Posted on March, 25, 2025 at 10:26 am
In Tanzania, access to high-quality seeds has significantly benefited smallholder farmers by improving their livelihoods. Despite impressive economic growth, poverty reduction has not kept pace, and malnutrition rates remain a challenge.
The Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), led by CIMMYT, and implemented in Tanzania by the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA), is an excellent example of the positive impact of supporting smallholder farmers by ensuring seed availability, access, and affordability.
Tanzanian smallholder farmers face challenges in increasing yields and incomes due to a lack of affordable, high-quality seeds, inadequate agronomic training, and limited access to reliable markets. Distance from seed suppliers and agro-dealers, along with impassable roads, exacerbate the situation. In addition, the distribution networks of private companies that produce certified seeds are very limited, especially for underutilized crops.
The Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) system is a seed production system that ensures seed meets a minimum quality standard through inspection by an official seed certification system or a designated inspector from the local government authority. SFSA, through the AVISA project, is focusing on supporting the production of QDS by community-based groups for common bean and groundnut varieties in several districts in Tanzania.
Two QDS-producing farmer groups received free Early Generation Seed (EGS) capital, consisting of 200 kg of Selian 13 bean seed, 150 kg of Tanzanut seed, and 50 kg of Naliendele 2016 groundnut seed. As a result, the groups sold 1.35 MT of QDS for common beans and 2.00 MT of groundnuts to individual farmers in the Karatu and Bahi districts respectively.
“This initial investment by the AVISA project has, therefore, improved the incomes of these groups, and we are seeing an increased demand for larger volumes of improved seeds within seed value chain actors and off-takers,” states the Tanzanian Program Coordinator, Papias Binagwa.
Both the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) have been instrumental in supporting this initiative by providing training to farmers on current regulations and seed production practices. The QDS-producing farmer groups have been hosting local smallholder farmers for informational visits and field demonstrations to showcase the use of improved varieties and agronomic practices that enhance yields. As a result, QDS-producing farmers are full of praise.
“Thanks to this initiative, I have more sources of income as my yields have significantly increased from the seeds I sourced from TARI-Selian and ALSSEM seed company. The training has improved my seed handling and management. My extra agronomic knowledge will also benefit my fellow farmers,” says Baraka Hamis from Karatu district.
Joyce Yuda from the Chamwiilee Agro-Live QDS-producing group further stated, “Thanks to the seed sales, I have paid my children’s school fees and renovated my house. My food is assured, and I have economic freedom.”
Source: CIMMYT