit legume seed on the Zambia market. Seed companies here identified the main sources of counterfeit seed as agro‐dealers, marketing agents, and informal cross‐border imports. 1 upvote | 1 answer | 1 reply Tony Gathungu answered - Solutions such as what has been developed by mPedigree with scratch labels have been effective on reducing proliferation of counterfeit seed Mark Ireland replied - Thanks Tony - we see some companies using QR codes, but of course that needs a smart phone to check. [09:53 AM] Dick Tinsley asked : At maximum capacity what percent of the crop area can seed companies provide seed for? What percent needs to rely on retained or market seed? 1 upvote | 1 answer | 0 reply George Bigirwa answered - The limiting factor in Africa is limited production capacity of seed producers to ensure that enough seed of right varieties is produced. The other challenge is limited farmer awareness to demand better seed and adopt them. For this reason uptake of improved seed is on average at 30%. [10:20 AM] Troy Hoppenjan asked : What exactly is a "scratch card" and how exactly does the mechanism work in the fight against counterfeit seed? 1 upvote | 1 answer | 0 reply David Wainaina answered - This is a system where only certified seeds or seeds from the breeder have the packing coded and batch information is stored in the code. When the farmer scratches the get validated infor which counterfeit seeds will not be able to do as the database will not have the info [10:22 AM] Thomas van Mourik asked : The Integrated Seed Sector Development initiative has initiated decentralized certification ( through process called quality declared seed) that address the issue limited capacity at the national and provincial level to certify seeds AND the high cost for certifying seed. What's AGRA's view on QDS? 1 upvote | 1 answer | 0 reply George Bigirwa answered - QDS has its advantages especially for self pollinated crops. is a stop gap in the absence of strong regulatory agencies. [10:35 AM] CATHERINE NDUMBI asked : In light of the few extension staff available, how can awareness of new varieties be promoted? 1 upvote | 2 answers | 1 reply Aggie Konde answered - This remains a constraint and innovative opportunity that we need to partner with public and private sector to solve. Farmer associations are a good entry point. David Wainaina answered - There are new emerging ways to reach the farmer and in the work we are doing with SMIA we will be testing the effectiveness . Some include agro dealer interventions, digital and social media CATHERINE NDUMBI replied - Thanks for the insight. [11:00 AM] Michael Dockrey asked : Most of the improved seed discussion continues to center around major grains -- maize, rice, sorghum, etc. To address current fertilizer price and availability issues, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices, why doesn't USAID move toward a more inclusive crops array....utilizing UUIC's? 1 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [09:40 AM] Gary Alex asked : Dr. Burton gives an excellent overview of past efforts to improve seed systems and availability. These go back probably 45 years. Even after pivoting from over-reliance on public sector, progress seems not to have been great. Is this true? Why? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [09:45 AM] Dr Paul Rigterink asked : I believe that a Three Sisters Companion Garden can provide more food and food security. My basic questions are "What type of corn seeds are you recommending be used in a 'Three Sisters Companion Garden' ?"The corn stalks must be tall and sturdy to support the beans 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [09:56 AM] Dr Paul Rigterink asked : African countries sell most of their vegetables in the European market and Europeans wanted to buy only non-GMO products. To obtain permission to ship corn seeds to Uganda I followed the procedures given to me by USAID. It did not work. What should I do? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:17 AM] Amah Delphine asked : Great talk Aggiie. Are the SeedSAT reports for countries assessed available for consultation? 0 upvote | 2 answers | 0 reply jane ininda answered - Answer by Jane Ininda, for Aggie-The SeedSAT reports are currently only available to AGRA. They will be made available to the governments of the respective countries. George Bigirwa answered - Reports are being finalized and will officially be handed over to respective countries. Summaries will be made available for public use once governments sign them off and consent for public sharing [10:18 AM] Fredrick Bett asked : Is access to credit by smallholder farmers derailing the uptake of improved and climate-smart crop varieties? 0 upvote | 1 answer | 1 reply David Wainaina answered - Credit is a challenge but there are also seed systems that have tried to work with micro finance orgs to bridge the gap. Crop insurance is also reducing the risk making the sector attractive for financier. Still a long way to go though Fredrick Bett replied - Such company is Value Seeds in Nigeria that offer credit to smallholder farmers in form of bundled input kits. It's a model we are evaluating and assessing as an organization for scale up. [10:19 AM] david sands asked : Is anyone aware of 3Dprinted grafted seed for potato and other cash crops? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:34 AM] Macsamuel Sesugh Ugbaa asked : What kind of innovations is SFSA promoting or bringing to breeders 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:34 AM] Bruce Tabashnik asked : What is the status of approval for Bt maize in Kenya? And more generally for approval of GM crops in Africa? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:47 AM] david sands asked : Female subsistance farmers are especially interested in Striga 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:49 AM] Dick Tinsley asked : Would concentrating on local village family enterprises depending on repeat customers who are also neighbors, minimize the counterfeit seeds? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:51 AM] Dr Paul Rigterink asked : African officials are implementing a seed policy that goes;beyond what International personnel are recommending so that they can sell products on the European market. See. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/07/why-is-africa-reluctant-to-use-gmo-crops/ What can be done to improve regulations? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:52 AM] Samuel kariri kageche asked : Most farmers in Kenya mostly tomatoe farmers has adopted hybrid tomatoes but hybrid tomato seeds are very expensive way up more than opvs type 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:53 AM] Daniel Manyasi asked : how do we get communal-owned seed banks to ensure seed sovereignity? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:56 AM] Samuel kariri kageche asked : The key thing here in Africa especially Kenya we need assurance on where we can sell our farm produce. 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply [10:58 AM] Kate McDonald Polakiewicz asked : What breeding efforts are being focused on indigenous vegetables? 0 upvote | 0 answer | 0 reply