We are delighted to provide an update on the recent Inception Workshop that brought together more than forty stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the dynamics of the institutional seed market and seed subsidies. This highly anticipated event took place on Wednesday, June 21st, 2023, in Abuja.
Organized and hosted by Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, as part of its Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP) in partnership with Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI), the workshop aimed to foster meaningful conversations and collaborations surrounding the seed sector.
Objectives of the Workshop
The workshop was designed to achieve the following objectives:
- Introduce stakeholders to the Institutional Market study.
- Assess the objectives of seed procurement and dissemination among stakeholders in the seed sector.
- Evaluate the existing methods of seed procurement and dissemination in the Nigerian seed sector.
- Foster collaboration among stakeholders for a comprehensive Institutional Markets Study in the Nigerian seed sector
Key Takeaways
Speakers at the event emphasized the critical need for an effective institutional market system within the Nigerian seed sector. This system would ensure the availability of high-quality seeds at affordable prices for farmers across the country. Stakeholders expressed their strong commitment to supporting partners working towards the development of the seed sector. The workshop participants unanimously agreed that collaborative efforts among all stakeholders are crucial for establishing a robust institutional market system, which would contribute to a stronger and more efficient seed sector in Nigeria.
Insights on Institutional Markets and Concerns
During the workshop, a presentation on institutional markets in the seed sector shed light on the different types of institutional buyers and their impact on the seed system. Market distortions caused by these institutional buyers were highlighted, raising concerns about their activities within the seed sector. Issues such as the size of seed demand, ad hoc purchases, and bulk buying that may compromise package integrity were discussed extensively.
To address these concerns and enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the sector, Sahel Consulting proposed a comprehensive study on the institutional market. The study, which aims to generate recommendations, received positive feedback and support from the stakeholders present at the workshop. Their collaboration and contributions will be crucial in conducting this assessment of the Nigerian seed sector.
Focused Discussions on Seed Purchase and Dissemination
The workshop facilitated focused breakout sessions, allowing stakeholders to discuss their objectives for seed procurement and dissemination, as well as the current practices in these areas. Here are some key insights:
Government: The objectives of government stakeholders include supporting small-scale farmers’ access to improved seeds, promoting the adoption of new seed varieties, enhancing food and nutrition security, and providing palliatives to victims of disasters.
Government procurement involves contracts with seed companies and other contractors, as well as procuring Early Growth Seeds (EGS) from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and accredited seed companies. The distribution of seeds involves collaboration with various entities such as state structures, commodity associations, farmers’ cooperatives, value chain programs, and more.
Development Organizations: Organizations like EU, Harvest Plus, NIRSAL, Sasakawa, and Tomato Jos have diverse objectives, including food security, combating malnutrition, increasing productivity, and supporting farmers with input packages. Their procurement practices involve working with seed companies for demonstration and promotion, while distribution methods range from vouchers and mobile money to direct distribution and market linkages.
Stakeholders highlighted challenges with the procurement process to include lack of packaging of seeds of seeds procured through bulk purchase, decision makers not completely following set guidelines for the procurement process, favouritism in issuance of procurement contracts and delayed payments. They suggested possible improvements in the system; thus, improved transparency in bidding and issuance of procurement contracts, involvement of seed companies in the procurement process, long term planning of seed procurement process, timely release of funds for seed procurement, proper packaging of seeds should be encouraged.
Stakeholders were delighted to learn diverse seed procurement and dissemination processes from one another.
Towards a Resilient Seed Sector
In conclusion, the workshop successfully fostered consensus among participants on the need for concerted efforts to drive an effective and efficient seed sector. The availability of high-quality seeds to farmers at affordable prices emerged as a shared objective. Stakeholders pledged their collaboration and commitment to achieving this objective.
Moving forward, the next steps involve engaging stakeholders further, collecting and analysing data, sharing study findings, validating, and ultimately scaling and institutionalizing best practices identified through the study.
We extend our gratitude to all the stakeholders who actively participated in this important workshop. Together, we can build a resilient seed sector that empowers farmers and contributes to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
