Seed systems smallholder farmers use

McGuire, Shawn and Sperling, Louise (2016) Seed systems smallholder farmers use. Food Security, 8 (1). pp. 179-195. ISSN 1876-4517

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Abstract

Seed can be an important entry point for promoting productivity, nutrition and resilience among smallholder farmers. While investments have primarily focused on strengthening the formal sector, this article documents the degree to which the informal sector remains the core for seed acquisition, especially in Africa. Conclusions drawn from a uniquely comprehensive data set, 9660 observations across six countries and covering 40 crops, show that farmers access 90.2 % of their seed from informal systems with 50.9 % of that deriving from local markets. Further, 55 % of seed is paid for by cash, indicating that smallholders are already making important investments in this arena. Targeted interventions are proposed for rendering formal and informal seed sector more smallholder-responsive and for scaling up positive impacts.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	informal and formal seed sectors,agricultural investment,markets,smallholder,delivery,access to seed
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	09 Feb 2016 16:00
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 00:49
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/57017
DOI:	10.1007/s12571-015-0528-8

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