Local certified seed production is giving farmers access to improved varieties closer to home and reducing marketing and transportation costs, with 150 individual seed distributors currently passing on these savings to farmers through reduced prices. Currently, 2,000 participating farmers are planting improved varieties and using new farm practices to demonstrate firsthand the benefits to other farmers. These efforts are creating greater awareness among farmers and increasing market demand for certified seeds.

Despite their greater cost, these improved varieties yield 50 to 80 percent greater harvests compared to traditional seeds. Income from the sale of certified seed varieties increased from $2,036 in 2001 to $14,077 in 2002. These gains show that the farmers are putting their new knowledge to work and improving their households’ security in the process. Farmers report that greater incomes have enabled them to purchase additional livestock, improve their houses, and pay school fees for their children.

Print-friendly version of this page (248kb - PDF)