Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda

In the name of food security, governments and NGOs purchase large volumes of maize seed in non-relief situations to provide at reduced or no cost to producers. At the same time, efforts to build formal maize seed systems have been frustrated by slow turnover rates – the dominance of older seed produ...

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Main Authors: Donovan, Jason A., Voss, Rachel C., Bayiyana, Irene, Rutsaert, Pieter
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: SAGE Publications 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139450
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author Donovan, Jason A.
Voss, Rachel C.
Bayiyana, Irene
Rutsaert, Pieter
author_browse Bayiyana, Irene
Donovan, Jason A.
Rutsaert, Pieter
Voss, Rachel C.
author_facet Donovan, Jason A.
Voss, Rachel C.
Bayiyana, Irene
Rutsaert, Pieter
author_sort Donovan, Jason A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In the name of food security, governments and NGOs purchase large volumes of maize seed in non-relief situations to provide at reduced or no cost to producers. At the same time, efforts to build formal maize seed systems have been frustrated by slow turnover rates – the dominance of older seed products in the market over newer, higher performing ones. Under certain conditions, governments and NGO seed aid purchases can support formal seed systems development in three ways: i) support increased producer awareness of new products, ii) support local private seed industry development, and iii) advance equity goals by targeting aid to the most vulnerable of producers who lack the capacity to purchase seeds. This study explores the objectives and activities of seed aid programmes in Uganda and their interactions with the maize seed sector. We draw insights from interviews with representatives of seed companies, NGOs and government agencies, as well as focus group discussions with producers. The findings indicated that seed aid programme objectives are largely disconnected from broader seed systems development goals. There is little evidence of public-private collaboration in design of these programmes. Better designed programs have the potential to align with varietal turnover objectives, commercial sector development and targeting of underserved markets could promote equity and ‘crowd in’ demand.
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spelling CGSpace1394502025-12-08T10:11:39Z Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda Donovan, Jason A. Voss, Rachel C. Bayiyana, Irene Rutsaert, Pieter seed seed systems social inclusion maize In the name of food security, governments and NGOs purchase large volumes of maize seed in non-relief situations to provide at reduced or no cost to producers. At the same time, efforts to build formal maize seed systems have been frustrated by slow turnover rates – the dominance of older seed products in the market over newer, higher performing ones. Under certain conditions, governments and NGO seed aid purchases can support formal seed systems development in three ways: i) support increased producer awareness of new products, ii) support local private seed industry development, and iii) advance equity goals by targeting aid to the most vulnerable of producers who lack the capacity to purchase seeds. This study explores the objectives and activities of seed aid programmes in Uganda and their interactions with the maize seed sector. We draw insights from interviews with representatives of seed companies, NGOs and government agencies, as well as focus group discussions with producers. The findings indicated that seed aid programme objectives are largely disconnected from broader seed systems development goals. There is little evidence of public-private collaboration in design of these programmes. Better designed programs have the potential to align with varietal turnover objectives, commercial sector development and targeting of underserved markets could promote equity and ‘crowd in’ demand. 2024-03 2024-02-15T23:21:48Z 2024-02-15T23:21:48Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139450 en Open Access application/pdf SAGE Publications Donovan, J., Voss, R. C., Bayiyana, I., & Rutsaert, P. (2024). Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda. Outlook On Agriculture, 53(1), 37-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231224085
spellingShingle seed
seed systems
social inclusion
maize
Donovan, Jason A.
Voss, Rachel C.
Bayiyana, Irene
Rutsaert, Pieter
Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda
title Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda
title_full Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda
title_fullStr Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda
title_short Maize seed aid and seed systems development: Opportunities for synergies in Uganda
title_sort maize seed aid and seed systems development opportunities for synergies in uganda
topic seed
seed systems
social inclusion
maize
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139450
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AT rutsaertpieter maizeseedaidandseedsystemsdevelopmentopportunitiesforsynergiesinuganda