Integrated Seed Sector Development Sahel
The project ‘Integrated Seed Sector Development’ (ISSD) Sahel focuses on “the availability and use of quality seeds through the establishment of a commercially viable and self-sustaining seed sector.” The consortium parents are IFDC, KIT (Royal Tropical Institute), Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Wageningen Center for Development and Innovation (WCDI) takes on an advisory role of KIT in all ISSD-related activities. The project runs from 2020-2024 and is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bamako in Mali and Niamey in Niger. More information can be found here.
The overall goal of ISSD Sahel is to strengthen nutrition security of 180,000 households and rural livelihoods. The project focuses on early generation seed supply, production of quality seed, marketing and promotion, enabling environment and integration of the seed sector. Project activities are implemented in four areas: development of new commercial seed producers, professionalization of local seed traders, mobilisation of Dutch and international private seed sector expertise for the seed sector in the countries, and large-scale promotion of quality seeds. The focus is on priority crops including cereals (pearl millet, sorghum, maize and rice), legumes (cowpea and groundnut) and vegetables (onions, cabbage, eggplant, tomato and okra).
The main project outcomes are:
180,000 farming households adopt quality seeds for priority crops improving food security and diversity of diets in Mali and Niger.
30% increase in incomes of farmer households following the adoption of quality seeds for priority crops.
100% increase in number of private basic seed producers, and >50% increase in basic and pre-basic seed production volumes produced by private producers.
More permanent employment opportunities in the seed sector for youth and women as well as increased incomes for women involved in commercial seed production.