On May 23, IFDC’s Private Seed Sector Development (PSSD) project, in collaboration with Burundi’s Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock, hosted a National Seed Forum in Bujumbura. The event showcased PSSD’s accomplishments, facilitated the exchange of knowledge, and highlighted challenges faced during implementation, with the goal of developing a roadmap for a robust seed sector that will enhance farmers’ access to quality seeds through a sustainable and competitive industry.
Key players from the public, private, and development sectors were drawn to the event, including representatives from the Government of Burundi, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burundi, Welthungerhilfe (WHH), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the European Union, World Food Programme Eastern Africa, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), SNV, local non-governmental organizations, financial institutions, farmer groups, and more. The forum provided a framework for technical and strategic knowledge exchange among these groups.
The results of the PSSD project were presented, and the project’s support in multiplying certified seeds for three essential crops: maize, beans, and potato was highlighted. Speakers noted that, to date, 284 metric tons of maize seed, 141.9 metric tons of bean seed, and 753.5 metric tons of potato seed have been analyzed and packaged to ensure traceability and quality. Additionally, 62 new varieties have been registered and approved in the national catalog.
The event provided information on newly approved registration documents such as the updated national seed plan and the 2022 review of the Seed Law of 2012. As a result of these improvements, public-private partnerships were highlighted as a necessary and beneficial approach to implement PSSD’s activities.
Additionally, panel discussions with primary industry players addressed crucial topics, including the history and evolution of the seed sector, quality control and certification processes, seed legislation and regulation, agricultural finance, and relevant policies and guidelines.
“I want to extend my gratitude to IFDC for its impactful projects, PAGRIS and PSSD, which have greatly benefited the farming community through integrated soil fertility management, soil acidity management via the dolomite program, and providing quality seeds to farm households through the PSSD Project.”
Prosper Dodiko, Burundi’s Minister of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock
The crucial need for synergy among all partners in the seed sector to establish a thriving seed industry in Burundi was underscored throughout the event.
Participants agreed to document the results and achievements of the seed sector, focusing on the development of public-private partnerships and also committed to conducting a critical analysis of the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of various interventions within the seed sector.
While prioritizing the formulation of recommendations to improve the performance of these interventions, they also agreed to develop a roadmap to guide stakeholders in enhancing farmers’ access to quality seeds through a sustainable and competitive seed industry.
Throughout its four-year implementation period, the PSSD project has worked to create an enabling environment for the development of a private sector-led seed industry in Burundi. This effort includes strengthening the Burundian National Seed Producer Association and facilitating dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders on seed sector regulations to promote policy and regulatory coherence.
The initiative also aims to promote seed distribution strategies, increase the efficiency and sustainability of seed certification and packaging processes, and improve knowledge transfer between research institutions and the private sector.
Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the PSSD project continues to strive towards developing a sustainable market for quality seeds, ensuring the efficient and sustainable production and marketing of commercial seeds in Burundi as an autonomous private enterprise. The collaborative efforts and strategic planning showcased at the National Seed Forum set a promising foundation for the future of Burundi’s seed industry.
The Private Seed Sector Development (PSSD) project (2018-2023), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), aims to increase the production and incomes of 178,000 farmer households in Burundi. The project works with private and public sector partners to promote the development of a private sector-led seed industry that is able to provide farmers with sustainable access to high-quality seed and agricultural advisory services.
