Articles
Promoting vegetable cultivars in sub-Saharan Africa: a holistic approach
Article number
1422_11
Pages
79 – 88
Language
English
Abstract
Vegetables are micronutrient dense foods essential for healthy diets.
Their production is an important source of income and generates employment opportunities.
Enabling vegetables to reach their full nutritional and economic potential requires an end-to-end approach covering supply, demand, and policy environment.
Access to high-quality seeds along with sustainable production techniques plays a critical role in improving productivity and ensuring a sustainable supply of vegetables.
However, access to affordable and high-quality vegetable seed is still a challenge in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Recent activities in sub-Saharan Africa were promoting locally adapted vegetable cultivars that meet market preferences and supporting the development of local seed systems.
This included the introduction of improved cultivars and adaptation trials, participatory cultivar selection, support of national agricultural research system partners in cultivar registration, capacity strengthening of local seed companies, creation of enabling seed policy environments, and increasing awareness of farmers about the benefits of improved cultivars and good agronomic practices.
The introduction and adaptation of improved cultivars and related multi actor selection trials resulted in the release of 15 cultivars of chili pepper, habanero pepper, roselle, okra, and amaranth in Mali in 2023. In addition, more than 80 cultivars of tomato, chili, habanero and bell peppers, roselle, okra, African eggplant and amaranth were identified for release in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania.
Through capacity strengthening programs, 104 staff of seed companies, seed cooperatives, and individual seed producers improved their knowledge in various seed system areas including seed regulatory framework, vegetable seed production and marketing.
While cultivar registration and capacity strengthening were impactful, research to assess the impacts of the released cultivars and capacity strengthening programs on vegetable production and consumption, and in reducing malnutrition is the critical next step.
Their production is an important source of income and generates employment opportunities.
Enabling vegetables to reach their full nutritional and economic potential requires an end-to-end approach covering supply, demand, and policy environment.
Access to high-quality seeds along with sustainable production techniques plays a critical role in improving productivity and ensuring a sustainable supply of vegetables.
However, access to affordable and high-quality vegetable seed is still a challenge in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Recent activities in sub-Saharan Africa were promoting locally adapted vegetable cultivars that meet market preferences and supporting the development of local seed systems.
This included the introduction of improved cultivars and adaptation trials, participatory cultivar selection, support of national agricultural research system partners in cultivar registration, capacity strengthening of local seed companies, creation of enabling seed policy environments, and increasing awareness of farmers about the benefits of improved cultivars and good agronomic practices.
The introduction and adaptation of improved cultivars and related multi actor selection trials resulted in the release of 15 cultivars of chili pepper, habanero pepper, roselle, okra, and amaranth in Mali in 2023. In addition, more than 80 cultivars of tomato, chili, habanero and bell peppers, roselle, okra, African eggplant and amaranth were identified for release in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania.
Through capacity strengthening programs, 104 staff of seed companies, seed cooperatives, and individual seed producers improved their knowledge in various seed system areas including seed regulatory framework, vegetable seed production and marketing.
While cultivar registration and capacity strengthening were impactful, research to assess the impacts of the released cultivars and capacity strengthening programs on vegetable production and consumption, and in reducing malnutrition is the critical next step.
Publication
Authors
M.A.T. Ayenan, A.C.G. Mensah, V.W. Tarpaga, M. Dicko, E. Lasway, L.A. Aglinglo, A.S. Traore, S.S.S. Ouattara, C. Ouedraogo, H.P.F. Zohoungbogbo, F.F. Dinssa, D. Barchenger, A. Eybishitz, R. Schafleitner
Keywords
capacity strengthening, vegetable breeding, seed systems, cultivar trials, cultivar registration
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