The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), through its Center of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA), has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering seed systems across the continent.
By convening a Seed Industry Stakeholder Learning Event in Kampala,Uganda, AGRA aims to enhance knowledge exchange and foster partnerships to address critical challenges in Africa’s agricultural sector.
The event, bringing together stakeholders from 12 AGRA focus countries, including Uganda, Ghana, and Kenya, seeks to spotlight key drivers of successful seed systems.
These include breeding variety release, early-generation seed production, commercial seed quality, farmer awareness, and effective seed market distribution. National seed policies and regulatory environments will also be under review.
Dr. George Bigirwa, CESSA Director at AGRA, highlighted the importance of resilient and climate-smart seed varieties in addressing climate change.
“Drought-tolerant maize varieties, for instance, have demonstrated a 26-47% yield increase compared to conventional seeds,” he stated. He emphasized the event’s role in sensitizing stakeholders about such achievements and planning next steps.
AGRA’s long-standing partnerships with seed companies, regulators, agro-dealers, and farmers’ organizations have facilitated the development of improved seed varieties, enhancing crop yields and food security.
In Tanzania, for example, improved sorghum seeds have positively impacted household dietary diversity, reflecting enhanced food security and welfare.
The workshop aims to guide local entrepreneurs and policymakers on emerging trends and innovations in the seed industry.
“Continuous learning and adaptation are essential to tackle evolving challenges in agriculture,” Dr. Bigirwa added.
By addressing bottlenecks and fostering collaboration, the event is expected to catalyze progress in sustainable agriculture, contributing to increased productivity, resilience, and food security across Africa.