Stakeholders Unite to Strengthen African Seed Systems for Enhanced Food Security

The African seed sector has received a significant boost as stakeholders converged at the Seed Stakeholders Learning Event to advocate for strengthened seed systems across the continent. 

The event, organized by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) through its Center of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA), brought together seed stakeholders from 13 AGRA focus countries.

Dr. George Bigirwa, Director of CESSA at AGRA, emphasized the critical role of seed systems in driving agricultural transformation in Africa.

 “AGRA has invested heavily in strengthening agriculture systems across Africa, with a particular focus on seeds as a key driver for agriculture transformation,” Dr. Bigirwa noted. “Our support for seed companies has resulted in improved seed varieties, leading to increased harvests and enhanced resilience in the face of climate change.”

Dr. Bigirwa highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange, strengthening partnerships, and sharing innovative solutions to address the challenges facing seed systems in different countries. 

“Enhanced crop productivity and increased climate resilience contribute to overall food security,” he explained. “Research has shown that the adoption of improved sorghum seeds in Tanzania has a positive effect on household dietary diversity score, a proxy of food security and general welfare.”

Jonathan Said, Vice President of the Centre of Technical Expertise at AGRA, emphasized the need for national planning and coordination to address issues affecting the seed sector, such as counterfeits. 

“We are coming together to solve problems that affect us all,” Said noted. “Collaboration and coordination are key drivers of the seed sector at the African level. We need to address all issues and pull our resources together to drive the critical industry forward.”

The Seed Industry Stakeholder Learning Event provided a platform for stakeholders to review progress, share insights, and address bottlenecks across various seed system components. 

The event shed light on critical components that drive seed system success, including breeding, variety release and maintenance, early generation seed production, quality commercial seed production, farmer awareness and participation, seed markets and distribution, and the national seed policy and regulatory environment.

The stakeholders’ meeting is a significant step towards strengthening African seed systems, which is critical for enhancing food security and promoting agricultural transformation across the continent.