| Summary: | Seed systems in sub-Saharan Africa face constant challenges such as limited
access to quality seeds and low varietal turnover. Despite numerous efforts aimed
at formalizing seed markets, informal seed systems still dominate with 97% of
smallholder farmers sourcing seeds of sorghum, common beans and groundnuts
through farm-saved seed and local grain markets. Traders are deeply embedded
in these local markets and are better positioned in shaping the seed demand,
particularly among smallholders who buy grains as seeds from informal outlets.
However, in most cases traders remain disconnected from formal breeding and
seed dissemination efforts, subsequently leaving a gap between the development
of improved varieties and their adoption by farmers. This scenario perpetuates the
use of old varieties that are well known to traders, limiting potential benefits from
genetic gains. In this study, we examine the factors that could influence traders’
decisions to sell grains of improved varieties. Data from a structured survey of 976
traders in Tanzania is used. We find that traders with higher financial capacity, stable
market access, and those having strong relationships with farmers through credit
provision are more likely to sell grains of improved varieties. Similarly, we find positive
associations with switching to improved varieties among traders facing business
challenges, accessing information through channels other than social media, and
traders selling grains as seeds at sowing. In contrast, traders engaged inthe sale of
highly demanded varieties are less likely to switch to new and improved varieties.
Therefore, to spur the uptake of improved varieties, strengthening trader-farmer
linkages, integrating traders into structured procurement systems, and enhancing
trader involvement in participatory variety selection to refine existing and preferred
varieties without changing them altogether are recommended. Additionally, there is
need to strengthen business modeling programs to make grain traders’ businesses
bankable, expand information sharing and facilitate access to credit enabling them to
adequately offer technical support to the farmers they source grains from.
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