Project Briefs

Out-scaling the local seed business approach: Engaging partners in the process

Introduction

The local seed business (LSB) approach of increasing farmers’ seed production and marketing is a success in Uganda. With local farmers’ growing demand for quality seed, the Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) project decided to out-scale LSBs to other locations within its three regions of operation in Uganda (South Western, Northern and West Nile). Partner organisations engaged in LSB out-scaling agreed to ensure that the LSB concepts and principles were fully implemented. One principle is that LSBs have full ownership of their activities, which implies that LSBs are self-sustaining business entities with sufficient linkages to both public and private service providers within the seed sector. Organisations that share similar objectives - of increasing access to quality seeds - were carefully selected for LSB outscaling.