Abstract:

A study was carried out by seed specialists of the Overseas Development Institute (UK) and the Nkoola Consultancy Group (Uganda) in the Teso & Lango regions of Uganda, on behalf of the NARO/DFID COARD Project. The purpose of the study was to provide recommendations and guidelines for the development of enhanced seed supply in Eastern and Northern Uganda, informed by a review of current government and non-government interventions, and a field study of farmers' current practices and constraints in obtaining, storing and multiplying seed of improved (modern) varieties. The recommendations are intended primarily for the NARO/DFID COARD Project but may also be of use for others interested in addressing seed supply issues in Uganda. The principal seed sources in the region are farmers' own saved seed or seed from Neighbours, and seed purchased from grain markets (ranging from 15% or less for sweet potatoes and cassava, 40% - 60% for finger millet, pigeon pea and sorghum, to 70% - 90% for groundnuts, simsim and cowpea). Seed purchased from grain markets is simply selected from grain offered for sale there is very little purchase of materials grown and packaged for sale as seed. The formal seed sector has largely failed to promote its varieties through the channels of seed provisioning that farmers regularly use. Despite the efforts of NARO, MAAIF extension and NG0s, many farmers in Teso and Lango lack awareness of the MVs available. Use of MVs observed in the study varied from zero for cowpea & simsim, 4% for pigeon pea, 10% & 17% for sorghum and finger millet, to 40% for cassava and sweet potatoes and 52% for groundnuts. Where farmers are using modern varieties (MVs), most of them are not aware of the original source of the material, or of NARO's role in the development of the MVs. In some cases, however, the uptake and spread of MVs displaying favorable characteristics has been quite rapid, provided that sufficient seed/ planting material was available. Such cases, together with the interest of farmers in trying out new varieties, clearly illustrate that farmers are willing to incorporate appropriate new varieties into their cropping systems.