ISSD Plus Project Uganda

We realize the project goal through increased productivity of field and vegetable crops (as an intermediate result). The project implements its activities through teams in the Zonal Agricultural Research and Development institutes (ZARDIs) of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). Implementation takes place in partnership with NARO, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the District Local Governments for issues related to seed quality assurance for field crops. For the vegetable component, we work closely with seed companies including East West Seed, Rijkszwaan/Holland GreenTech, Enza Zaden/House of Seed and Bejo Seed/Cycas.

Project outcomes and outputs

Outcome: 300,000 Households increase productivity, income and resilience:

Outputs:

• Smallholder farmers increase productivity from use of quality seed for crop production;
• Local seed business (LSB) members increase Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) productivity and income;
• Vegetable growers increase productivity and income using high input-high output production systems.

Outcome: Seed sector institutions and environments are strengthened:

Outputs:

• Institutionally embedded Quality Declared Seed (QDS)
• Increased availability of quality assured Early Generation Seed (EGS)
• Seed sector challenges were innovatively addressed and seed sector knowledge embedded

Quality seed use

For field crops, increased productivity provides increased income and improved food security through existing and growing markets. Increased use of quality seed by small and medium-scale farmers results in productivity increase. We promote quality seed use through publicity and demonstration campaigns and proximity marketing efforts. With proximity marketing we focus on increasing farmers' access to seed close to areas they easily reach. To satisfy the increasing quality seed demand, local seed businesses (LSBs) are supported to produce and market Quality Declared Seeds. To assure that LSBs are able to perform well, their access to early generation seed is being improved.

Vegetable sector

The ISSD Plus project has a specific objective on vegetable sector development. In the vegetable sector, the access to early generation seeds is not an issue, as vegetable seed companies integrate these into their commercial seed production chain. We therefore intervene to improve the access of vegetable producers to high quality seed and seedlings, through the introduction of improved varieties and improving farmers' skills in vegetable production. We train vegetable growers to become able to take advantage of high quality seed and seedlings, and increase their productivity.