rather than only in the testing of technologies
CASE 10: Village-based Seed Enterprises for Providing Quality Seed to Farmers in Afghanistan
The rural economy in Afghanistan is in urgent need of improvement. Market-oriented agricultural production and crop diversification offer opportunities, as they could significantly increase productivity and improve rural livelihoods. However, lack of improved varieties and poor access to quality seed and other agricultural inputs remain major constraints. So, new technologies need to be introduced, to allow farmers to increase productivity, ensure household food security, and produce a surplus for the market. The challenge is to find a mechanism which will provide small-scale farmers with affordable, quality seed of improved, adapted varieties.
ICARDA is using a participatory approach to set up village-based seed-production units. The objective of the program is to develop, test and demonstrate a pilot model for organizing farmer-managed seed supply, which provides high-quality seed and develops skills that lead to a sustainable and profitable farmer-based seed enterprise. There are several advantages for organizing local seed production and marketing units. They are
|
•
|
Participatory—serve defined target groups and areas by mobilizing and involving small farmers in less favorable environments and/or remote areas
|
|
•
|
Decentralization—multiply varieties locally tested and selected based on farmers’ needs
|
|
•
|
Market driven—link seed demand with production at local level based on farmers preferences |
|
•
|
Cost effective—lower transport, marketing and distribution costs thus reducing seed price |
• |
Relevant quality—adopt appropriate seed quality standards that meet farmers' diverse requirements |
• |
Appropriate technology—develop low cost seed equipment to improve quality at farm level |
• |
Sustainability—institutionalize seed production and marketing so that farmers continue with seed business without any external support |
• |
Evolution—through time these enterprises may eventually formalized into small private seed companies |
In five provinces of Afghanistan, groups of farmers have been identified, which are now engaged in production and marketing of seed within the community and beyond. For successful operation of VBSEs, farmers will depend on the availability and access to:
|
•
|
Seeds of adapted improved varieties
|
|
•
|
Agricultural inputs (fertilizers, etc.)
|
|
•
|
Equipment for seed cleaning and treatment |
|
•
|
Promotion and marketing of seeds |
|
•
|
Proper training in technical, financial and management |
|
•
|
Credit facilities for purchase of seeds, inputs and equipment |
 |
| Figure 1. A group of Afghan farmers discussing the formation of village-based seed enterprises with ICARDA experts |
Each farmers’ group will be responsible for all seed production, processing, and storage, as well as for seed quality assurance. They will also market the seed produced, both to other farmers in the community and beyond. This will be done either directly or through village traders and NGOs. In 2005, the second year of the project, 21 farmers’ groups were become operational i.e. marketing and exchanging more than 3000 tonnes of seed. At the end of the project (June 2006), it is expected that these farmers’ groups will, each year, produce 100 tonnes of quality seed of a wide range of crop varieties.
 |
 |
| Figure 2. VBSE member farmers threshing wheat seed (left) and using effectively the mobile seed cleaning and treatment equipment (right) developed in collaboration with the private sector |
|
