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Published on
05.09.23
“We can change Africa through legumes!” , is what Jean Claude Rubyogo, Leader of the Bean Programme and Director of the Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) at the Alliance of Bioversity and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (AB-CIAT), said at a recent meeting in Nairobi. His inspiring message was heard by 29 seed producers at a workshop on market demand-driven seed production business model and ICT tools that was organized by the CGIAR Seed Equal Research Initiative held in early August. Rubyogo, who also leads the work package for Legume Seed Systems under the Seed Equal Initiative and Lucky Omoigui, a seed system expert from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) used the occasion to emphasize the importance of bean, cowpea, and soybean seed production and trade in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa to advance agricultural development, create enterprise opportunities, and improve livelihoods.
Participants at the workshop—all drawn from public and private legume seed producers in AB-CIAT and IITA Africa network of legume seed value chain actors—learned how to use tools such as cost-benefit analysis and demand forecasting for seed production, explored potential business funding opportunities, and tested ICT tools for tracking variety adoption.
Participants also gained insights from Chris Ojiewo, the lead of the Seed Equal Initiative and Strategic Partnerships and Seed Systems Lead for the Dryland Crops at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), who spoke extensively on how to improve seed systems to deliver genetic gain to farmers and ensure the uptake of newly released public-bred varieties. His remarks were complemented by guidance from Ajay Panchbhai, Regional Breeding, Seed Systems and Product Management Lead – Africa from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) who is also Co-leading the work package on Partnerships and Capacity Building in the Seed…