From 19 to 22 May, the Togolese capital Lome vibrated to the rhythm of a major strategic initiative. The SEED Systems Group (SSG) brought together stakeholders from five West African countries for a regional training workshop that proved instrumental for the future of seed companies in the region.
During four intense days, the representatives of’seed companies from Togo, Ghana, the Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Sierra Leone worked together to strengthen their technical, managerial and economic capacities. This meeting, orchestrated by SSG – pan-African non-profit organization specializing in the development of seed systems – has made it possible to consolidate the skills of participants in the crucial areas of the production and management of’seed enterprises.
L’atelier s’ took place in a spirit of exemplary collaboration. The participants shared their respective experiences, discussed together the common challenges facing their countries, and collectively developed concrete resolution strategies. The objective was twofold: to optimize the quality of locally produced seeds while guaranteeing the economic sustainability of companies in the sector.
“In recent years, significant investments have been made in agricultural research with a view to creating new crop varieties such as rice, maize, sorghum, cowpea, groundnut, and many other species. The contemporary challenge lies in the need to bring these varieties to field producers. This ambition imperatively requires the constitution of a robust seed sector, encompassing production, quality control, and efficient distribution logistics. Private companies occupy a central position in this process“, explained Joseph DeVries, president of SSG, at the opening of the workshop.
Marius Gunga, one of the trainers, reminded the participants that the viability of’a seed is based on three fundamental pillars: its compliance with regulatory standards of certification, its agronomic performance and its economic profitability. However, he also highlighted the many obstacles that continue to hold back the sector on the African continent.
” One of the main difficulties is the INADEquacy of internal capacities, particularly the lack of qualified human resources, adapted infrastructure and financing. In the absence of these fundamentals, companies are having difficulty producing quality seeds or investing sustainably “, he detailed during his intervention.
The discussions highlighted other major challenges: national seed systems remaining fragile, a shortage of innovative varieties available for marketing, dysfunctions in regional regulatory coordination, and especially difficulties in market access for improved seeds. The failure aggravates these problems, or even the non-existence, of effective agricultural extension systems in the region.
The training program covered the set of themes essential to the development of high-performance seed companies. The participants worked on the development of a portfolio of crops and varieties with a high commercial potential, the contractual production of quality seeds, and the design of business and production plans. They also deepened their knowledge of post-harvest management, including packaging, processing, and storage, as well as seed promotion and marketing. Internal quality control, financial management, and marketing strategies specific to seed companies have completed this ambitious program.
This initiative is BASED on the recognized expertise of Seed Systems Group, which benefits from the management of experts who have contributed to the establishment of more than a hundred local seed companies in fifteen African countries. Driven by the deep conviction that every farmer, in any village, should have access to high-quality seeds adapted to local realities, this organization continues its action in collaboration with governments and investors to realize this ambition on a continental scale.
Source: lequotidien228.com
