Project Briefs

Seed system development in the West Nile region of Uganda: Presenting a historical research perspective

Background

Crop farming is the main economic activity in the West Nile region of Uganda. Staple crops include beans, cassava, groundnuts, maize, rice, sorghum and sweet potatoes. The climate favours at least two production cycles (March-June and July-September) in a year. However, limited access to good quality seed is the major constraint to crop production. Although there are 23 registered national seed companies supplying certified seed, none are based or have branches in the region. Whilst a few input dealers sell seed of some crops with very high market demand (e.g. hybrids), these are expensive and only affordable for a few farmers. The prevalence of counterfeit seed sold on the market is increasing. This is frustrating for farmers buying expensive seed. As a result, most farmers depend on home-saved seed from previous harvests, exchanged with neighbours or purchased from local grain markets.