Promoting the implementation of Article 9 through international cooperation and Official Development Assistance (ODA) (II)

The project "Improving seed systems for smallholder farmers’ food security", funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is implemented by Bioversity International in Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Nepal with the objective of reducing vulnerability of smallholders by improving farmers’ access to diverse and adaptive crop varieties and quality seed and in local seed systems. The project started in 2013 and is now in its second phase (2017 – 2021). It focuses on enhancing capacity of smallholders and related institutions to produce seed of good quality in adequate quantities; developing seed marketing models to enhance value chains and improve seed delivery mechanisms; and improving quality of seed produced by engaging seed quality assurance organizations in the countries to develop alternative quality assurance mechanisms. More policy-related interventions around registration of farmers’ promising varieties and developing quality assurance mechanisms for farmer’s seed systems are also key aspects. Based on lessons learned the intervention strategy is guided by three principles: (1) the activities will primarily seek to ensure sustainability of the project’s interventions; (2) increased efforts will be made to inform and influence decision making processes; (3) actions will be adopted to ensure that possible gender differences are addressed.