Seed security is essential for food security in Africa. High rates of population growth across the continent result in constantly increasing demand for food, and the only reliable way of ensuring its supply is by increasing productivity in farmers’ fields. In this context, the need for quality seeds of improved varieties that produce higher yields and withstand new environmental stresses is unquestionable. Hence, a functioning seed supply system is the foundation for improving agricultural productivity and economic growth.
Burundi is located in the Great Lakes region of central Africa, with substantial agricultural potential and almost 90% of the population involved in farming. Nevertheless, crop yields are very low. As a result, a staggering 56% of children in Burundi are under-nourished and the country remains heavily dependent on food aid.
To support Burundi’s need to establish dependable supply of high-yielding seed, ISABU (the National Agriculture Research Institute of Burundi), Seed Systems Group, IITA, and 7 local seed companies have embarked on hybrid maize seed production. This work is supported by USAID’s “Accelerated Innovations Delivery Initiative for the Great Lakes Region” and AGRA.
For the first time in Burundi’s history, hybrid maize seed is now being produced locally. A bio-fortified maize hybrid developed by IITA is currently being produced by local seed companies Co-op Eden and Hagaruka Dufashani. These pilot production fields are providing excellent learning opportunities for launching into larger-scale production in the coming seasons. Our plan is to plant 32 ha of hybrid maize seed production fields in December of this year, and scale-up further in the years to come.
To date, the only hybrid seed available in Burundi has been imported at very high prices from neighboring countries, and the quantities imported have been far below farmer requirements. Seed business, meanwhile, is a relatively new undertaking in Burundi. To strengthen the management capacity of local seed companies, from July 31st to August 2nd, SSG sponsored a course in seed business management. This training event brought together 20 leaders of Burundian and Congolese seed companies to learn the essential elements of seed business management.
Hybrid maize seed production in the US began over 100 years ago. It was first produced in Zimbabwe over 60 years ago. The fact that Burundi is only now embarking on hybrid maize seed production is a painful reminder of the inequalities that continue to exist regarding access to these critical technologies for feeding Africa.
Happily, the key elements of a thriving seed sector are coming together in Burundi. The Government of Burundi is fully supportive of public-private partnerships in the seed landscape and is actively ensuring new varieties are developed and early generation seed produced. The emerging seed companies have seen the opportunity to supply farmers with better seed and are eager to make a difference in farmers’ fields and lives. There is little doubt that this is an exciting time for Burundian agriculture.
