ICRISAT’s Seed Systems Models and Lessons Learned booklet explains the rationale of ICRISAT’s work on seed systems in the drylands, the different approaches and their impact on the ground. Improving farmers’ access to improved seeds in the drylands is seen as a cost-effective strategy to improve farm productivity and food security. Different models of seed systems are tested and developed by ICRISAT and its development partners in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia depending on the local context. It includes small seed packets, groundnut seed revolving fund in Malawi, support to community-based systems, farmer seed organizations or local seed ventures, and public private seed partnerships like the Hybrid Parents Research Consortium for pearl millet and sorghum in India. ICRISAT’s vision on seed systems is demand-driven, holistic and working in partnership, along the crop value chain.

1. SYSTEMS
Better seeds, better lives for dryland smallholder farmers
MODELS & LESSONS LEARNED

2. Better seeds will fill the yield gap
Smallholder farmers have relatively low crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, as they face multiple
challenges from poor soils, numerous pests and plant diseases, drought and other climate shocks. A major issue
often cited by farmers is the poor quality of seeds.
For the millions of smallholder dryland farmers who rely on rainfed farming, improved seeds are one of the most cost-
effective ways to enhance their yields, food security and livelihoods.
ICRISAT research has developed many improved varieties that can provide higher and more stable yields, drought
tolerance, pest resistance and other traits preferred by farmers and markets (color, grain size).
If farmers can get the right improved seeds, associated with the right farming practices, the impact could be huge.
2
Poor soils
Poor seeds
Drought
Climate shock
Pests
Plant diseases
Poor yields
70-year-old local variety replaced by drought-tolerant multipurpose variety6
.
ICGV 91114
groundnut
Potential impact at scale
+ $500M by 2020YIELD Fodder Milk
+15% +17% +11%
Average yield1
kg/ha
Chickpea
Pigeonpea
Groundnut
Sorghum
Millets
Yield Gap of Dryland Crops
Yield potential2,3,4&5
937 1,400-2,000
4,000
2,000-5,000
3,200-3,500
4,000-7,000
688
1212
932
876
Andhra Pradesh,
India
released in 2006

3. Low adoption for dryland cereals and grain legumes Contrasted situation
3
Adoption levels of improved sorghum varieties9
90
20
35
22
17
8
India, rainy season
India, postrainy season
Zambia
Nigeria
Sudan
Ethiopia<20% land in
Africa planted with
improved varieties7
Low seed
replacement ratio8
Low attraction for
commercial seed sector
From lab to plate: demand-driven seed
roadmap
The seed dilemma: How to reach smallholder farmers
Developing improved seeds is a complex
research-and-development process. Seeds
should be accessible in time, affordable and
meet the true needs of farmers and markets.
ICRISAT works with national research partners,
farmers, public and private organizations and
non-governmental organizations along the seed
value chain to develop and produce seeds from
breeder to quality controlled seeds.
Timing is key. A year can be lost if farmers get
seeds too late for sowing. Mobile technologies
help plan and track seed production at all
stages, along the seed supply chain.
Breeder
Seed
Foundation
Seed
Certified
Seed
Seed organization
Farmer
Market demand
R&D
Participatory varietal selection
Official release
Seed Chain
10-15%
max
(%areaplanted)

4. 4
Agro dealers
SEED
Seed systems are diverse but most smallholder farmers get seeds from local,
informal channels
55%
seeds paid for by cash10
Yet, with the right policies, investments and incentives in place, things can move quickly so that farmers can get
access to better seeds.
Cultivation
Planting
Harvesting
Storage
Consumption
Formal systems (10%)
Informal systems (90%)
Farmer
Other local
systems
Small farmers do invest in seeds
Own stock
Govt seed
program
Seed aid
Local
market
Farmers’
exchange >30% farmers
access new varieties in last 5 years11

5. Adapting seed demand to smalIhoIders’ needs: Small seed packets
Providing affordable small seed packets (SSP) for as little as the
cost of a cup of tea motivates thousands of farmers to
experiment with new varieties at minimal risk. Improved seeds
are packed in 100 to 500 g bags, which allows testing of the
variety over a 100 m2
plot. SSP have informative labels in local
languages and contact information of the seed producer.
Reaching the last mile: SSP have high transaction costs for
farmer organizations or seed ventures. In remote, difficult to
access areas, alternative marketing channels should be
explored – mobile seed shops, seed fairs, schools, farmer field
schools, partnerships with retail networks, etc. The closer the
input source (<5 km) to the farm the better, especially for
women farmers.
Seed watersheds: Mapping farmers’ access to seed outlets
using GIS and mobile applications will improve marketing
strategies of agro dealers and development practitioners.
Total distributed
2.16 million SSP
(50 g - 25 kg)
Malawi (groundnut)
839,500 SSP
IMPACT
Small seed packets could play big role
in Africa’s battle against drought12
Tropical Legumes II project 2007-201413
Potential outreach via SSP
44.5 million farmers
281,000 farmers
undertook improved
variety trials
Groundnut Cowpea Chickpea Pigeonpea SoyabeanCommon Bean
5
$9 return per $ invested

6. Supporting small seed organizations
to become viable
ICRISAT assists farmer organizations in sub-Saharan Africa and
South Asia to manage complex seed production and gradually
become successful seed ventures.
Jigi Seme cooperative in Mali now produces sorghum hybrid
seeds with yields 40% higher than the farmers’ best local variety.
Sorghum hybrids
in Mali
$1 invested $39net benefits17
Local Hybrid
Local
68 Farmer fields
Grainyields(100kgbags/ha)
8.8
12.4
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
7.8
10.6
Pablo
Local
7.7
10.8
Pablo
Local
Sewa
58 Farmer fields 42 Farmer fields
Yields > 40% over local variety16
“If you have good seeds, you will be ahead of the game”
– Souleman Ballo, President of Jigi Seme (Mali)
Linking seed and inputs systems
Better seeds alone are not necessarily the
shortest route to impact
Soil fertility is often the biggest constraint for
drylands farmers, especially in sub-Saharan
Africa. Impact is greater when seed access is
paired with appropriate fertilization. Farmers
need seed and inputs systems.
Comparison of maize field trials in Zimbabwe
(x1,000 paired plots)14
.
The warrantage system15
tested in Mali, Niger
and Burkina Faso helps farmers sell their
produce at better prices and access credit to
buy better seeds and fertilizer to practise
microdosing.
Yields Incomes44–120% 19–113%
6
2000
Kg/ha
1500
1000
500
0
Recycled
seed
OPV
seed
OPV seed
+17kg N
Hybrid seed
+17kg N
Hybrid
seed

7. Transforming farmer groups into village seed enterprises in Andhra Pradesh, India
7
In Andhra Pradesh, India, under the Rythu Kosam initiative, a consortium aims to set up 1,000 village seed enterprises
that could supply the state seed sector with quality seeds for crops and regions where private seed companies are not
present. Already, impact is huge on the ground18
.
Baseline ICRISAT
State Agriculture
University
DoA
SERP/NABARD
18 NGOs/FPOs/
KVKs
AP Seed
Certification
Agency
AP State
Seed Development
Corporation
10,000ha of
learning sites per
district
4,891farmers
Target: 1000 FPOs
C O N S O R T I U M
Holistic approach
Optimum fertilization following
tailored recommendations
Soil
health card
15-20 members
gender balanced
Choice of improved varieties supply
Training/demo on soil/water
management practices e.g. BBF,
Gliricidia, etc.
Buyback
+20%
premium
Field controls
(isolation distance,
purity, etc.)
Farmer Interest
Group Seed
processing
+
storage
State seed
subsidy scheme
Breeder
seeds
May save for
next season
with capacity
building
IMPACT
Expected to improve
state seed subsidy
supply
Groundnut yields fromViable village
seed enterprise
+20%
+20%
Better seeds
Better agro practices 1,300 kg/acre850
FPO - Farmer Producer Organization; PVS - Participatory Variety Selection; BBF - Broad Bed and Furrow; KVK - Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Extension Services); DoA - Dept of
Agriculture; SERP - Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty; NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
Soil
testing
Gender-inclusive
PVS
A
B
C
Government of Andhra Pradesh

8. 8
Community-based seed organizations spread seed impact fast
One village-one variety: Pigeonpea in Odisha rainfed dryland systems19
In rainfed pigeonpea farming systems like in the Odisha uplands in India, farmers
rarely have access to improved seeds. Due to pigeonpea’s high outcrossing
pollination, ICRISAT encourages seed producers within the same community to grow
the same improved variety. Women self-help groups were trained to produce
quality seeds, which were sold as truthfully labelled seeds to other women farmers,
at affordable prices. As well as generating incomes, impact on yields was rapid.
Farmers
ICRISAT
breeder
seeds
Training
days
FS
di
F1 F2
F3
di di
Farmer Seed
Producers
Group / School
di = 200 m (OPV)
CS: Certified Seeds
TLS: Truthfully Labelled Seeds
FS: Foundation Seeds
di: Isolation distance
di = 500 m (hybrid)
Isolation
Purity
Germination
State
Seed
Corp
Buyback
contract
Certification
agency
Local
landrace
@ 400/500 kg/ha
Farmers’
exchange at
local market
Outcrossing
CS
TLS
Choice of
new variety
Participatory
selection trial
X 10
Local
A B
C
Yield
Seed size
Pest resistance
Taste
Seed color
30-50%
NGO
2-3%
Seed replacement Department
of Agriculture
and Food
Production
IMPACT
Yields
Incomes
Farmers benefited
Net ROI: $1: $7
>37%
x2
43,354

9. Seed Revolving
Fund
9
How access to better chickpea seeds transformed the
fate of some Ethiopian farmers
Chickpea production in Ethiopia is dominated by the informal
seed sector, as public seed enterprises mainly focus on
cereals, despite a vibrant pulses market. ICRISAT trained six
community seed producer associations to become major
national suppliers of chickpea and lentil seeds of improved
varieties selected for their pest resistance (Ascochyta blight)
and yield potential. Chickpea productivity was boosted from
890 kg/ha in 1999 to 1,930 kg/ha in 201613
.
ICRISAT
Training
Quality
Seeds
Farmer Club 1
10-15 members
Pay back x2
Best seed
producers
Seed replacement
QS QS
Village
Seed storage
Replication
by NGOs
174
seed banks
120 ton QDS
produced per year
48,000 farmers
benefited
Farmer
Club 2
Farmer
Club 3
3000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2016
6500
11,280
13,450
16,874
48,000
Beneficiaries of Community Seed Banks
47% of them
women
IMPACT
Every 3
seasons
Village seed banks in Malawi20
Ethiopian farmers test chickpeas
in pictures21

10. The Seed Revolving Fund (SRF) was established in 1999 initially to provide high-quality foundation seeds of improved
varieties in a sustainable manner and at a reasonable cost, starting with groundnut. From 2008, SRF moved into certified
seed production to supply to the Malawi Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (FISP).
How it works: Central to the SRF are the seed-producing clubs of 10-15 smallholder farmers trained in seed production,
management and group dynamics. These clubs are contracted by the SRF to produce foundation seeds which are bought
back at agreed prices. Individual larger farmers can also become seed suppliers of SRF. Foundation seeds are then sold to
local seed ventures for multiplication. Their seeds,
which are certified by the Seed Services Unit, are sold
under the Malawi Seed Alliance (MASA) brand,
through private input shops or tenders from the State
Seed Agency to supply FISP.
The MASA consortium makes the key decisions on
variety choice based on market needs, seed quantity,
coverage strategy, seed quality assurance system, and
seed pricing for SRF sustainability. This seed system is
now able to cover warehouse worker wages, packaging
and seed transportation, and engages more smallholder
farmers every year.
As it scales up, the seed fund is diversifying into other
crops (pigeonpea, rice) and SRF management is
gradually shifting to MASA as local seed ventures get
more involved, seeing the value for money in producing
quality legume seeds.
Groundnut Seed Revolving Fund in Malawi22&23
10
Projected return forNo of seed producers:
235 (2008) 1736 (2012) 45% are female
IMPACT next 5 years – $14 for
each $ invested

11. 11
Groundnut Revolving Fund Malawi
ICRISAT/NARS
Development &
supply breeder
seeds
Identify seed producers
Seed costing
Seed
producers’ club
Seed Services UnitSeed growers
Individual seed
producer
Malawi Seed Alliance (MASA)
2kg CS
Warehousing
Credit
FS
State Farm Input Subsidy
Program (FISP)
ICRISAT, NARS, Seed traders Association of Malawi (STAM)
New variety
O.4 ha/producer
O.3 ha/producer
Seed
quality
control
Sale to localseed companies
FS – Foundation Seeds
CS – Certified Seeds
BS – Breeder SeedsCost recovery to reach new farmers
Seed Store
Agro Dealer
MASA
brand
Breeder
Seeds
Multiplication
MASA
Brand
FS CS
FS

12. Helping local seed ventures grow
Local private seed ventures like Maïmouna Coulibaly’s Faso
Kaba company in Mali can play a big role in scaling up
adoption of improved varieties by dryland farmers. ICRISAT
helps local seed ventures grow through seed management
training, supply of foundation seeds, linkages with smallholder
seed growers or marketing research testing alternative retail
strategies like small seed packets.
12
ICRISAT’s Agri-Business Incubation program has
supported many rural entrepreneurs in India and
Africa to establish successful seed ventures.
In Tamil Nadu, for instance, 25 farmers formed the
Kazhi Kadaimadai Farmers’ Federation Thiruvengadu
(KKFF) and were trained by ICRISAT in seed
production. Now they have registered their own
Pudhan brand of seeds. Additional income for each
member is about `5,000–7,000 (about $100) per acre
and the number of seed producers has grown from
25 to 900.
In her own words: a Malian seed
entrepreneur is given the tools to grow24
Ms Coulibaly, Founder of Faso Kaba, the first woman seed
entrepreneur in Mali in one of her shops. Laureate of the
African Food Prize, 2017.
2014
Seed production area (ha)
increased from 15 to 100
300 tonnes of seed
produced and sold annually
` 12,500 – 17,500/ha
additional income/farmer
KKFF’S GROWTH LINE25
2006
2008
2009
Post-tsunami
rehabilitation program
Nagapattinam area
Seed business program
Collaborated with ICRISAT
PUDHAN
seed processing plant
Mullayapattinam village
in Nagapattinam
increased from 25 to 900
900 KKFF members
Seed business incubation
` 0.6 million
(US$ 9,826)
` 12 million
(US$ 200,000)
annual turnovernet revenue annual turnover

13. 13
Bridging public and private seed sectors
Postrainy (Rabi) sorghum consortium in
ICRISAT SAUs1
SSCA2Pvt. and Public
sector companies
Seed consortium
Selection of villages Supply foundation seed
of farmers
Monitoring seed production
plots of farmers
Seed quality and
certification
Seed buy-back agreement
with farmers
Seed processing, seed
quality and storage
Seed brand and marketing
Selection of farmer
groups
Farmers participatory
selection of varieties
Capacity building in seed
production practices
Production and supply of
breeder & foundation seed
Technical backstopping
(quality aspects)
5 years
>41,000 farmers
benefited directly
300,000 farms
benefited via
secondary diffusion
IMPACT
IMPACT
Milk production
DoA
Higher yield over
local varietiesHybrid varieties
39% 29% 36-41%
Stover yield
Pearl Millet Hybrid Parents Research
Consortium (2000 onwards)27
A way for private sector to invest more
in dryland cereals
Each private seed company member of the
consortium provides an annual grant for a 5-year
period for public pearl millet research. Any
outcome like a new parental line is international
public goods, freely accessible to the public sector
and any consortium member. Non-members can
access it in exchange for an agreed one-time fee.
A similar public-private partnership exists for
sorghum hybrid research, which is now extended
to Eastern and Southern Africa.
1st
public-private
partnership within CGIAR
24 private
seed companies
5 million ha
planted with
improved hybrids
60
40
Chart Title
1 2
60%40%
ICRISATOthers
parental lines
6 million households reached
1980 2007: 67% in pearl millet yield
1
State Agricultural University; 2
State Seed Certification Agency

14. 14
Integrated seed sector development for faster, sustainable impact
ICRISAT-National Agricultural Research Systems
Variety Selection
& Release
ICRISAT Kenya
20 elite
genotypes
NARS
on-station
trials
A B C
Farmer
Best bet
varieties
National
pest trials
Release
Agronomic Package
Intercropping Fertilizer
application rate
Integrated value chain approach – Groundnut
& Pigeonpea IFAD Project, Tanzania/Uganda
Demo
plot 1
Demo
plot 2
F2 F3
3 best-performing varieties
for next season
PVS on-farm trials
ICRISAT Malawi
Feedback
Farmer Groups
Seed Companies
Selection of Seed
Producers + Training
Seed Production Quality Control
Certification
Dissemination/
Marketing
Value Chain
Performance
Certification
Body
Market
Create Demand for Better Seeds
Stakeholders
Market info
Knowledge
Mapping
Seed Fairs
Awareness ProgramSafe Production
Safe Storage
Farmers Group
One Village - One Seed System
Local Seed
Business
Group
QDS
or
CS
Feedback market pref. + Identify bottlenecks e.g.
better aflatoxin control
Seed
Companies
Public Procurement
Development Initiatives
Market
Linkages
Dev programs
AGRA, ISSD, TLIII
Grain Traders
Multi-stakeholder
Platforms
Seed Bank
Private and public, informal and formal seed
systems should cohabit if we want to reach out to
millions of small farmers in the drylands.
A conducive seed policy environment has to
Lake Zone, Southern Tanzania:
yield compared to national average
IMPACT28
880 kg/ha
1232-1493 kg/ha 45-70%
facilitate the development of complementary seed channels both local, community based, and more formal seed
organizations so that the seed industry is inclusive and responds to the needs of small farmers too.

15. 15
Seed quality control: Building seed trust in a cost-effective way
Quality control is key to ensure seeds will be of certain quality standards (purity, germination) and deliver what farmers
pay for, in terms of yield, grain quality and other traits. Quality control has a cost and a formal certification scheme may
impede the development of local seed organizations. ICRISAT advises farmers and seed organizations on the most
appropriate quality insurance system depending on crops, country and maturity of seed markets. Community-based seed
systems may follow less stringent rules, more adapted to smallholder seed growers like the Quality Declared Seed system
in Tanzania, or Truthfully Labelled Seeds in India.
In Malawi, to support the seed certification agency, ICRISAT has trained barefoot seed inspectors. A mobile application
for seed quality control is being developed to improve transparency and lower the cost of seed certification29
.
FS
bag
Farmer
Central
database
FS bag with
unique id
Seed company
Seed Certification App (under development)
Seed Inspector
Cross check QR
Inspection checklist
Training
<Village>
<Variety>
<Sowing date>
Inspection
166 seed
para inspectors trained
Capacity-building
6000 ha inspected
(40% seed prod area in 2016/17)
Schedule visit
Date SI visit
Certification

16. 16
Gender-sensitive seed systems31
Women have a traditional role as the household ‘seed
security’ guardian, especially for grain legumes and
millets, saving own seeds each season.
Women’s social networks are important to maintain
biodiversity and introduce new varieties.
They buy seeds, mostly from local markets where grain is
converted into seeds. Only 7-9% of seed is obtained from
the formal systems that supply improved legumes and
cereals seeds.
More equitable access of both men and women to
resources, information and decision-making is critical for
the success of any seed system. ICRISAT is particular that
seed systems are gender-sensitive in many ways; e.g. by
ensuring women’s participation in farmers’ variety
selection of all ICRISAT breeding programs, so that they
learn the benefits of using improved legume and dryland
cereal seeds.
Changing women’s lives with groundnut seeds: Mary
Kumwenda’s story in Malawi32
Farm laborer and
47% women in seed
producer clubs in Malawi
Women farmers’
network
“With the seed sales I was able to
start a small fritter business. I also
bought some fertilizer for my maize
field. The seed incomes kept my
family food secure throughout the
year, and we will soon move from
our small thatch hut to my dream
house, with concrete floor and solid
iron sheet roof.”
Ms Mary Kumwenda, 2017.
mother of three, Mary
joined Madede seed
growers club in
Mzimba District of
Malawi in 2012, where
she was trained in
groundnut seed
production and she
got 20 kg groundnut
breeder seeds for
multiplication. She
harvested 222 kg of
basic seed and made a
profit of MK 78,000
(about US$107).The
next year, she doubled
the area and tripled
the seed production
thanks to good rains.
She made a profit of MK 321,000 – 1.5 times the national
average income. The proceeds from her seed activity
helped Mary rethink her farming system to be more
profitable. She now feels more food secure for herself and
her children and has gained a sense of entrepreneurship.
Women at the center of improved legumes and cereals seed systems
Project: Malawi Seed Industry
Development Project30
48%
Own saved seed
27-64% 7-9%
Local
markets Formal
systems
Seed
purchase

17. Shaping the future of seeds Build sustainable and impactful seed
partnerships
Nutrition-focused seed systems
Novel (molecular, digital) tools for more effective seed systems
17
To improve children’s
nutrition in
Bangladesh33
,
nutritive peanut-
based bars, spreads
and cookies were
distributed in
schools. This
followed discussions
with food companies
leading to the
selection of desirable
traits like bold kernel
and high oleic acid
content for better shelf life.
Contract farming, where the processing industry arranges the supply of the
improved variety seeds to the farmers, and later buys their groundnut
production at agreed prices, ensures sustainable quality along the value
chain, with rapid positive nutrition impact.
Track adoption of improved varieties using DNA tracers
to assess precisely the impact of crop improvement
programs at farmgate.
Mobile App to better inform farmers: What to sow? (Sowing App),
where to buy?
Transparent, cost-effective quality control: Traceability App
Planning and tracking seed production: Digital Seed Roadmap
ICRISAT works along the value chain, as
farmers will only grow seeds that are in
demand by farmers and the food
industry. In Kenya, we collaborate with
millet processors to create new finger
millet products.
We ensure that dryland cereals and grain
legumes are taken into account in major
seed development initiatives.
Scaling Seeds and Technologies
Partnership
AGRA PASS Program for
Africa’s Seed Systems

18. Su
stainable Intensification
ICRISAT’s vision on seed systems: demand-driven, holistic and in partnership
ICRISAT aims at building, with partners across crop value chains, inclusive and sustainable seed systems that provide
dryland small farmers with sufficient quantity of high quality seeds, at the right time and right place, at reasonable costs.
ValueChainApproach
Start with the demand
Seeds
Access
Quality
Seeds
Inclusive
seed
system
Foundation
Access
Breeder
Seeds
Integrat
ing Social & Gender Dim
ensions
Use
appropriate
farm
practices
Processing
& storage
quality
Develop
viable seed
business
models
CBS
FPO
Seed
ventures
incubation
Digital
seed
revolution
Seed
policies &
institutions
Multi
location
trials
Creating
seed
demand
Proven
improvement
vs Local
varieties
Seed
security
resilience
Food
Feed
Maintain
biodiversity Fit with
farming
system
Adapted
to local
environment
& needs
Participatory
plant
breeding
Participatory
variety
selection
Analyzing
key issues &
opportunities
M&E
Local
changes
Farm:
now & in
future
Consumer
Farmer
Marketplace
Nutrition
Bio-
fortification
SSP
Seed
fair
18

19. 19
References
(1) FAO Stat 2013. Low income Food Deficit countries, average crop yields,
retrieved May 2016.
(2) Clerget and Traore, ICRISAT, Pearl millet/sorghum yield potential, PROMISO
project report.
(3) J. Koo, 2011. Harvestchoice, groundnut rainfed yield potential high inputs in
sub-Saharan Africa.
(4) Kumar RV, Saxena and Kumar P, 2012. Success Stories of Hybrid Pigeonpea in
India, ICRISAT; weblink: http://oar.icrisat.org/7176/
(5) P. Gaur, ICRISAT, 2017. Personal communication on chickpea yield potential.
(6) Birthal PS et al, 2011. Economic Assessment of the potential benefits of
drought-tolerance crop breeding: a case of groundnuts in India, ICRISAT
Research bulletin 25; weblink: http://oar.icrisat.org/285/
(7) CABI, 2014. The Good Seed initiative, CABI seed systems strategy 2014-2019;
weblink: http://www.cabi.org/Uploads/seed%20(1).pdf
(8) SameerKumar, ICRISAT, August 2017. Personal communication.
(9) Ashok Kumar et al, 2016.
Innovative seed consortium strengthening the postrainy sorghum seed
systems in India ; weblink: http://oar.icrisat.org/9341/
(10) Monyo ES and Varshney RK, 2016. Seven seasons of learning and engaging
smallholder farmers in the drought-prone areas of sub-Saharan Africa and
South Asia through Tropical Legumes; weblink: http://oar.icrisat.org/9635/
(11) Alina Paul-Bossuet, the Guardian August 2011. Small seed packets could play
big role in Africa’s battle against drought; weblink: https://www.theguardian.
com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/aug/29/seeds-role-africa-
farmers-drought
(12) Mc Guire S and Sperling L, 2016. Seed Systems smallholder farmers use, L.
Food Sec. 8: 179. ; weblink: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-015-0528-8
(13) Kizito Mazvimavi, Conrad Murendo and Pauline Chivenge, 2016. The
impacts of the El Niño-induced drought on seed security in Southern Africa:
implications for humanitarian response and food security (ICRISAT, FAO).
Internal report.
(14) ICRISAT Briefing Note 1, 2006. Achieving Sustained Gains in the Food
Security of Vulnerable Households.
(15) Warrantage leverages gains from microdosing impact booklet, 2015; weblink:
http://www.icrisat.org/wp-content/uploads/Fertilizer-Flyer3_Final.pdf
(16) Rattunde et al, 2013. Yield of Photoperiod-sensitive Sorghum Hybrids
Based on Guinea-race Germplasm under Farmers’ Field Conditions in Mali;
weblink: http://oar.icrisat.org/7160/
(17) Anja Christinck et al, 2014. Mc Knight Foundation, Innovations in seed
systems: Lessons from the CCRP-funded Project “Sustaining Farmer-
Managed Seed Initiatives in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso” ;
weblink: https://www.mcknight.org/system/asset/document/850/
original/CCRP_SeedSystems_Nov2014.pdf
(18) Andhra Pradesh Rythu Kosam Agricultural Transformation in Andhra
Pradesh: Equitable, Scientific, Prosperous and Climate Smart for Primary
Sector Mission, 2015. ICRISAT Progress Report; weblink: http://idc.icrisat.
org/index.php/raithu-kosam-andhra-pradesh-primary-sector-mission/
(19) Mula MG, Sameer Kumar and Das Saroj, 2015. Introduction and Expansion of
improved pigeonpea production technologies in rainfed upland ecosystems of
Odisha 2011-2015 Final report; weblink: http://oar.icrisat.org/8746/
(20) F Sichali, ICRISAT, 2017. Personal communication on Malawi village seed banks.
(21) Alina Paul-Bossuet, the Guardian, 2012. Ethiopian farmers test chickpeas;
weblink: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2012/
mar/02/ethiopia-farmers-test-chickpeas-in-pictures
(22) ICRISAT, 2013. Impact study Groundnut Seed Revolving Fund.
(23) P. Okori and F. Sichali, August 2017. Personal communication.
(24) Coulibaly M., March 2012. A Malian entrepreneur is given the tools to grow,
USAID’s Impact blog; weblink: https://blog.usaid.gov/2012/03/in-her-own-
words-a-malian-entrepreneur-is-given-the-tools-to-grow/
(25) KKFF’s growth line, retrieved from ICRISAT’s Agribusiness Incubation (ABI)’s
website; weblink: http://www.aipicrisat.org/using-agribusiness-incubators-
to-develop-seed-entrepreneurs/
(26) A Ashok Kumar et al, 2016. Innovative Seed Consortium Strengthening
the Postrainy Sorghum Seed Systems in India; weblink: http://oar.icrisat.
org/9341/1/Seed_27-29%20Oct%202016.pdf
(27) ICRISAT, 2012. Impact assessment of Pearl Millet Hybrid Parents Research
Consortium; more information about Hybrid Parents Research Consortium
on http://www.icrisat.org/pearl-millet/
(28) ICRISAT, 2016. Enhancing Productivity of Groundnut and Pigeonpea
Cropping Systems in Eastern Africa (IFAD), ICRISAT Project report.
(29) Nagaraji S., Sept 2017. Personal communication on seed certification App
conceptual framework.
(30) Malawi Seed Industry Development (Irish Aid), ICRISAT Project report
year 2015; weblink: http://exploreit.icrisat.org/resource_data/project_
indetail/12776
(31) Esther Njuguna- Mungai, ICRISAT, September 2017. Personal communication
on gender and seed systems.
(32) FARA, INERA and Bonn University, 2017. Status of agricultural innovations,
innovation platforms and innovations investment in Malawi, Program of
Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation (PARI); weblink: http://
research4agrinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Malawi_
InnovationStudy.pdf
(33) Peanut Based Food Supplements to Treat Malnutrition in Bangladesh, USAID
project, 2017; weblink: http://exploreit.icrisat.org/resource_data/project_
indetail/15811

20. ICRISAT-India
(Headquarters)
Patancheru, Telangana, India
icrisat@cgiar.org
ICRISAT-India Liaison Office
New Delhi, India
ICRISAT-Nigeria
Kano, Nigeria
icrisat-kano@cgiar.org
ICRISAT-Malawi
Lilongwe, Malawi
icrisat-malawi@cgiar.org
ICRISAT-Mozambique
Maputo, Mozambique
icrisatmoz@panintra.com
ICRISAT-Niger
Niamey, Niger
icrisatsc@cgiar.org
ICRISAT-Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
icrisat-addis@cgiar.org
ICRISAT works in agricultural
research for development across
the drylands of Africa and Asia,
making farming profitable for
smallholder farmers while reducing
malnutrition and environmental
degradation.
We work across the entire value
chain from developing new varieties
to agri-business and linking farmers
to markets.
ICRISAT appreciates the support of CGIAR investors to help overcome poverty, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the harshest
dryland regions of the world. See http://www.icrisat.org/icrisat-donors.htm for full list of donors.
About ICRISAT: www.icrisat.org ICRISAT’s scientific information: EXPLOREit.icrisat.org
ICRISAT-Mali
(Regional hub WCA)
Bamako, Mali
icrisat-w-mali@cgiar.org
ICRISAT-Zimbabwe
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
icrisatzw@cgiar.org
ICRISAT-Kenya
(Regional hub ESA)
Nairobi, Kenya
icrisat-nairobi@cgiar.org
/ICRISAT /ICRISAT /ICRISATco
/company/
ICRISAT
/PHOTOS/
ICRISATIMAGES /ICRISATSMCO
Sep-2017
We believe all people have a right to nutritious food and a better livelihood.
Conception: Jerome Bossuet
Design: Meeravali SK and Rajani Kumar