Session facilitators and speakers:

  • Walter de Boef, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;
  • Abrham Assefa, World Vision, South Sudan;
  • Chinedu Agbara, Sahel Consulting, Nigeria, and
  • Wubetu Bihon Legesse, World Vegetable Centre, Ethiopia
  • Sognigbe N’Danikou, World Vegetable Centre, Tanzania

Summary:
In Ethiopia and throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, access to a diversity of high-quality vegetable seed in sufficient quantities and qualities is a major problem. Some of the causes include seed policies that constrain rather than enable the vegetable seed sector, the presence of tainted or low-quality seed that reduces farmers’ confidence in purchased seed. This situation is exacerbated by natural and man-made calamities. Wubetu Bihon Legesse shared the work of World Vegetable Center in Ethiopia highlighting challenges and proposing solutions, underscoring the importance of improving the quality, quantity, and diversity of vegetable seed in Ethiopia.

Participants joined in three break out groups, targeting research, HDP nexus organizations and private sector. Each group identified major challenges to accessing sufficient good-quality vegetable seed in a fragile context? Identified practices to overcome these challenges, and how humanitarian organizations, development partners, research organizations, and the private sector can better coordinate their efforts in doing so?

This groups shared practices how research and also private sector organizations through interventions can contribute in terms of seed supply sustainable and more resilient vegetable production during stable conditions but also in emergency.

They shared insights, strategies to enhance seed accessibility and resilience, ultimately contributing to food security and agricultural sustainability in emergency situations. They were calling HDP nexus organizations for a stronger awareness and concern addressing within their seed interventions farmers’ access to quality seed of vegetables.

Specific attention during the session was given to the African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan, developed by World Vegetable Centre, the African Union Commission and many partners across the continent and internationally. Sognigbe N’Danikou presented the African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan and received positive feedback, as it complements on-going dialogues on strategies and actions to strengthen seed systems that critically address food security and nutrition in Africa, and particularly in fragile and conflict affected areas – and that thus support peace resilience building efforts.

Key takeaway messages:

  • HDP nexus organizations need a stronger awareness and concern addressing within their seed interventions farmers’ access to quality seed of vegetables.
  • HDP nexus organizations addressing farmers access to quality seed of vegetables need to take into account both formal and informal seed systems, and as such take a diversity of approaches enhancing farmers’ access to vegetable seed
  • The African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan complements on-going dialogues on strategies and actions to strengthen seed systems that critically address food security and nutrition in Africa
  • The African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan is particularly relevant in fragile and conflict affected areas that thus supports humanitarian, development and peace through strengthening food system resilience.