Partnerships for efficient quality seed production and variety dissemination Saidu Bah Seed & Seed Systems Expert The Africa Rice Center TAAT Rice Compact Launch and Knowledge Sharing Workshop 6 - 7 September 2018 M’be, Bouake Cote d’Ivoire

1. Partnerships for efficient quality seed production
and variety dissemination
Saidu Bah
Seed & Seed Systems Expert
Africa Rice Center
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

2. Context
• Over the years AfricaRice has developed varieties that are better adapted to prevailing biotic and abiotic
stresses
• These varieties have contributed to increased productivity and wellbeing of rice farmers
• Despite varieties having been released across Africa, many farmers are yet to get access to these varieties
• Old varieties (average age about 20 years) predominate in farmers’ field. Need for varietal replacement plan
• Exposed to negative effects of climate change and new diseases
• Weak seed systems have contributed to the slow delivery of improved varieties to especially small
scale farmers
• Inadequate infrastructure
• Limited involvement of private sector SMEs
• Meeting seed demand of these varieties by both AfricaRice and NARS partners has become a perennial
bottleneck
• Note: quality seed serves as a bridging tool in technology transfer
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

3. Seed production and delivery
Objective
• Make available breeder seeds of improved varieties in member countries on a
sustainable basis.
• Build the capacity of the seed value chain stakeholders in the production and
distribution of quality seed of improved rice varieties, to enhance the productivity
and competitiveness of the rice value chain in sub-Saharan Africa
Technical skills
Business skills – led by Agri-business especially SMEs
• Enable the production of breeder and foundation rice seed in partnership with seed
enterprises SMEs and companies and national seed systems and, to further
produce certified and or quality declared seed for commercialization among
smallholders and commercial farms
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

4. Implementation and structure
• Centralized breeder seed production in Mbe with a resident LMM and SSC within the RSSU
• Strong collaboration between RSSU and GDI Program and BTF
• As outlined in the new operational plan of the GDI Program
• 100% genetic purity of nucleus seed of newly released varieties along with descriptors and passport
data handed to LMM
• Multiplication by LMM to produce breeder seed – G0 to G3
• RSD seed experts/NARS partner receive pure breeder seed from LMM for further multiplication in
partnership with scaling partners (both public and private – including SMEs)
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

5. Linkage between RSD and GDI programs
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018
Nucleus
Seed
Line
development
Varietal Release
(by Country)
LMM
Line Maintenance &
Multiplication
Manager
Breeder has to
keep the Nucleus
Seed (for 3 years)
Breeder
Seed
Breeding Programs
National Seed Sectors
(facilitated by RSD seed experts)
Foundation
Seed
Certified
Seed
Rice Farmers
GRU
for storage
Demonstration
Trials
RBTT
ARICA
nomination
Seed production
Source: Rice varietal development and delivery at AfricaRice – A new operational plan

6. Implementation and structure
• Partnership with other stakeholders – national, regional, etc.
• Seed multiplication should be based on real or anticipated market demand
– Seed roadmap per variety and where possible per country
• Expand partnership in countries to include not only NARIs but also
– NARES, SMEs, NSS (certification & QC), farmer groups
• An independent seed service unit with adequate facilities and resources
– Established position within AfricaRice with clearly defined role
• Effective coordination of seed production and delivery
• Encourage national systems to accept competent SMEs to engage in breeder seed
production
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

7. Implementation and structure
 Decisions to disseminate must be based on solid data backing the superiority of
candidate variety to existing varieties in extensive on-farm testing and market evaluation
 Dissemination plan with detailed activities and also indicating partners with
defined roles should be developed
 Need to identify which variety should be replaced and then define a variety withdrawal
plan – product life cycle management
 Advancement committee established and recognized by management/Govt
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

8. Engaging the private sector
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

9. TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

10. Core functions – RSSU
• Breeder seed production (seed unit)
• Foundation seed (on demand but preferably through seed enterprises / companies)
• Certified seed / quality declared seed – seed enterprises / companies & farmer seed
entrepreneurs
• Technical training – skills; and business skills capacity building and information and knowledge
sharing
• Demonstration and promotion of elite varieties with primarily private companies / SME seed
entrepreneurs but also extension and research
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

11. Core functions – RSSU
• Facilitate development of market information systems
• Proactively and innovatively support seed entrepreneurs in market intelligence
• Provide technical support to national seed programs in developing seed roadmaps
• Support compliance in collaboration with seed exchange regulations
• Monitor and track seed quantities and area covered through seed enterprises
• Support IPR dialogue / negotiations
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

12. Expected outputs
Seed production
• At least 60 tons of breeder seed of 10 AfricaRice elite varieties produced and/or
maintained annually
• 300 tons of foundation seed of popular and improved rice varieties are produced with
seed enterprises
• Follow-up / monitoring on countries on area covered by the varieties produced
Capacity building and information and knowledge sharing
• Data base and information sharing tools / ICT on seed availability and access established
• Demonstration and promotion of improved varieties with seed enterprises and use of
quality rice seed is increased
• Skills of farmers, national seed programs and seed entrepreneurs to produce quality rice
seed enhanced
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

13. Seed roadmaps and variety
out-scaling
The case of Nigeria
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

14. Seed production – Nigeria – 2017/18
Country Nigeria
Variety
Seed production Variety to be replaced Value traits over old
variety
Partners
BS (kg) FS (t) CS (t)
Ecology - IRL
!. FARO 66
500 4 FARO 52 Tolerant to Submergence NCRI/AfricaRice/NASC/MASLAH
A Seeds
2. FARO 67
500 4 FARO 60 Tolerant to Submergence NCRI/AfricaRice/NASC/MASLAH
A Seeds
Ecology - RLL
1. FARO 61
500 4 FARO 44 Grain quality NCRI/AfricaRice/NASC/MASLAH
A Seeds
2. FARO 62
500 4 FARO 37 Tolerant to Gall Midge NCRI/AfricaRice/NASC/MASLAH
A Seeds
Ecology - UPL
1. FARO 59
500 3.5 FARO 56 Grain quality/taste NCRI/AfricaRice/NASC/MASLAH
A Seeds
1. FARO 63
500 3.5 FARO 46 High yield potential NCRI/AfricaRice/NASC/MASLAH
A Seeds
2. FARO 64
500 3.5 FARO 55 Grain quality/taste NCRI/AfricaRice/NASC/MASLAH
A Seeds
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

15. Variety out-scaling – Nigeria – 2017/18
Country
Variety
Value traits Number of sites Location Partners
Ecology – I/RRL
1. FARO 66
Tolerant to Submergence 5 Guzan,lafiagi, kano, kebbi,
sokoto
NCRI/AfricaRice/MASLAHA Seeds
2. FARO 67
Tolerant to Submergence 5 Kogi,zanfara,lafia, benue and
kaduna
NCRI/AfricaRice/MASLAHA Seeds
Ecology - RLL
1. FARO 61
Grain quality 4 Badeggi, Doko, Tsonga,
gwagwalada,
NCRI/AfricaRice/MASLAHA Seeds
2. FARO 62
Tolerant to Gall Midge 6 Yaba, jima, badeggi, Edozhigi,
Doko, Wushishi
NCRI/AfricaRice/MASLAHA Seeds
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

16. The way forward – Key questions
• Work to implement RSSU as outlined in the AfricaRice seed strategy to
ensure availability of adequate facilities and equipment
• Effective mechanism for working with SMEs – partnerships/funding/partnerships
• Set up a mechanism of better feedback from national partners and SMEs
• Implement the new variety demonstration and promotion plan in select
countries
TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018

17. TAAT Project Kick-Off Workshop Mbe, Bouake, 6-7 Sep 2018
Thank You!
Thank you/Merci