The Feed the Future Global Supporting Seed Systems for Development activity, also known as S34D, aimed to improve the functioning of high-impact integrated seed systems. The activity began on August 24, 2018, and concluded on December 22, 2023, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Cooperative Agreement 7200AA18LE00004.
S34D’s strategy focused on strengthening seed systems in various countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and others. The activity’s service areas included capacity building, training, and dissemination of seed demand data management for staff at different levels in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. Additionally, S34D supported the development of forage seed systems and business models for livestock production in countries such as Cambodia and Zambia.
A key publication produced during the S34D activity is the “Kenya Seed Sector Profile,” which provides an overview of the country’s seed sector, including its structure, policies, and challenges. Another publication, “Ripoti Mbegu Isiyo Bora (Rimi): Empowering Tanzania’s Farmers to Report Low Quality or Fake Seed to the Regulator,” highlights the importance of seed quality and the need for effective regulation in the seed sector.
S34D also supported research on seed demand forecasting in Ethiopia, seed systems landscape analysis in Timor-Leste, and the development of guidelines for sustainable farmer access to quality seeds. The activity’s publications cover a range of topics, including seed market development, emergency seed interventions, and the role of seed vouchers and fairs in promoting seed market development.
The S34D activity’s geographic focus was on various countries in Africa and Asia, with a specific emphasis on fragile states and countries with limited seed systems. The activity’s timeframes spanned from 2018 to 2023, during which time numerous publications were produced on various aspects of seed systems development.
Implementation details for the S34D activity included capacity building training and dissemination of seed demand data management for staff at different levels in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. The activity also supported the development of forage seed systems and business models for livestock production in various countries.
The S34D Compendium is a collection of technical publications produced during the activity, covering a range of topics related to seed systems development. The compendium provides a comprehensive overview of the activity’s achievements and contributions to the field of seed systems development.
The S34D activity’s recommendations for seed sector development in fragile states include the importance of building resilient seed systems, promoting sustainable seed markets, and enhancing seed security in emergency contexts. The activity’s findings and recommendations are relevant to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers working in the field of seed systems development.