ISSD Uganda’s success in supporting seed sector transformation in Uganda has stimulated interest among various seed programs in the region and beyond, to learn about accomplishments, challenges and opportunities for purposes of adapting ISSD Uganda’s model to their respective contexts. One such program is the ISSD-Sahel implemented by a consortium of partners including Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and Wageningen University and Research Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI) in Niger and Mali.
SSD Uganda hosted the ISSD-Sahel team in Uganda from 20-26 March 2022, with the objective to learn from the successes and achievements of the ISSD projects. The ISSD- Sahel team consisted of 30 participants representing farmers’ associations; private seed companies; cooperatives; community-based seed producers; regulatory agencies; United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); and research from Mali and Niger. While in Uganda, the ISSD-Sahel team interacted with other seed sector actors including NARO, NARO Holdings Ltd, Makerere University, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (Department of Crop Inspection and Certification), the district Local government, Local Seed Business farmer groups (South West) and Community Seed Banks (Shema District).
This exchange visit is an ISSD Sahel activity under its medium-term objective of establishing a vibrant, dynamic and pluralistic seed system that takes into account the coexistence of formal, intermediate and informal seed systems in the supply of seeds to small-scale agricultural producers in the target areas.
