by Richard Jones, Program Leader, Sustainable Commercialization of Seeds in Africa (SCOSA)
Source: Electronic Newsletter of the African Seed Trade Association
Republished with the authorization from the author.

In its efforts to promote seed trade in Africa, the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) has teamed up with the program for the Sustainable Commercialization of Seeds in Africa (SCOSA) to improve the availability of foundation seed of publicly developed varieties. Significant public investments have been made to develop improved varieties but many of these never reach farmers because of poorly developed systems to maintain, produce and market foundation seed.

The success of any seed company is dependent on its ability to market something new and different than what
farmers already have. In Africa the development of small- and medium-sized seed companies has only just started, and the success of such companies will depend to a large extent on their ability to source improved varieties from the public sector.

In several countries around the world - both developed and developing - the public sector has established Foundation Seed Enterprises (FSEs) to ensure the availability of basic seed. There is considerable variation in the strategies employed for FSEs, but they are almost always entities that are separate from the public plant breeding program, with their own staff and budgetary independence.

AFSTA is launching a program to support interested stakeholders in nine Francophone Countries to develop a
strategy for improving the availability of foundation seed in their respective countries. Country teams composed of three people representing the national seed service, the national agricultural research system, and the seed trade association will be briefed on the principles underlying the development of commercial seed systems and the role that FSEs can play in supporting the development of such systems. They will then be given training in how to put together a business plan for a FSE. Following the initial workshop, the teams will then return to their countries and conduct a wider consultation with a broader range of seed stakeholders supported by AFSTA and SCOSA. Through this consultation it is expected that they will prepare a draft business plan, which will be refined and finalized at a second workshop. These business plans will then be marketed to interested development investors for financing.

The workshop will be conducted in French for the Francophone countries and in English for Anglophone countries. The first workshop for Francophone countries will be held in Bamako, Mali from 8th to 12th May 2006.

In West Africa the business plan training is being done in support of the Seed Industry Alliance being supported by USAID, which is aimed at promoting viable seed enterprises in West Africa.

Financial projections suggest that the FSEs can become self-sustaining after an initial period of support as the demand for foundation seed increases. Importantly these enterprises are expected to foster enhanced public-private partnership and to work in harmony with the public research organizations and commercial seed companies. For more information on this initiative, please contact the AFSTA Secretariat at the contact addresses given at the end of this Newsletter.

by Richard Jones
Program Leader of SCOSA
E-mail: r.jones@cgiar.org