The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INERA) has recently signed a progressive agreement to sell foundation seeds to all qualified seed producers. This is a revolutionary change from the previous monopoly it held on foundation seed production which has resulted in low levels of certified seed reaching poor farmers who end up recycling traditional seed varieties causing them to deteriorate and produce low, poor quality yields.
For agricultural production, seeds are the key input for determining the quantity and quality of crops. In the DRC, it concerns a large number of men and women with low incomes who produce food crops. Farmers buy commercial seeds that have been produced from 'foundation' seeds which have themselves been multiplied at research centres such as INERA from their original 'breeder' seeds.
For the first time, INERA, which manages all breeder and foundation seed production and research in the DRC, is changing its practice by making foundation seeds available to private sector seed producers. In the DRC private sector seed multiplication is underdeveloped, with only a few small operators who focus on supplying large commercial farms and are unaware of the opportunities in selling to poor farmers. In the past, INERA did not produce a lot of foundation seed and therefore did not sell much, yet would not relinquish its hold on ownership of seed varieties, which limited the supply available for multiplication. Under current law, private sector companies receive no intellectual property protection for developing and multiplying new seed varieties.
Now, thanks to the success of an 8-month pilot project with ÉLAN RDC, where five producers in Katanga, including four women, were provided with foundation seeds from INERA, the institution has been convinced that linking with private sector producers is the best way forward for revitalising the agricultural sector. Each of the five producers who took part in the pilot project planted one hectare of seeds of either maize, beans, soy, peanuts and rice. All producers achieved successful harvests, several surpassing their predicted yields such as Madame Divova who produced rice seeds and exceeded her quota by 550kg.
She remarks:
"I planted rice seeds and was very pleased with the results as I produced 2,350kg of certified seed to sell. I am now determined to produce two hectares of rice during the 2015/2016 season in order to become more proficient with the techniques."
A further development from this pilot has been that INERA has agreed to assist seed producers technically on an ongoing basis with their development. It will provide ongoing agricultural training and monitoring for all qualified seed producers to ensure high quality production is maintained. INERA has several research centres across the country that specialise in different crops which it could mobilise to produce more breeder seed and provide technical support to all qualified seed producers.
INERA is now aiming to replicate this project in the province of Equateur to expand the model it has used in Katanga. It has signed an agreement with ÉLAN RDC to commit to working in the South-Ubangi district where ÉLAN already has an on-going project in the palm oil sector. By ensuring that seed producers have the capacity to produce high quality seeds and respond to growing market demand, ÉLAN RDC is hopeful that other seed entrepreneurs will be interested in investing in this market, a dynamic previously unseen in the DRC.
A further development from this pilot has been that INERA has agreed to assist seed producers technically on an ongoing basis with their development. It will provide ongoing agricultural training and monitoring for all qualified seed producers to ensure high quality production is maintained. INERA has several research centres across the country that specialise in different crops which it could mobilise to produce more breeder seed and provide technical support to all qualified seed producers.
INERA is now aiming to replicate this project in the province of Equateur to expand the model it has used in Katanga. It has signed an agreement with ÉLAN RDC to commit to working in the South-Ubangi district where ÉLAN already has an on-going project in the palm oil sector. By ensuring that seed producers have the capacity to produce high quality seeds and respond to growing market demand, ÉLAN RDC is hopeful that other seed entrepreneurs will be interested in investing in this market, a dynamic previously unseen in the DRC.