Tackling rural poverty, together

Extract

The project supported various key institutions, including (i) a commercial seed research and development company (SSSC), (ii) a professional association for seed producers (SEAN) which provides advice to its members on new varieties and market trends, (iii) a seed quality control centre and (iv) a central seed testing laboratory (the last two institutions being government run). Equal importance as given to seed production; needs to be given to tackling marketing and legislative constraints. To realize export potential it is vital that legal and regulatory framework meets international standards, and the staff of the regulatory body is of recognizably high calibre. A seed-growing venture of this type tends to target richer farmers with more land and resources; but there is a substantial employment multiplier—labouring jobs are created for the poor.