Overview of Community Seed Enterprise

1. Overview of Community Seed Enterprise HaSSP Reflection Workshop Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

2. Spearhead the training of smallholder farmers in seed production, business management and record keeping Establish community based small scale seed production enterprises in rural areas Community Seed Enterprise Objectives

3. Key elements of a seed enterprise • Training farmers in seed production, business management and record keeping • Assist the seed farmers to develop a business and marketing plan • Ensure that there is an adequate and timely supply of foundation seed • Ensure that seed produced is processed, treated and bagged according to the national certification standards

4. Facts on smallholder seed • The rate of adoption of improved seed in Sub-Saharan Africa remains at less than 5% • Over 90% of the crops in developing countries are still planted with farmer’s varieties and farm saved seed • 90% of farmers in Southern Africa rely on the informal seed sector for seed. • Smallholder seed production can be sustained by ensuring a reliable supply of breeder and foundation seed

5. Target crops for seed production • Open Pollinated Varieties (OPV) Maize • Sugar beans • Cowpeas • Soyabeans • Groundnuts • Rice

6. Seed business processes • Grower selection • Supply of foundation seed • Seed crop field production • Harvesting • Delivery & grower payments • Seed Testing • Processing – cleaning, sizing, treating & bagging • Marketing – field days, fairs, shows, agro-dealers

7. THANK YOU