?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F1094%2F&rft.title=Comparative+Analysis+of+Seed+Systems+in+Niger+and+Senegal.+Working+Paper+Series+no.+3&rft.creator=Ndjeunga%2C+J&rft.creator=Kumar%2C+K+A&rft.creator=Ntare%2C+B+R&rft.subject=Agriculture-Farming%2C+Production%2C+Technology%2C+Economics&rft.description=This+paper+is+part+of+a+continuing+research+effort+at+ICRISAT+to+explore+innovative+strategies+to+accelerate+adoption+of+improved+technologies+in+the+semi-arid+tropics.+Earlier+studies+in+West+and+Central+Africa+have+indicated+that+seed+supply+systems+there+function+poorly+and+are+therefore+a+major+constraint+to+adoption+of+improved+varieties.+However%2C+uptake+of+improved+varieties+and+profitability+of+seed+systems+significantly+differ+from+country+to+country+and+from+crop+to+crop.+This+analysis+attempts+to+assess+the+factors+explaining+these+differences+in+seed+sector+performance%2C+especially+of+groundnut+and+pearl+millet+in+Niger+and+Senegal.+It+also+draws+useful+lessons+that+could+serve+donors+and+policymakers+in+strengthening+the+capacity+of+these+systems+to+meet+the+needs+of+small-scale+farmers.+Research+results+show+that+the+Senegalese+formal+seed+system+performs+relatively+better+at+supplying+seed+of+improved+groundnut+varieties+to+small-holder+farmers+and+is+comparatively+more+financially+sustainable+than+its+Niger+counterpart.+However%2C+in+the+case+of+pearl+millet%2C+the+seed+systems+of+both+the+countries+performed+poorly.+These+differences+are+largely+explained+by+the+level+of+development+of+the+seed+distribution+network+and+the+degree+of+input-output+market+integration.+Interlinked+credit+and+trade+contracts+for+input+and+output+markets+can+enhance+adoption+of+new+varieties+by+small-holder+farmers.+Results+also+indicate+that+the+informal+seed+systems+in+both+these+countries+provide+access+for+small-scale+farmers+to+a+large+range+of+existing+varieties.+These+systems+supply+most+of+the+seed+sown+by+farmers+at+low+transaction+costs%2C+and+the+seed+quality+is+surprisingly+good.+These+systems+could+be+strengthened+by+ensuring+access+to+seed+of+new+varieties%2C+and+possibly+by+improving+seed+flows+from+surplus+to+deficit+regions+after+drought.+Formal+seed+systems+do+not+perform+well+unless+they+are+linked+with+satisfactorily+functioning+product+markets.+While+these+systems+will+remain+the+major+source+of+new+improved+varieties%2C+an+element+of+targeted+subsidy+may+be+needed+to+improve+access+to+new+varieties.+Otherwise%2C+seed+markets+need+to+be+built+on+the+foundation+of+seed+supply+of+more+commercialized+crops.&rft.publisher=International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics&rft.date=2000&rft.type=Monograph&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F1094%2F1%2FRA_00364.pdf&rft.identifier=++Ndjeunga%2C+J+and+Kumar%2C+K+A+and+Ntare%2C+B+R++(2000)+Comparative+Analysis+of+Seed+Systems+in+Niger+and+Senegal.+Working+Paper+Series+no.+3.++Monograph.+International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics%2C+Patancheru%2C+Andhra+Pradesh%2C+India.+++++