Efficient legume seed systems benefitting more than 22 million smallholder farmers in about 4.4 million hectares in the 15 countries in the semi-arid tropics

For 12 years (2007-2020) a pioneering legume research-for-development initiative,  Tropical Legumes (TL) produced more than 300 improved varieties of important legume crops (chickpea, groundnut, beans, cowpea, pigeonpea and soybean) across Africa and South Asia. These climate-resilient, disease and pest-proof improved legumes outperform the local varieties farmers were used to growing, some as old as 40 years. It also developed an efficient seed delivery system for grain legume crops in the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia.  With more than a decade of improving the lives of seed value chain stakeholders, TL’ impact has been phenomenal and continues to be felt through the transformed lives.  As it  winds up, it’s gains will be consolidated by the new The Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA Project).  

Many women farmers have benefited from better legume seeds like Leonora Okidi in Uganda who tested rosette-resistant groundnut varieties Serenut 5R and 9. With the new varieties, she is able to harvest enough to feed her large family. There are many more opportunities for women along the legume seed value chain. Researchers, seed growers, seed and food processing workers, or seed entrepreneurs like Janey Leakey, the director of Leldet Seed Company in Nakuru, Kenya. Janey markets small seed packs called Leldet bouquet, a mix of improved maize and legume seeds, at the cost of a cup of tea to enable women farmers test new varieties. 

TL used farmer participatory breeding and varietal selection to design and test new legume varieties. This has enabled the research to integrate important farmer and market needs, like the importance of oil content of groundnut varieties for women’s groups in Nigeria or fast-cooking common bean for women in Eastern Africa. 

The most dynamic farmer groups were trained in quality legume seed production and connected to market opportunities. Women seed farmer groups like Asawaba Farms in Ghana are empowered as they produce and sell quality declared seeds (QDS) of high-yielding groundnut varieties which are disease-tolerant, rich in oil and produce good fodder. 

Mr Khalid Abukari Giwah, out of his great desire to fix the environmental challenges that he was facing in his village, left his government job to start a seed production venture. Currently, his company fosters 10 out growers (contract farmers) for seed production of improved groundnut and cowpea varieties that were disseminated through the Tropical Legumes project. 

Welcoming field-monitoring staff from the AVISA project in Ghana, Mr Giwah shared memories of growing up on a farm. “In my village, we used to grow lots of groundnuts and cowpeas for consumption, but with rains becoming scarce and the soils less fertile, farmers need to labor hard for little. I told myself that something needs to be done to fix the problem,” says Giwah, who started Asawaba Farms Limited in 2015.

The use of innovation platform to enhance smallholder farmers’ access to seed of improved varieties of legume crops through the Tropical Legumes phase III (TL III) project represents a major initiative.  

The outcomes of innovation platform interactions and participation bring benefits to every actor involved through three key principles: (1) the recognition of the complexities of the issues that affect sustainable productivity, production, processing, marketing and utilization of agricultural commodity; (2) the integration of research and development along the commodity value chain whereby productivity, market outlets, management of natural resources, policy ecosystems, product development, gender and youth are purposely balanced; (3) the use of innovation system approach as core intervention strategy where various actors contribute collectively to identify problems, understand the context, explore relevant solutions, implement, monitor and assess the solutions for adjustment to make a difference in the lives of stakeholders and communities involved. 

In 2016 under the TL III project, the seed revolving fund initiative (SRFI) was formed aiming to increase access to improved seed varieties of sorghum and groundnut. The approach employed in SRFI includes: building the seed supply on the grain market demand; identifying and quantifying the specific market demand for groundnut and sorghum; defining commodity corridors which are the hub of large transaction of sorghum & groundnut grains; and working closely with grain-off takers. The grain market pulls the seed market and embeds youth and women in the seed delivery process and grain trading, it explores the critical roles youth and women will play and leverages on all available resources, including those from the Tanzania Government. As the AVISA Project leverages on this initiative, the expected return on investments envisages a situation where: each supported partner will set and/or grow their business unit; for seed companies that will receive direct support, part of the produced seed will go to Research & Development organizations and the profits made should be reinvested to build facilities and sustain business; a vibrant seed and grain market develops.