Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

TARI Director General Dr. Geoffrey Mkamilo (Left) insisting on some issues during his visit at one of TARI Ilonga sunflower  seed farm

Integration of Public Research Institute and Private Companies in Sunflower Seed Production for Sustainable Value Chain is the 3-4 years project started in 2021.However, the extension of this project depends on the performance of Market Actors. It is funded by Agricultural Markets Development Trust (AMDT). TARI Ilonga is a leading institution collaborating with Seed Companies namely BioSustain Tanzania located in the Central zone, Highland Seed Growers Limited located in the Southern Highland, AMINATA Quality Seeds& Consultancy Company Limited located in the Eastern zone of Tanzania and Lima Africa Company Located in Tabora. They were selected based on the following criteria:

-Commercial orientation of the company

-Well established local seed company with clear marketing strategy to get seeds into the hands of the smallholder farmers.

-Willingness to co-invest to achieve development goal

-Registered local seed company with good footprint

-Willingness to try to innovate new ideas with productive poor farmers (especially women and youth (female, male)

-Have truck records working with TARI

-Have experiences working with small seed producers especially women and youth.

-Have been certified by Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) as a registered seed dealer (Producer and distributor)

Overall Objective of the Project: To strategically enhance availability, accessibility and affordability of sunflower improved seed varieties among smallholder sunflower farmers for increased productivity and production. Implemented in phases with multi-stakeholder approaches, the project targets to work in collaboration between TARI Ilonga and local seed companies with strong footprint in the country to produce, market and distribute seeds.

Project idea:  This project is the response of the crisis the country is going through in terms of the shortage of improved sunflower seed varieties for planting by sunflower farmers. Both public and private seed companies supply less than 10% of sunflower seed demand (TARI Ilonga, 2021). On top of that, sunflower productivity remains below optimal level. Availability of seeds of improved varieties is key in increasing agricultural production and productivity, which in turn will attract young people and women to invest in sunflower production and participate in seed production and distribution. Strengthened seed delivery systems, in this case by ensuring availability of early generation seeds and certified seeds is set to result in direct engagement of women and youth in the seed business. Currently, the rate of adoption of improved varieties is generally low and varies with locations. A number of factors cause this, including lack of adequate seeds to farmers. Thus, this project focuses on seed production in order to ensure farmers have access to disease-free seeds of TARI varieties. TARI hopes that, the only way to achieve this is by engaging the private seed companies (market actors) to multiply certified seeds. TARI plays a crucial role in ensuring seeds are multiplied by meeting standards set by TOSCI for seed production in the country. Meanwhile, market actors (MA) are directly producing seeds or indirectly supporting contract farmers involved in seed production. 

Frank M. Reuben (Project Investigator) evaluating sunflower seeds development at TARI Ilonga farm