Legume seed production for sustainable seed supply and crop productivity: case of groundnut in Tanzania and Uganda

Abstract

Improvingagriculturalproductivityandproductionisaprerequisite to sustain rural livelihoods in developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa SSA).Thisrequiresincreaseduseofqualityseedofimproved and well-adapted crop varieties. Legumes are particularly critical in ensuring food and nutritional securities of the majority of farming households. However, their productivity has been constrained because of limited availability of quality seed, jeopardizing henceforth food security and rural livelihoods. The lack of interest in productionoflegumeseedsbypotentialseedproducers,especially the private sector, is attributable to limited information on the cost and profitability of producing these seeds. Using primary data collectedfromTanzaniaandUganda,weanalyzedthecoststructureof improved groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seed production to assess viability. We adopted cost-benefit analysis framework to evaluate different seed production models. Results showed that groundnutseedpricevariedbetween1and2US$kg−1 forcertified andqualitydeclaredseedandbetween2and3.5US$kg−1 forearly generationseed.Overall,upto50%increaseintotalseedproduction costsresultedinreduceddropinthegrossmarginearned.However, when production costs increased by 75–100%, the gross margin droppedbyabout18%and50%inTanzaniaandinUganda,respectively. These findings indicated that groundnut seed could be providedtofarmersinremotecommunitiesatanaffordablepricewhile still keeping seed producers profitably in business. Availing these seeds to smallholder producers is a major step in achieving food securityandnutritionalhealthindevelopingcountries inSSA