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Improving farmers' access to quality seeds africasia seed company limited (ascl)

The demand for high-quality vegetables in Tanzania has steadily risen over the past decade as incomes and urbanization have increased.

To meet this demand, the smallholder farmers who produce most domestically-consumed vegetables in the country need high quality seeds.

Innovations in the fresh fruits and vegetable value chain are mostly driven by seed companies, which develop new varieties and provide extension services and demonstrations of good agricultural practices.

Through AECF’s Tanzania Agribusiness Window, Africasia Seed Company Limited has come a long way in the expansion of seed varieties available to farmers and improving the commercialization of fruit and vegetable seed varieties.

Africasia produces 13 seed crops with a range of individual varieties, focusing on African traditional vegetables as well as tomatoes and watermelon as higher value crops that generate significant incomes for farmers.

For farmers like Ali Hassan, this partnership means better tomato seed quality, increased harvests and a better income.

I have acquired the knowledge of seed production from Africasia Seed Company. Through the proceeds from this venture, I have purchased a four-acre piece of land where I have expanded my farming. I have built a house for my family, and I can now comfortably pay my children's school fees - Ali Hassan

By patiently demonstrating the benefits of modern technologies, smallholder farmers who adopt the use of Africasia's high-quality seeds are experiencing higher yields of superior quality.

The farmers are fetching higher prices for seeds - as out-growers or producing for the market.

The company has established a processing plant in Arusha, expanded fresh fruits and vegetable seed varieties and strengthened the out-grower and production base for Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs).

By providing solutions that improve how the seed market systems work for smallholder farmers, AECF is contributing to next-generation approaches in growing Africa’s seed sector.

Credits:

AECF

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