Inclusive Seed Sector Development for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Africa
Sustainable agricultural transformation in Africa aims to enhance the agri-food system’s productivity and efficiency, focusing on increasing farm productivity, reducing malnutrition, creating jobs, and minimizing environmental impacts. Among all inputs, seeds are the most critical, with quality seeds potentially contributing up to 45% of total agricultural production. The challenge is to accelerate and sustain agricultural transformation through an inclusive seed sector that embraces Africa’s diverse seed systems.
AfricaSeeds’ strategy aligns with the African Union’s 2063 agenda, which seeks to end poverty through inclusive development. The approach advocates for leveraging the diversity of seed systems, particularly by enhancing informal systems and fostering collaboration with formal systems to distribute quality seeds more widely. The unregulated sector, which provides 80% of the seeds used by farmers, includes Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) and Unregulated Local and National Seed Enterprises (USE), offering significant opportunities for quality seed production.
By improving the quality of seeds in the unregulated sector, agricultural productivity can increase, contributing to food security and poverty alleviation through income generation and job creation. The inclusive seed sector promotes seed security by ensuring the availability and accessibility of quality seeds suited to farmers’ preferences and needs.
An inclusive seed sector supports achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). This sector enhances crop productivity and generates surplus for commercial purposes, improving farmers’ incomes and livelihoods while ensuring food sovereignty. Food sovereignty complements food security by utilizing local resources and knowledge, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
The AfricaSeeds’ 2022-31 Strategy outlines initiatives to promote inclusive seed sector development, including high-level dialogues and a 2025 conference to analyze the roles of different actors in the seed industry. The strategy focuses on targeted interventions, policy support, capacity building, and stakeholder collaboration to enhance the seed sector’s inclusivity and impact.
AfricaSeeds calls for partnerships to promote the inclusive seed sector concept and organize a conference to advance this agenda, emphasizing the sector’s role in fostering agricultural resilience and supporting food security and poverty alleviation across Africa.
