Enhancing crop productivity through community-based seed multiplication system

English

Improved quality seeds out-yield farmers' saved seeds significantly. However, the limited availability of such seeds through the conventional seed supply system is due to socio-economic factors and inadequacy of skilled personnel and infrastructure. A community-based seed multiplication system was, therefore, adopted and small seed stocks of soybean, cowpea and yam were distributed to farmer groups in the rural communities in northern Ghana, northern Nigeria and central Togo, respectively, between 1996 and 1999 for further multiplication. An impact assessment after 4 years showed a significant ease of farmers' access to improved seeds and development of linkages with pesticide dealers, credit sources, and extension services as a result of opting for this system. Quality of farmers' saved seeds had improved and farmers' yield had increased over 90 per cent. Extra incomes earned were used to purchase household items, and part invested in transport businesses and rearing of small ruminants as well as in human capital such as paying children's school fees and family hospital bills and meeting other social responsibilities. This system was, therefore, effective in diffusing improved seeds and associated technologies and services to many more farmers and communities within a very short time to improve their socio-economic status.

Asiedu, E. A.; Dankyi, A. A.; Marfo, K. O.; Denwar, S. S.; Singh, B. B.; Maroya, N.; Van Gastal, A. G. J.