Location: Kenya

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Bridging the seed gap in Kenya with standard certified seed

Written by dmedina on January 29, 2025. Posted in News.

A group photo of the panelists after the discussion on sustainable seed delivery systems at the STAK Congress & Expo 2024 (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Kenyan farmers continue to face significant challenges in accessing quality seed, particularly for dryland crops. To address this, Kenya introduced the Standard Certified Seed (SCS) class as a strategic initiative to bridge the gap between fully certified seed and informal farmer-saved seed, as semi-formal seed classes such as quality-declared seed are not legally recognized.

Officially launched in 2020, the SCS class offers a unique opportunity and has the potential to transform the seed sector for open-pollinated and vegetatively propagated crops, including indigenous vegetables, by ensuring quality while making seed production and certification more accessible and affordable. During a recent panel discussion, Lilian Gichuru, Seed Systems Specialist for Eastern and Southern Africa for the Dryland Crops Program at CIMMYT, highlighted its importance. She asked a critical question: “How can we leverage the opportunity presented by standard seed to ensure the delivery of quality seed to farmers, especially in underserved areas?”

This was the focus of a session on sustainable seed delivery systems at the Seed Trade Association of Kenya (STAK) Congress & Expo, held in Nairobi on November 6 and 7, 2024. Themed “Leveraging Technologies That Strengthen Agricultural Resilience and Climate-Smart Seed Systems,” the event served as a platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and innovation. CIMMYT participated as one of the sponsors of the Congress.

To set the stage for the panel discussion, Ephraim Wachira, Deputy Director for Seed Certification at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), provided an overview of the SCS and highlighted Kenya’s efforts to implement its certification process. He described initiatives such as awareness meetings for seed merchants, training programs for outgrowers on certification processes, seed production and agronomic practices, and field inspections to ensure quality compliance. KEPHIS conducted field inspections, sampling, and laboratory testing to ensure quality compliance for 106 metric tons of seed—including sorghum, green gram, and cowpea—during a pilot phase, with a portion of the seed certified and labeled.

Despite these achievements, challenges persist. Limited farmer knowledge, dispersed farms, high production costs, and the impacts of climate change—such as the need for irrigation solutions—continue to pose obstacles. Slow adoption by mainstream seed companies and technical difficulties with online certification systems also hinder progress. However, opportunities lie in increased funding for climate-smart crops, government support for dryland agriculture, and growing farmer awareness. Wachira emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement, saying, “Collaboration and stakeholder engagement are critical to ensuring farmers access high-quality seeds and advancing Kenya’s food security goals.”

The panel discussion provided valuable insights from Ephraim Wachira, Mutheu Ngila of Dryland Seeds, Thomas Kariuki, Head of Seed Production at Simlaw Seed, and Mulemia Maina, Managing Director of Agri Experience. Lilian Gichuru moderated the session and guided the conversation as the panel unpacked the concept of standard seed and evaluated its impact and progress.

Panelists emphasized that the standard certified seed class relaxes certain certification requirements, such as reducing the number of field inspections, lowering isolation distances, and adjusting allowable off-types. This adjustment is made without compromising essential quality standards, including disease tolerance limits, which are largely unaffected by the standard seed class protocols. The standard seed class remains a certified seed class.

“The concept of standard seed came from the realization that many farmers rely on farm-saved seed, which is often of unknown quality,” said Wachira. “Standard seed provides an option that improves seed quality while making production and certification of these important crops more practical and affordable.”

Despite its potential, the adoption of SCS faces significant challenges. One key issue is the high cost of production. “Production costs remain high, limiting the price advantage of standard seed. Seed companies often need to operate across multiple locations to meet certification standards, which drives up costs,” explained Mutheu Ngila of Dryland Seeds.

Another issue is low farmer awareness of the availability of certified standard seed for dryland crops—this lack of awareness has slowed adoption. “Farmers need to know that standard seed is a better option than farmer-saved seed in terms of quality,” said Gichuru. Without sufficient awareness, farmers continue to rely on informal systems, which are often less reliable and can introduce disease.

Logistics are another major challenge. Wachira noted, “Many standard growers register plots of less than one acre in scattered locations, making efficient inspections difficult. The small and dispersed production areas drive up costs and complicate the inspection process.” However, this challenge creates an opportunity for private inspection services to serve these remote plots.

The limited commitment of seed companies to this class of seeds remains an obstacle. Many companies have hesitated to invest in standard certified seed production due to concerns about profitability and the need for clearer differentiation in price and quality.

The panelists outlined several solutions to overcome these challenges and identified opportunities to scale standard certified seed.

One promising strategy is community-based production and certification. Mulemia Maina of Agri Experience emphasized the importance of localizing seed production. “Localizing seed production can save farmers significant costs. Transporting seed from distant regions is expensive, but if farmers can access seed locally, it becomes much more affordable.” In addition, localizing field inspections could lower costs and increase efficiency. “KEPHIS is ready to train more private community inspectors and district inspectors to manage this category of seed,” Wachira explained. This model could enable private companies to engage more farmers and improve the efficiency of certification.

Another opportunity is the growing emphasis on climate-resilient crops. Donors and government initiatives are increasingly prioritizing crops such as sorghum, millet, and pigeon pea that thrive in dryland conditions. These efforts align with the goal of scaling up the production of standard seed.

Raising awareness among farmers about the benefits of standard seed is critical to encouraging adoption. Thomas Kariuki, Head of Seed Production at Simlaw Seed, noted that creating more capacity-building programs for farmers would help them understand their role and expectations in seed multiplication. “We also need to engage consumers to understand the quality and value of standard seed to protect market potential,” he added.

To successfully scale up standard certified seed, all stakeholders—government, private sector, and donors—must work together to address challenges and leverage opportunities.

The private sector plays a critical role in driving adoption. Kariuki stressed the importance of incentivizing seed companies to engage in the production of standard seed. “Balancing affordability, accessibility, and quality is critical,” he said. “This is how we ensure farmers benefit while seed companies remain viable.”

Capacity building is essential to train seed companies, inspectors, and farmers on the production, certification, and benefits of this class of seed. In addition, regulatory adjustments should be made to facilitate the certification process. For example, the introduction of specialized inspectors for field inspections could eliminate the need for companies to use KEPHIS inspectors.

Developing markets for dryland crops is also vital to stimulate demand and encourage seed production. Finally, promoting collaboration among stakeholders will ensure the alignment of policies and resources.

Kenya is a world leader in standard seed certification, having developed robust protocols and standards that ensure quality without imposing prohibitive costs. Other countries are exploring similar models, but Kenya’s success could serve as a blueprint for others in Africa.

Lilian Gichuru, Seed Systems Specialist at CIMMYT, introducing the topic of sustainable seed delivery systems and presenting the panelists at the STAK Congress (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

As Gichuru reflected, “Standard seed represents an opportunity to transform Kenya’s seed sector. But it will take collective effort, patience, and continued investment in awareness and capacity building to realize its full potential.”

Mutheu echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of balancing quality, affordability, and accessibility: “Balancing affordability, accessibility, and quality is critical. This is how we ensure that farmers benefit while seed companies remain viable.”

As Wachira concluded, “Standard certified seed is about giving farmers a better option—one that is affordable, accessible, and of high quality. Let’s bring these benefits to the farmers who need them most.”

Exploration of options for functional seed systems and understanding of market needs for cereals and pulses in sub-Saharan Africa

Written by mcallejas on December 9, 2024. Posted in Blogs.

Participants of the seed systems and market intelligence team at the retreat in Kenya (Photo: CIMMYT).

The Seed Systems and Market Intelligence Team of the Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) Program convened for a three-day retreat in Kenya. The retreat provided an opportunity to review ongoing research on seed systems and market intelligence conducted across CIMMYT projcts and CGIAR initiatives.

The event featured oral and poster presentations highlighting key findings from current research activities, fostering constructive feedback from colleagues. Discussion focused on strengthening the team’s technical capacity and ensuring its responsiveness to CIMMYT’s research programs and the broader CGIAR science agenda.

During the retreat, team members presented research spanning a wide range of topics. One key area focused on understanding the demands of farmers, processors, and consumers, for future crop traits, with the aim of informing breeding systems programs to maximize their impact.

The team highlight challenges faced by agro-processors, such as rancidity in pearl millet, which affects the shelf life of processed millet flour. Research also explored groundnut processing across different countries, revealing varied market demands.

In Malawi, groundnut markets prioritize grain size, color and uniformity-driven largely by export requirements-while oil content is less of a focus. In contrast, Nigerian markets demand high oil content for kuli kuli production and show a preference for early maturing varieties. Meanwhile, in Tanzania, an emerging peanut butter market has created opportunities for new groundnut varieties tailored to this product.

Seed systems research in Kenya highlighted how information and economic incentives for farmers and agro-dealers can serve as effective policy options to boost the adoption of new maize hybrids. These strategies have the potential to increase the market share of newly introduced hybrids in the maize seed sector.

The team showcased the impact of providing variety-specific, independently evaluated yield data for commercially available seed products under local conditions to guide farmers’ seed choices. Additionally, they explored the use of rebates as incentives for agro-dealers to stock new products and actively encourage farmers to try them. The role of price discounts and targeted information at the retail level for newly released varieties was also discussed as a way to promote adoption among farmers.

Another key area of research focused on how farmers perceive existing promotional materials distributed by seed companies. Feedback indicated that most leaflets and posters were not visually engaging. Farmers expressed a preference for materials that include visuals of plant stands, cob sizes, yield potential, and other critical details, presented in local languages like swahili.

Looking ahead, the team outlined a new four-year project supported by the Impact Assessment Group under the Genetic Innovations Action Area. This initiative will build on the current findings to generate further evidence on how information can accelerate farmer adoption of new seed products. It will also examine the role of agro-dealers as key information agents to disseminate knowledge effectively to farmers.

The meeting also highlighted the assessment of varietal turnover in Ethiopia and the role of the DNA Fingerprinting (DNA FP) approach in improving the accuracy of varietal identification. Accurate data generated through this method supports more robust studies on varietal adoption, turnover, and impact. It also enables the assessment of whether released varieties are being cultivated within their target agro-ecologies and contributes to understanding varietal diversity within production systems.

Discussions emphasized the relevance of the DNA FP approach for accurate data collection and its potential for broader application beyond Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, where the IMAGE project is currently active. Expanding its use to other regions would further strengthen research efforts in seed systems and market intelligence.

Paswel Marenya, associate program director of SAS Africa, commended the team for the depth and breadth of their research and encouraged greater visibility of results within CIMMYT and beyond. As a key outcome of the meeting, the team committed to increasing its visibility in seed systems and market intelligence research while building a stronger, more qualified team to achieve this goal.

In terms of staffing, the team has a solid presence in Africa but aims to expand its reach through enhanced resource mobilization. Efforts are underway to strengthen the Seed Systems and Market Intelligence team’s presence in other regions where CIMMYT operates, including Latin America (LATAM) and South Asia.

Abou Togola

Written by dmedina on November 27, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

Abou holds a PhD degree in Entomology from the University of Lome (Togo Republic) in collaboration with Kobe University (Japan). He received his MSc in Entomology, and a Master’s degree in Project Management.

Abou has previously worked as a Host Plant Resistance Entomologist for Cowpea and Maize at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). In that role, he collaborated with the breeders to derive improved varieties with insect-pest resistance, and making these varieties accessible to the smallholder farmers across West Africa. His contributions extend to the identification of the Fall Armyworm in West Africa in 2016, and in developing and disseminating Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies against this invasive pest.

Before joining IITA, Abou held positions at the AfricaRice and the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). His extensive professional background centers on researching integrated management options against insect-pests affecting tropical crops, including maize, cowpea, rice, sorghum, groundnut, pearl millet, cotton, fruit trees, and vegetables. Abou is passionate about implementing IPM, including host plant resistance, biological control, cultural practices, and other natural protective strategies. He also brings a wealth of experience to capacity building initiatives for NARES partners across Africa. Furthermore, he has successfully supervised numerous MSc and PhD students in Entomology.

Training the next generation of plant breeders with VACS

Written by dmedina on November 26, 2024. Posted in Blogs.

The foundation for a Vision for Adapted Crops and Soil (VACS) is capacity building: to boost adoption of opportunity crops, for nutritional security, diverse and climate-resilient cropping systems, to build healthy soils, a cohort of researchers and professionals is being supported to improve opportunity crops in Africa. Launched in October 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, the VACS Capacity Project aims to train scholars and professionals in the latest plant breeding technologies. Professor Julia Sibiya, VACS Capacity Project Lead at CIMMYT, elaborates on how the project aims to contribute to the promotion, development and delivery of improved “crops that nourish” people, and the planet.

As part of the VACS Capacity Project, 30 Master and PhD students will be mentored by prominent experts in plant breeding. What support will they receive?

The students will be exposed to the latest technologies in plant breeding but will also learn from their mentors to deliver the VACS vision on opportunity crops and healthy soils.

The project also includes training of 40 mid-careers professionals. We want them to master the latest technologies and be able to apply them to develop improved opportunity crop varieties that will be used by farmers.

To achieve this goal, the VACS Capacity Project is supported by three hubs to facilitate the training by matching the scholars and professionals with appropriate mentors and institutes where they will be exposed to the latest research and technologies. The selected hubs are the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA-Nigeria), the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) in Ghana, and the Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) in Kenya. The hubs have “support entities” through Iowa State University and Cornell University.

For maximum and long-term impact, the CIMMYT Academy, with the support of the Sustainable Agrifood Systems program, is developing gender-aware mentoring and curriculum on a wide range of topics, to directly address priorities of the 70 scholars and professionals. Expertise is being sourced at institutions such as Iowa State University, CIMMYT and African universities for robust e-learning modules on the entire plant breeding pipeline and seed systems, with materials updated and designed for the African continent.

What gaps does the VACS Capacity Project aim to address?

Today, in Africa, very few plant breeders and scientists working on plant improvement are focusing on the opportunity crops identified by VACS, such as finger millet, bambara groundnut, and amaranth. Most breeders focus on the main staples. This is why we want to build a critical mass of scientists who work on opportunity crops that are vital for food security and nutrition under climate change.

Besides increasing the critical mass of researchers working on the opportunity crops, we also want to bring up-to-date the skills of professionals in the breeding sector, which is a sector where technologies are evolving very quickly. Most of the approaches to crop improvement used today differ greatly from approaches used ten years ago, hence the request by many professionals to upgrade their skills.

In addition to the long-term training fellowships for Master and PhD students, we will provide targeted skills training to professionals, with short-term placements between one and six months in institutions where they can learn cutting-edge techniques that they will apply to opportunity crops.

The project is also designed to build networks and communities of practice around these crops, so people can collaborate in breeding and scaling efforts that are requested by farmers and consider market intelligence for impact pathways. This is in addition to exchanging knowledge and germplasm.

How does this project differ from other plant breeding capacity building projects?

The difference is that we will place professionals into institutions where they will be provided with hands-on training. We will work with universities, international research institutes, and the private sector, including seed companies. This is like offering internships to mid-career professionals who want to upgrade their skills or learn new ones.

Our approach also includes mentorships for both scholars and professionals. Mentors will be recruited from all over the world to assist the fellows in various aspects of their research journey. Last but not least, we hope to see researchers working with farmers so they can learn from each other.

What are the expected outcomes of reaching a “critical mass of plant breeders”?

The objective is to have sufficient breeders to implement crop breeding programs designed for opportunity crops. We also want to encourage them to apply modern techniques to improve opportunity crops and, this way, to contribute to the development of more nutritious plants that are grown in healthy soils. As I mentioned earlier, besides empowering scientists themselves, we also aim to create the conditions for effective collaboration and partnerships for the successful delivery of improved opportunity crop varieties, and this delivery will be accelerated by reducing the breeding cycle. Overall, it will allow us to scale up efforts towards opportunity crops worldwide.

Machakos farmer reaps prosperity with new pigeon pea variety

Written by dmedina on October 11, 2024. Posted in News.

In the heart of Ndeini village in Machakos County—a region in Kenya known for unpredictable weather and difficult farming conditions—farmer Festus Muthoka’s story is a testament to resilience and innovation. Festus transformed his livelihood by making strategic crop choices and adopting new pigeon pea varieties, resulting in higher yields and incomes.

“When I couldn’t find a job in Nairobi, I returned to the countryside and realized that the fields held more potential for me,” said Festus. For seven years, he had been growing maize, beans, and local pigeon pea, but inconsistent rainfall made it difficult to achieve the desired yields. Pigeon pea offered new hope, particularly when Festus discovered the new variety ‘Mituki.’

Festus Muthoka, a pigeon pea farmer in Machakos County, shows one of his pigeon pea crops on his farm. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Mituki as a gamechanger

Unlike traditional pigeon pea, which takes up to nine months to mature, the Mituki variety matures in four and a half months and can be harvested two to three times a year. “The first year, I planted three lines of Mituki and saw its potential. It is more profitable to sell pigeon pea when it is green. This variety stays green for a long time, and the demand, especially in local hotels, is very high. I sold it for a good profit,” said Festus.

Now in his third year of cultivating Mituki, Festus has expanded his farm to 4-5 acres with plans to increase it to 10 acres in the next planting season. The financial gains have been substantial. “For my first harvest, I made over US $1,500 by selling green pigeon pea. Even after harvesting, the crop remains lush, allowing ongoing sales,” he said.

Festus’s story shows the importance of pigeon pea as an opportunity crop that meets the needs of farmers in challenging environments as well as in challenging economic times. Rael Karimi, a researcher and breeder at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Katumani, played a key role in developing the Mituki variety. “When I first started working on the pigeon pea breeding program, we identified a gap in the local varieties, which took a whole year to mature. The commercial short-duration variety, which matures in three months, had small pods and grain, therefore not acceptable to farmers. Farmers needed early- to medium-maturing varieties with market- and farmer-preferred traits, such as larger grains and pods for ease of shelling for green vegetables. This resulted in the development and release of the Mituki variety in 2018,” she said.

Festus Muthoka harvests the pigeon pea pods on his farm. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

The development and promotion of new pigeon pea varieties involve extensive testing and active farmer participation. “We conducted on-station trials, followed by on-farm testing with farmers to ensure the varieties had the farmer-preferred traits. The Mituki variety is a medium-duration variety, giving two harvests per year, making it very popular among farmers,” Karimi added.

Creating awareness during field days

Promoting new varieties is equally important as developing them. “It’s one thing to release a variety but another to ensure promotion and popularization. If you release it and put it on the shelves, farmers will not be aware that a better variety is available,“ said Rael. This is where on-farm demonstrations and field days are crucial.

Field days are critical in ensuring that new, improved varieties reach the farmers who require them the most, bridging the gap between varietal development and practical application in the field. They also emphasize the importance of using high-quality seeds rather than recycled seeds, which often come with significant challenges.

A field day held in July in Ndeini village effectively raised awareness among numerous farmers about the benefits of the Mituki variety and how it can provide two harvests per year compared to their long-duration local varieties, which only give one harvest in a year.

Rael Karimi, a researcher and breeder at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Katumani, engages with farmers during the pigeon pea farmers field day in Machakos County. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Seed purity for improved yields

Chris Ojiewo, seed systems lead for the Dryland Crops program at CIMMYT, emphasizes the importance of maintaining seed purity and good farming practices. “Farmers often recycle seeds for years, resulting in cross-pollination and loss of desirable traits. We encourage them to regularly buy new seeds, which ensures high yield and disease resistance. With support from CIMMYT and the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) Project, we are now able to produce and distribute quality seeds to farmers,” he said.

Chris highlighted the challenges of recycling seeds. Genetic impurity is a significant concern due to pigeon pea outcrossing. It prevents such grains from entering the formal value chain and, as a result, reduces farmer profits. Additionally, recycled seeds may accumulate diseases and pests, diminishing crop health. Stored seeds can also have low germination capacity and vigor, leading to poor crop performance.

To address these issues, Chris advocates for behavior change communications to educate farmers on the benefits of using pure seeds. Linking farmers to formal seed value chains ensures that they understand the financial incentives of using pure seeds. Moreover, improving the production, availability, affordability, and timely supply of quality seeds can prevent the need for recycling.

Collaborative efforts in pigeon pea breeding

Ganga Rao, a pigeon pea breeder with the Dryland Crops program, explains how CIMMYT provides support to both farmers and researchers. “CIMMYT has been instrumental in advancing pigeon pea breeding programs by providing technical support and resources. We collaborate closely with local researchers at KALRO to ensure that the new varieties are tailored to the specific needs and conditions of the farmers,” he said.

Through the collaborative efforts of the pigeon pea CGIAR-NARES network, CIMMYT, under the AVISA project, has supported KALRO in producing pigeon pea seed for the Mituki variety. The promotion of this seed used small seed packets of 200g. This approach created demand for the new variety, with many farmers purchasing the seed ahead of the short rains 2024 cropping season. This is an indication that farmers are willing to buy certified seeds when they are made aware of improved varieties that offer both farmer- and market-preferred traits.

Ganga emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and farmer engagement. “Our goal is to develop varieties that are high yielding and resilient to climate stresses and diseases. Through on-farm trials and demonstrations, farmers provide us with valuable feedback, which informs our breeding programs. This collaborative approach ensures that the varieties we release meet the market demands and preferences,” he added.

Farmers and community members purchase the *Mituki* seeds during the farmers field day. (Photo: Ganga Rao/CIMMYT)

Ganga emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and farmer engagement. “Our goal is to develop varieties that are high yielding and resilient to climate stresses and diseases. Through on-farm trials and demonstrations, farmers provide us with valuable feedback which informs our breeding programs. This collaborative approach ensures that the varieties we release meet the market demands and preferences,” he added.

The future of pigeon pea is bright

Festus’s success with Mituki variety demonstrates the potential of strategic crop selection and good agricultural practices. “I now see pigeon pea as a major agro-enterprise for food security and as a significant source of income. The market demand for green pigeon pea is high, and with proper seed management farmers can sustain and improve their livelihoods,” Festus concluded.

Looking ahead, Karimi is optimistic that more farmers will adopt this new variety. “The future for pigeon pea is bright. We aim to have farmers producing throughout the year, meeting the high market demands and ensuring food security. By aggregating their produce, this will ensure adequate tradable volume which helps farmers negotiate for better prices and achieve greater financial stability,” she said.

Ganga added, “CIMMYT’s ongoing support in seed production and farmer training is crucial. We are committed to empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to maximize their yields and improve their livelihoods. Pigeon pea has the potential to transform the agricultural landscape in dryland regions.”

Ganga Rao, a pigeon pea breeder with the Dryland Crops program in CIMMYT interacts with farmers during the farmers field day in Machakos. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

As Festus prepares to expand his farm and continue his journey, his story serves as an inspiration to many farmers in Ndeini and beyond. With support and innovations in crop breeding, farmers such as Festus are not only surviving but thriving, turning challenges into opportunities and paving the way for a prosperous future in agriculture.

Collins Makatiani Bulinda

Written by mcallejas on September 12, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

Bulinda is a Value Chains Specialist with 8 years of experience leading Value Chains design and analysis, Livelihood, and Social Protection Programs in rural and humanitarian settings across the country. He interacts closely with policy processes and actively engages in generating knowledge that improves the delivery of development programs in the region.

Bulinda is currently a consulting research associate at CIMMYT. He has previously worked for other organizations and projects, providing technical support in strategy and project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluations, and humanitarian programming. He has specifically worked on projects for CHASP, ACTS, ICIPE, GROOTS Kenya, AfriDev Consulting, 3R-Netherlands’s project, ILRI, and Policy and Market Options.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management and an MSc degree in Agribusiness Management at The Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) from Egerton University.

Potential for independent performance information to shape farmers’ seed choice for hybrid maize: Insights from Kenya

Written by dmedina on August 9, 2024. Posted in Blogs.

Maize production in Kenya is a critical component of the country’s agriculture and food security. However, climate change poses a serious threat to its production. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can affect maize growth, reduce yields, and increase the incidence of pests and diseases.

Prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall can lead to crop failures, while extreme weather events can damage crops and infrastructure. As the climate continues to change, it is essential for Kenyan farmers to adopt resilient agricultural practices and more adapted seed products to safeguard maize production and ensure food security for the population.

For decades, seed companies as well as governments and donors have invested in maize hybrid breeding. Dozens of new hybrids have been made available to seed companies throughout East Africa for multiplication and distribution. These hybrids are designed and tested to outperform older hybrids in terms of yield under rainfed conditions, to include tolerance to drought and pests.

However, the potential impact of these investments has been hampered by the slow turnover of hybrids among farmers. Research has shown that, despite the availability of newer, higher-performing varieties, farmers tend to purchase older, less productive hybrids. The ‘turnover problem’ in Kenya has been described by CIMMYT researchers in a recent publication.[1]

One of the constraints responsible for the low turnover of varieties is a lack of information among farmers on the performance of the newer products. Despite advancements in the development of new seeds and the retail infrastructure to reach farmers, neither the public nor the private sector is generating and disseminating information on the performance of different maize seed products across various agroecologies. Farmers therefore have choice overload but lack objective information on relative seed performance required to make informed seed choices across seasons and growing conditions.

CIMMYT conducted a field experiment to shed light on the potential influence of seed-product performance information on farmers’ seed choices. The study involved aggregating and packaging farmer reported yield data for some seed products and presenting this to randomly selected farmers at the point of sale to assess whether the new information would influence their choice of products. The study was conducted in Kirinyaga and Embu counties where, like many parts of Kenya, farmers have access to a diverse range of maize seed products from seed companies which promise benefits like higher yields and improved resilience but lack objective information on their performance which could support their choices, including when to switch and to what.

[1] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0030727019900520

The experiment

The study was conducted in March 2024, at the onset of the long rain season. The research team collaborated with 36 local agro-dealers in five towns and surveyed over one thousand farmers. Farmers were intercepted as they approached the agro-dealer outlets and briefed about the study. Upon consent, they were informed on the benefits of trying something new (experimenting with varieties) and were offered a voucher for one free bag of maize seed to encourage them to try a seed product new to them. They then were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: treatment and comparison. Participants in the treatment group were shown a chart containing product-specific yield data on maize hybrids grown in their counties (see the chart below). The chart contained farmer-reported yields from the previous year’s long rain season aggregated at two levels: county average yield and the average yield of the top 25% of farmers who realized the highest yields. The latter demonstrated the actual potential of a seed product. They were asked that, if they wished, they could choose the voucher product for experimentation from the list but they were not required to. Participants in the comparison group were offered placebo information that would not affect their seed choice: they were given some fun facts about Kenya and agriculture in Kenya. We assess the effect of the information on the choice of the bag of seed they were buying with the voucher to experiment with.

Table 1: Product-specific performance information on maize seed products in Kirinyaga March-August 2023 *actual product names have been removed for this blog*

Before they made any purchases, the customers were asked about which maize seed they intended to buy. After purchase, they were interviewed again to find out which maize seeds they bought and how they had used the voucher.

What we found

Majority of the treatment farmers had a very positive evaluation of the information they received, indicating that they found it relevant and useful when making seed choice. Specifically, over 90% of them said that the information was trustworthy and easy to understand while about 80% said that the information was easy to recall. Over 80% of them disagreed that the list of varieties was too long to comprehend, the information on varieties was similar and hard to differentiate and that it was hard for them to choose a variety from the list.

This positive evaluation of the information is also reflected in their seed choices. Pre-purchases (before they entered the agrodealer store), farmers who were exposed to the performance information showed increased certainty in their choices and a higher inclination towards products listed in the product performance data, particularly the top-performing varieties. While 5% of the comparison farmers indicated that they did not know what to buy with their vouchers, only 2% of the treatment farmers suffered the same uncertainty. Such farmers relied mostly on agro-dealers to recommend a product they could experiment with.

As shown by the bar chat below, only 7% of comparison group farmers desired to use their vouchers on (or had an effective demand for) products which were the top two in the product performance lists. This increased to 27% among the information group farmers, representing an increase of 286% in the demand of top performing products.

However, although our intervention relaxed an essential constraint (product performance information) and increased the demand for some seed products, the actual purchases were subject to other constraints, stock-outs key among them. As a result, both groups showed shifts from initially desired products in their actual purchases. Even so, the treatment group maintained a stronger alignment with the listed products, exhibiting a higher likelihood of purchasing top-performing products. Only 5% of farmers in comparison group used their vouchers to purchase products which were top two in the product performance lists. This increased to 13% among farmers in the treatment group, representing a 160% increase in the likelihood of purchasing the best performing products in the lists.

Reflections

Slow varietal turnover among maize farmers in E. Africa is a pervasive problem and there is no one solution to it. This research shows that information on product performance can be an effective approach in bringing to the attention of farmers newer, more adapted and better yielding seed products. Dissemination of such information can be incorporated in extension programs, shared at the point of sale, shared through SMSs and WhatsApp messages, displayed in posters fixed in public places, etc.

The findings offer clear recommendations for future investments in seed systems development. These include the implementation of new product testing regimes to ensure quality and objectivity of performance data, testing what other information would be useful to farmers – beyond yield data, exploring new marketing options to reach farmers more effectively, and considering additional approaches to empower farmers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions thus leading to improved agricultural productivity, resilience, and livelihoods.

Digital solutions advance soil health for sustainable food systems and climate resilience

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on July 16, 2024. Posted in Blogs.

Panelists at the “Digging Deeper: Advancements in Soil Health Monitoring for Sustainable Food Systems and Climate Resilience” side event, hosted by IFDC at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit held in Nairobi. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Farmers interact with soils daily, supporting the entire food system. Empowering them with tools for research and scalable learning initiatives is crucial.

Speaking as a panelist at the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) summit, Paswel Marenya, CIMMYT senior scientist, emphasized the need to enhance farmers’ capacities to effectively utilize digital tools.

“Digital tools do not inherently lead to impactful changes unless they enhance farmers’ capabilities in managing soil health,” said Marenya. “The potential of a digital tool should enable farmers to shorten the cycle from receiving information to applying new techniques.”

Paswel Marenya, senior scientist at CIMMYT. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Simple, easy to use tools

One promising solution is the development of user-friendly platforms that synthesize essential information from cutting-edge research into practical tools.

“In partnership with IFDC, CIMMYT is currently collaborating to develop an interface that synthesizes essential information into a user-friendly digital platform. This interface would be complemented by tools that allow for on-site testing,” said Marenya.

“CIMMYT aims to design digital tools that not only improve access to information but enhance the farmers’ ability to learn, innovate, and adapt. This approach promises real progress beyond more recommendations,” said Marenya.

This sentiment was echoed by Leigh Winowiecki, soil and land health global research lead at CIFOR-ICRAF, who discussed advancements in soil health monitoring and highlighted the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) which collects data on various indicators of soil health.

Leigh Ann Winowiecki, global research lead for soil and land health at CIFOR-ICRAF. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Addressing the forum as the keynote speaker for the side event titled, “Digging deeper: Advancement in soil health monitoring for sustainable food systems and climate resilience,” Winowiecki showcased the global implementation and impact of the framework, noting its implementation in 40 countries.

“This framework is a field-based method that collects data on various indicators of soil health, land degradation, and vegetation diversity across landscapes,” Winowiecki said.

The findings from the framework guide practical interventions to mitigate soil erosion and influence policy.

Annie Wakanyi, director of partnerships & business development at One Acre Fund, highlighted how they prioritize farmers by providing high-quality inputs on credit, ensuring they are distributed near their farm fields, and offering training on usage, as well as assisting farmers in accessing markets for the surplus they produce.

Annie Wakanyi, director of global government partnerships, One Acre Fund. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

The private sector’s role was addressed by Jonathan Atkinson, Farm Service Unit Africa, who introduced the “cost to serve model” to understand the dynamics between costs and return on investments for farmers. He emphasized the need for practical, scalable approaches for soil health interventions that cater for commercial activities.

Jonathan Atkinson, farm service unit Africa. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Professor Nalivata of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources emphasized the importance of addressing soil erosion to achieve soil health in Africa using Malawi as a case study. He discussed policy implementation on fertilizer, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices and research as strategies implemented to address soil degradation in Malawi, calling for more initiatives like incentives for farmers and building human capacity.

“This can be achieved if we maintain a collaborative approach involving government, academia, the private sector, and donor communities to transform soil health and improve livelihoods,” said Nalivata.

Latha Nagarajan, SOILS consortium director IFDC’s USAID-funded soils initiative. (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)

Latha Nagarajan, in her presentation on the IFDC’s USAID-funded soils initiative, highlighted how the initiative improves livelihoods through innovative soil management. She explained the ‘space to place’ approach, which integrates spatial remote sensing data with place-specific soil health data to enhance soil management decisions, increasing efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.

Experts discuss strategies to address soil health challenges and the fertilizer crisis in Africa

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on July 12, 2024. Posted in Blogs.

Group photo of the panelists at the AFSH Summit in Nairobi (Photo: Marion Aluoch)

Improving soil health is critical to sustainable agriculture, and for addressing climate change, tackling environmental challenges, and enhancing food security. Through projects by CIMMYT and partners, potential scalable solutions are under development, but additional work is still required.

“To effectively scale up soil health initiatives, we need to prioritize investments and establish a framework that maximizes returns,” said Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT director general, during the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. “It is crucial to use simple, quantifiable indicators for systematic assessments and decision-making, and to broaden these indicators to foster investment from public, private, and civil actors.”

As a keynote speaker in the “Strategies to Foster Africa’s Resilience to the Global Fertilizer Crisis” parallel session, Govaerts highlighted the intertwined challenges of soil health and fertilizer accessibility. “95% of our food comes from the soil, yet in 14 countries the cost of fertilizer has more than doubled. Fertilizers contribute to 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are often mismanaged—overused in some regions and underutilized in others.”

The transition to a more sustainable and climate-resilient approach to soil health and fertilizer use requires a comprehensive structure that considers broader aspects of agricultural sustainability. “To enhance soil health effectively, a clear framework is necessary that includes investment prioritization, integrated soil management, extension and advisory services, and the utilization of data and technology,” Govaerts added.

This recommended framework included identifying and prioritizing investment opportunities, balancing organic and inorganic inputs, strengthening extension systems, and leveraging technology to provide farmers real-time advice.

One practical example of effective soil health management in practice is CIMMYT’s Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) Rapid Delivery Hub. The project helps farmers cope with high fuel and fertilizer prices by providing them with innovative tools and information to manage cost and supply disruptions. This addresses systemic weaknesses in agriculture by accelerating market-based delivery of improved seed, fertilizer, and critical information to farmers.

“Under AID-I, rapid soil testing has been prioritized. Collaborating with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and mobile soil labs like those in Zambia exemplify innovative data point collection strategies,” said Govaerts.

During the panel discussion, Anne Muriuki, principal research officer at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) highlighted the key challenges that African countries face in accessing fertilizers during global crises and the impact on agricultural productivity. “Farmers face scarcity and high costs, leading to reduced yields and increased reliance on unsustainable fertilizers. These issues not only reduce agricultural productivity, but they also aggravate food insecurity and economic instability.”

David Nielsen, a former World Bank official, stressed the importance of having site-specific soil information and investing in human capital and educational institutions to increase soil science expertise and improve the availability of site-specific information. “These two issues should be high priorities. They are crucial, especially when fertilizer access is limited, but they remain vital even with adequate fertilizer supply.”

Douglas Kerr, vice president of business development at the IFDC discussed how governments, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector can collaborate to ensure continuous access to fertilizer during a global crisis. The Sustain African Program was an example of IFDC’s role in gathering market information and developing a concept that has since been integrated into ongoing operations. “In a nutshell, multi-stakeholder collaboration needs to be open, transparent, supportive, and unified.”

Charlotte Hebebrand, director of communications and public affairs at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), emphasized the need to increase fertilizer production within Africa, improve access to markets, and address response constraints to reduce shocks. “A major focus is on repurposing subsidies. It is sensitive but critical to determine the most efficient way to support farmers and promote soil health.”

Mehti Filali, senior vice president of OCP in West Africa, highlighted successful case studies from Ethiopia and Nigeria, where domestic initiatives and regional cooperation have resulted in significant agricultural growth. “Ethiopia has doubled crop production and created tailored fertilizer formulas, while Nigeria’s initiative has consolidated fertilizer procurement, created jobs, and saved US $250 million in foreign exchange. OCP’s contribution, though modest, has been critical, marked by significant milestones such as soil testing and the development of blending units.”

As Africa continues to face these challenges, the response must be dynamic, drawing on both local knowledge and scientific data. Robust data governance is essential for integrating soil health into market-driven decision-making, promoting crop diversification, and integrating organic and inorganic inputs for sustainable agriculture. “Let us remember the importance of integrating soil fertility management in a step-by-step manner, prioritizing action tailored to specific locations and conditions. Sophisticated extension systems, backed up by robust data, are crucial,” Govaerts concluded.

Over 5,000 Busia farmers to benefit from Kalro certified millet seed

Written by dmedina on June 10, 2024. Posted in In the media.

Starting in 2025, CIMMYT, the Centre for Behaviour Change and Communication (Cbcc), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro), and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) will support a program benefiting over 5,000 farmers in Busia by introducing high-yielding finger millet varieties. Successfully piloted in Teso South, the initiative aims to maximize millet harvests to meet rising demand. Certified seeds from Kalro, monitored by Kephis, will ensure higher yields and easier management. Aggregation centres will store produce and serve as learning hubs, addressing climate resilience and promoting sustainable millet cultivation.

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Translating strategy into scientific action

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on May 23, 2024. Posted in Blogs.

Participants at the SAS Africa implementation roadmap retreat. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

Stronger partnerships, innovation, and agile science for impact were resounding themes when CIMMYT researchers from the Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) program in Africa gathered in Nairobi to develop the program’s implementation roadmap in alignment with the CIMMYT 2030 Strategy.

The three-day retreat from 25-28 March, attended by research teams from the eastern, western, southern, and Horn regions of Africa, provided a platform to share insights and chart a course towards sustainable agricultural development for the continent.

Routes to amplifying research impact

In her opening remarks, SAS Program Director, Sieglinde Snapp, emphasized the importance of grounding the CIMMYT 2030 Strategy in the African context and the urgent need for actionable plans to address pressing challenges in agrifood systems. Snapp drew attention to the significance of collaboration with public, private, and civil society stakeholders, highlighting how inclusive partnerships are essential for driving meaningful change. She urged the team to focus on turning strategic vision into tangible plans, with clear milestones to track progress.

“Humanity pulled together and got to the moon in the 60s. Conventional science and engineering got us there,” said Snapp. “However, when we have high uncertainty and high-value conflicts, we need to have all stakeholders at the table. We need to do action science and think of what the actual science looks like.”

Christian Witt, senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, delivered a keynote address focusing on the importance of advancing agronomy globally and exploring opportunities at the national level. He advocated for a balanced approach to tackling macroeconomic challenges while fostering grassroots innovation that augments impact. He also underscored the CIMMYT 2030 Strategy’s critical role across CGIAR, calling for a pivot in funder influence towards a unified, demand-driven research methodology.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer, Christian Witt, gives a keynote speech on advancing global agronomy. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

Deep diving into the strategy

The retreat also featured a panel discussion on the CIMMYT 2030 Strategy. From the value of strategic partnerships to the need for excellence in research and delivery, the panel highlighted the key pillars of CIMMYT’s strategy and underscored the importance of aligning efforts with global priorities and challenges.

Participants discussed the role of data systems for agile agronomy, noting the need for innovative methodologies to harness the vast amount of data available. They placed key focus on empowering farmers, particularly through initiatives like the BACKFEED Farmer Agency. This inclusive feedback system enables knowledge co-creation via mobile phones, fostering networking among farmers of diverse backgrounds. Regular and spontaneous interactions facilitate data collection, addressing social exclusion in agricultural information channels faced by those with multiple vulnerabilities.

Paswel Marenya, SAS associate program director for Africa, shared thought-provoking insights on the Pathways to Impact. He demonstrated how complementarity and bundled approaches, impact orientation, evidence-supported scaling, subsidiarity, localization, and training of farmers and communities, and inclusive seed systems, can transform food systems.

During an analysis of the strategy in the African context, central inquiry focused on identifying areas where SAS could deliver the greatest value. Discussions revealed a consensus on several key priorities: the need of developing and implementing policies from the ground up, addressing the specific needs of smallholder farmers, enhancing capacity for sustainable development, ensuring inclusivity for youth and women, expanding innovative solutions, and encouraging regional collaboration. These common themes highlight a united drive towards comprehensive and impactful agricultural advancement across Africa’s diverse landscapes.

On implementing the strategy, attendees discussed a range of plans and proposals:

Diversify from maize to alternative crops, such as pigeon peas.
Engage stakeholders in agile agronomy discussions to identify impact pathways.
Train the private and public sectors for climate-smart agriculture.
Address concerns regarding prevailing inefficiencies within the formal seed system and the lack of business models for non-hybrid seeds like groundnut or wheat.
Identify opportunities for financial inclusion through aggregator and off-taker models.
Consider the importance of mechanization policies, markets, and extension services.
Engage strategically in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, as the majority of food insecurity is found in conflict areas.
Improve nutrition education and meet local demand for nutritious crops like pigeon pea and groundnut.
Consider the role of data and analytics in humanitarian-development-peace pathways, policy engagement for building value chains, and the significance of impact pathways.
Promote the importance of open science, data sharing, and addressing gaps between product enhancement and production.

Participants discuss how SAS can further contribute to CIMMYT’s 2030 Strategy. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

Eyes on the future

In reflections at the end of the retreat, Snapp reiterated the importance of investing in soil resilience through agile agronomy and participatory research to foster collaboration and inclusivity in decision-making processes. She focused on the significance of foresight targeting and market intelligence, particularly in regions grappling with soil degradation and the impact of the climate crisis. Her presentation highlighted key priorities for driving impactful agricultural development, including effective data management, climate adaptation, and alignment of existing solutions with climate goals. The interconnectedness of foresight targeting, seed systems, and agile agronomy was underscored, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and addressing essential topics like nitrogen and climate change. Additionally, Snapp reiterated the crucial role of collaborative efforts between different teams and organizations in effectively advancing agricultural research and development initiatives.

To cap off three days of intense discussions and strategy-building, participants took part in fun team-building activities that echo CIMMYT’s core values of excellence, integrity, and teamwork.

Stakeholders call for a holistic approach to managing Kenya’s dryland crop seed system

Written by dmedina on April 11, 2024. Posted in In the media.

In February 2024, the Kenya Drylands Crop Seed Systems Workshop, co-hosted by CIMMYT and KALRO in Nairobi, focused on enhancing seed systems for key dryland crops like pigeon pea and sorghum. The workshop aimed to align innovative breeding with effective seed distribution, crucial for improving agricultural productivity and food security in Kenya’s semi-arid regions.

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Collaboration across the seed system value chain

Written by Julian Bañuelos-Uribe on April 8, 2024. Posted in Blogs.

Collaboration among diverse seed value chain actors is essential to improving seed systems for dryland crops in Kenya and contributing to food security in an era marked by climate change. This holistic approach is essential at a time when sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly becoming pertinent in semi-arid and high-potential areas, as emphasized by participants attending a multi-stakeholder seed systems meeting in Nairobi.

The Kenya Drylands Crop Seed Systems Workshop in February 2024 brought together various stakeholders from the agricultural sector, including farmers, policymakers, researchers, and the private sector. The main aim of this meeting was to identify practical ways to address critical challenges in the seed system for key dryland crops—pigeon pea, chickpea, groundnut, millets, and sorghum—essential to the livelihoods of millions in Kenya. Organized by CIMMYT and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), this collaborative effort aimed to gather insights and jointly develop a seed systems strategy to strengthen a seed supply system that matches grain demand for these essential grains.

A group photo of the participants in the Kenya Drylands Crop Seed Systems Workshop. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

While moderating the discussion, Patrick Ketiem, director of agricultural mechanization research at KALRO, highlighted the importance of the situation. “The demand for drought-tolerant dryland crops and varieties is a clarion call for breeders to innovate further,” he explained. This reflects a broader trend across the country, where even high-potential areas are shifting to dryland crops in response to unpredictable weather patterns.

Addressing farmer needs

The workshop allowed participants to delve into the intricacies of seed systems, from varietal preferences to market readiness, highlighting the importance of collaboration among breeders, distributors, and farmers. Moses Siambi, CIMMYT’s regional director for Africa, emphasized the importance of integrating passion with science to make a tangible difference in the lives of farmers. “Our work is not just about developing varieties,” Siambi remarked. “It’s about improving livelihoods and ensuring that the benefits of our research reach the smallholder farmer,” he explained, emphasizing the broader impact of CIMMYT’s efforts to boost agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods in the face of climate change.

Moses Siambi, CIMMYT’s regional director for Africa, engages in a conversation with a participant. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

Chris Ojiewo, partnerships and seed systems lead at CIMMYT, explained the vision for the Dryland Crops program, referencing the journey of the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) project, which was a culmination of a decade of research aimed at introducing new, diverse, and farmer-preferred crop varieties to farming communities through a variety of seed delivery models.

“The essence of our endeavor is to ensure that the genetic gains from our breeding efforts result in real benefits for the farmers,” he said. “Developing seed varieties with the end-user in mind is crucial to ensure that crops not only reach the farmers but also meet their specific needs effectively.”

Chris Ojiewo, partnerships and seed systems lead at CIMMYT, provides insights on the future of the Dryland Crops program, leveraging ten years of research from AVISA. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

Improving seed systems

The workshop discussions also highlighted the importance of innovation in seed delivery models and the need for increased investment in the dryland crops sector as essential strategies for addressing current challenges and capitalizing on new opportunities. Investment decisions will be guided by granular data on local grain demand, enhancing seed production planning. Additionally, insights from institutions such as the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) and the State Department of Agriculture, consolidating per capita consumption data, will aid in determining the requisite seed supply per capita. Moreover, there is need for a mechanism for facilitating knowledge through consolidating data from existing projects that tackle comparable challenges related to food security and seed accessibility.

Lusike Wasilwa, crops systems director at KALRO, who represented the organization’s director general at the event, stressed the importance of seeds in agriculture. “From genes to gains, our focus is on developing climate-smart, nutritious crops that not only enhance soil health but also ensure food security in Kenya,” Wasilwa said. She further highlighted the importance of soil health and market development in achieving sustainable food production in arid and semi-arid lands, promoting biodiversity, and sustainable land management practices.

Lusike Wasilwa, the crops systems director at KALRO, who represents the organization’s director general at the event, emphasizes the importance of seeds in agriculture. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

Cross-cutting issues

The workshop also addressed regulatory and control measures in seed production with Stellamaris Mulika, principal seed inspector from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), highlighting the importance of stringent quality control measures to ensure the dissemination of quality seed of superior crop varieties.

The importance of gender inclusivity and youth engagement in agriculture was also acknowledged, reflecting women and youth’s critical role in legume and cereal variety selection, diversifying seed sources, and meaningfully contributing to the seed value chain. Veneza Kendi, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), proposed several interventions to increase investment capacity for farmers and aggregators, mainly from the assurance of high yields from certified seeds to farmers, serving as a motivation.

Gloria Mutheu, a seed merchant at Dryland Seed Company, highlighted the need for government support in investing in the grain sector, citing the school feeding program as an initiative to pull seed demand. Mutheu urged the government to expand the crop types in legumes and cereals, such as chickpeas, included in these school feeding programs to increase demand. This, she argued, would gradually establish an inclusive seed system for increasing uptake of these underutilized but opportunity nutrient-dense crops.

Gloria Mutheu, a seed merchant at Dryland Seed Company, and Veneza Kendi, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), discuss the vital role of youth in the seed systems value chain. (Photo: Maria Monayo/CIMMYT)

The consensus was clear: to enhance the seed systems for dryland crops, there must be collaboration across the entire value chain—from breeders to farmers, from policymakers to the private sector. This integrated approach is critical for Kenya’s climate change adaptation, food security, and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.

Spearheaded by CIMMYT with financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the AVISA project seeks to improve breeding and seed systems of dryland crops, as well as the livelihoods of small-scale producers and consumers in sub-Saharan Africa. CIMMYT is leveraging this opportunity to advance research and expand its influence through its 2030 strategy that shapes the future of agriculture as a driver of food and nutrition security, and climate resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural development.

How maize seed companies use market intelligence

Written by dmedina on March 26, 2024. Posted in In the media.

In a pioneering effort led by CIMMYT, the “Hybrid Maize Seed Marketing in Kenya” workshop has become a catalyst for innovation within Kenya’s maize seed industry. This landmark event brought together representatives from seed companies, agro-dealers, and other key stakeholders, fostering collaborations that have since ignited transformative changes. From revitalizing marketing strategies to introducing early maturity maize varieties, the workshop’s outcomes are shaping a more responsive and sustainable seed market. CIMMYT’s role in facilitating these industry advancements underscores its commitment to agricultural development and farmer support, setting the stage for continued progress in Kenya’s maize sector.

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