Authors: Yenizie Kone, Melinda Smale, Bokary Timbo; IER, Michigan State University, USAID
Topics: quality seeds, smallholder farmers, research, Mali, innovation, governance
This study is the result of a workshop on the identification of indicators of access by smallholder farmers to improved seeds. A total of 34 seed actors, including 4 women, participated in this workshop. The various participants and seed system experts were representatives from the government, research, seed companies, NGOs and farmers’ organizations.
The methodology was, initially, a presentation of the seed sector of Mali and the main indicators used to assess the seed sector. Then, an inventory of the indicators of access by smallholder farmers to quality seeds was made that are most relevant for the formal and informal seed systems, during group work sessions and in plenary.
According to the participants, the results show 41 indicators (including 30 from the formal sector and 11 from the informal and mixed sectors) that influence the access by smallholder farmers to quality seeds in plant breeding, registration of a new variety, quality control and governance of the seed system. They suggest innovations in regulatory policy taking into account the traditional seed system while placing particular emphasis on the governance of the seed sector in the access by smallholder farmers to quality seeds.
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