OAR@ICRISATLocal village seed systems and pearl millet seed quality in NigerJNdjeungaauthorThis paper assesses the structure, conduct and performance of seed markets at the village level and highlights the relative contributions of both formal and informal sectors to local village seed systems in Niger. Three sets of data were used, one each at the institutional, farm and rural household levels. Data from institutions and members were obtained from an informal survey during September-October 1996. Household-level data were gathered from a survey of 302 rural households conducted during June-July 1997. Donors have invested more than $45 million in seed production projects in Niger during the past two decades. These investments have largely failed. Public seed systems consistently supplied less than 2% of the total national seed planted by farmers. Through subsidies, seed prices represent less than one-third of the average cost of seed production. In contrast, at the village level, most farmers consistently obtain pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) seed from their own harvests, from neighbours or from village markets. Seed is of acceptable quality and a range of varieties is available. Village seed systems offer a cheaper and more efficient means of delivering seed to farmers. Future investment in seed systems development should target improvements in the capacity of village seed systems to maintain and distribute seed security stocks in drought years. Efficient seed producers or groups of farmers in each community should be identified and encouraged to become entrepreneurs tasked with the multiplication and distribution of new pearl millet varieties.Millets2002Cambridge University PressArticle

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