Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data

CONTEXT Despite the importance of enhanced seed quality to agricultural productivity growth, evidence remains scarce regarding the nature and possible drivers of returns to formal sector quality assurance systems, including certified seeds production in countries like Nigeria that focus significantl...

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Main Authors: Takeshima, Hiroyuki, Ragasa, Catherine, Bamiwuye, Temilolu, Andam, Kwaw S., Spielman, David J., Edeh, Hyacinth O., Fasoranti, Adetunji, Haile, Beliyou, Nwagboso, Chibuzo, Omoigui, Lucky O., Abdoulaye, Tahirou, Kumar, P. Lava, Wossen, Tesfamicheal
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172862
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author Takeshima, Hiroyuki
Ragasa, Catherine
Bamiwuye, Temilolu
Andam, Kwaw S.
Spielman, David J.
Edeh, Hyacinth O.
Fasoranti, Adetunji
Haile, Beliyou
Nwagboso, Chibuzo
Omoigui, Lucky O.
Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Kumar, P. Lava
Wossen, Tesfamicheal
author_browse Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Andam, Kwaw S.
Bamiwuye, Temilolu
Edeh, Hyacinth O.
Fasoranti, Adetunji
Haile, Beliyou
Kumar, P. Lava
Nwagboso, Chibuzo
Omoigui, Lucky O.
Ragasa, Catherine
Spielman, David J.
Takeshima, Hiroyuki
Wossen, Tesfamicheal
author_facet Takeshima, Hiroyuki
Ragasa, Catherine
Bamiwuye, Temilolu
Andam, Kwaw S.
Spielman, David J.
Edeh, Hyacinth O.
Fasoranti, Adetunji
Haile, Beliyou
Nwagboso, Chibuzo
Omoigui, Lucky O.
Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Kumar, P. Lava
Wossen, Tesfamicheal
author_sort Takeshima, Hiroyuki
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description CONTEXT Despite the importance of enhanced seed quality to agricultural productivity growth, evidence remains scarce regarding the nature and possible drivers of returns to formal sector quality assurance systems, including certified seeds production in countries like Nigeria that focus significantly on the formal-sector seed systems. OBJECTIVE This study narrows this knowledge gap by estimating the effect of the quantity of certified seeds produced and the spatial variations where they are produced on the use of certified seeds and yields. We also assess the yield effects of certified seeds use and their relationship with agroclimatic and socioeconomic conditions. METHODS We combine nationally-representative farm-household survey panel data with spatial data on the headquarters locations of seed companies, the quantity of certified seeds for maize, cowpea, and rice that they produce, and spatially explicit agroecological data. We apply panel fixed effects methods as well as instrumental-variable methods to address potential endogeneity associated with certified seeds use while also controlling for the use of improved varieties to separate their effects from the effects of certified seeds. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the availability of certified seeds—captured by indicators of certified seeds produced by seed companies headquartered in the states of survey respondents—is associated with positive but declining marginal effects on certified seeds use and yields. These results are robust when we also consider the potential within-state heterogeneity in the proximity to seed company headquarters, as well as potential spillovers from the nearest adjacent states. The yield effects of certified seeds are heterogeneous and depend on agroclimatic conditions and farmers' socioeconomic characteristics. The use of certified seeds is somewhat higher in areas with higher yield effects after controlling for certified seeds production. These patterns partly lead to observed non-linearities in certified seeds use because certified seeds may be more likely to be used by farmers with higher expected returns than farmers with lower expected returns. These results underscore the importance of spatially targeted efforts in enhancing certified seeds production capacity, together with the exploration of intermediate quality standards in the short term where costs of seed certification are high relative to returns. SIGNIFICANCE The study provides unique quantitative evidence in a nationally representative framework in an African country that returns to seed certification systems in the current setting significantly vary depending on contexts, including agroclimatic conditions.
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spelling CGSpace1728622025-12-09T14:58:10Z Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data Takeshima, Hiroyuki Ragasa, Catherine Bamiwuye, Temilolu Andam, Kwaw S. Spielman, David J. Edeh, Hyacinth O. Fasoranti, Adetunji Haile, Beliyou Nwagboso, Chibuzo Omoigui, Lucky O. Abdoulaye, Tahirou Kumar, P. Lava Wossen, Tesfamicheal seed certification seeds yields data agricultural productivity spatial data surveys CONTEXT Despite the importance of enhanced seed quality to agricultural productivity growth, evidence remains scarce regarding the nature and possible drivers of returns to formal sector quality assurance systems, including certified seeds production in countries like Nigeria that focus significantly on the formal-sector seed systems. OBJECTIVE This study narrows this knowledge gap by estimating the effect of the quantity of certified seeds produced and the spatial variations where they are produced on the use of certified seeds and yields. We also assess the yield effects of certified seeds use and their relationship with agroclimatic and socioeconomic conditions. METHODS We combine nationally-representative farm-household survey panel data with spatial data on the headquarters locations of seed companies, the quantity of certified seeds for maize, cowpea, and rice that they produce, and spatially explicit agroecological data. We apply panel fixed effects methods as well as instrumental-variable methods to address potential endogeneity associated with certified seeds use while also controlling for the use of improved varieties to separate their effects from the effects of certified seeds. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the availability of certified seeds—captured by indicators of certified seeds produced by seed companies headquartered in the states of survey respondents—is associated with positive but declining marginal effects on certified seeds use and yields. These results are robust when we also consider the potential within-state heterogeneity in the proximity to seed company headquarters, as well as potential spillovers from the nearest adjacent states. The yield effects of certified seeds are heterogeneous and depend on agroclimatic conditions and farmers' socioeconomic characteristics. The use of certified seeds is somewhat higher in areas with higher yield effects after controlling for certified seeds production. These patterns partly lead to observed non-linearities in certified seeds use because certified seeds may be more likely to be used by farmers with higher expected returns than farmers with lower expected returns. These results underscore the importance of spatially targeted efforts in enhancing certified seeds production capacity, together with the exploration of intermediate quality standards in the short term where costs of seed certification are high relative to returns. SIGNIFICANCE The study provides unique quantitative evidence in a nationally representative framework in an African country that returns to seed certification systems in the current setting significantly vary depending on contexts, including agroclimatic conditions. 2025-03 2025-02-06T13:36:43Z 2025-02-06T13:36:43Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172862 en https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136474 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.137014 https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/optimizing-seed-certification-can-boost-sustainable-agriculture-the-case-of-nigeria/ Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Ragasa, Catherine; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Andam, Kwaw S.; Spielman, David J.; Edeh, Hyacinth O.; Fasoranti, Adetunji; Haile, Beliyou; et al. 2025. Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data. Agricultural Systems 224(March 2025): 104268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104268
spellingShingle seed certification
seeds
yields
data
agricultural productivity
spatial data
surveys
Takeshima, Hiroyuki
Ragasa, Catherine
Bamiwuye, Temilolu
Andam, Kwaw S.
Spielman, David J.
Edeh, Hyacinth O.
Fasoranti, Adetunji
Haile, Beliyou
Nwagboso, Chibuzo
Omoigui, Lucky O.
Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Kumar, P. Lava
Wossen, Tesfamicheal
Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data
title Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data
title_full Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data
title_fullStr Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data
title_full_unstemmed Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data
title_short Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data
title_sort seed certification certified seeds use and yield outcomes in nigeria insights from nationally representative farm panel data and seed company location data
topic seed certification
seeds
yields
data
agricultural productivity
spatial data
surveys
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172862
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