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An Incisive Diagnosis of
Africa's Maize Seed Industry
A new study by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement
Center (CIMMYT) highlights the effect of limited availability of
high-performance seeds on maize production in eastern and southern
Africa. The results should help policy makers create a more
favorable environment for the seed sector, which is critical for
increasing the agricultural productivity and incomes of African
farmers.
The study authors interviewed 117 seed providers in 10 eastern
and southern African countries, including 82 maize seed companies,
10 national institutions and 25 civil society organizations. On
this basis, the study documents major bottlenecks that greatly
limit supplies of improved seed varieties, and it proposes
practical solutions for an industry that is vital to food
security.
 Unrealized potential
Maize occupies 56 percent of the total food crop area in
sub-Saharan Africa, according to the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), and provides 30 to 70 percent of
total calories consumed in the region. Southern Africa accounts for
43 percent of total production and Eastern Africa for 28 percent.
Annual per capita consumption is highest in southern Africa, with
South Africa (195 kilograms) and Malawi (181 kilograms) being the
biggest consumers.
"Limited use of high-quality seed of the numerous improved
maize varieties now available is a major contributor to low maize
productivity," says CIMMYT scientist Augustine Langyintuo, the
study's lead author.
"There is no question that many of the new varieties have
valuable traits that farmers urgently need, like higher yields,
tolerance to drought and resistance to diseases, insect pests and
the parasitic weed Striga," says Marianne Banziger,
director of CIMMYT's Maize Program.
"Virus-resistant varieties, for example, have been
available for more than 20 years, yet most African farmers
can't get seed of the resistant varieties. Nor do they have
adequate access to drought-tolerant maize, even though we've
developed about 50 tolerant varieties in recent years with national
partners, which yield about 20 percent more than local varieties
under typical farm conditions."
Seed sector bottlenecks
Various problems reduce farmers' access to high-quality
seeds, according to the study, which was funded by the Bill &
Melinda Gates and Howard G. Buffett Foundations .
The biggest impediments relate to seed production and
processing, which are hampered by a lack of credit and by
inadequate processing and storage facilities. Study findings also
suggest that companies often have difficulty obtaining enough
foundation seed, which is used to produce certified seed for
farmers. In addition, several countries lack legislation that would
foster a strong seed industry. Finally, the study reports a
scarcity of financial and human capital needed to run new seed
companies as well as low seed demand in some countries.
Last year's seed production was sufficient to plant only
about 44 percent of the entire maize area in eastern and southern
Africa, which is estimated at roughly 12 million hectares. Improved
access to high-performing seeds is essential for increasing
production in these regions.
Boosting seed production and sales
Based on its analysis, the study proposes a series of policy
measures needed to boost the amounts of maize seed produced and
sold. An overriding priority for the region is to improve access to
credit for both the seed industry and farmers, so that superior,
affordable products can be developed and taken up more
efficiently.
Other key steps are to improve supplies of foundation seed by
permitting companies to multiply this material themselves;
streamline the processes of variety release and seed certification;
promote regional seed policies to facilitate the spread of
varieties released in one country to others with similar growing
conditions; lower other policy barriers, such as obstacles to seed
imports and exports; strengthen the capacity of personnel in both
national organizations and seed companies; encourage closer
collaboration with seed companies and civil society organizations;
and improve rural infrastructure and extension services.
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