An integrated seed delivery system and seed research in Kenya: Case studies of pigeon pea, onion and dry bean
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Date
2014Author
Kimani, P
Kamundia, D K
Narla, R D
Mwang’ombe, A W
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Producing adequate and nutritious food for a population estimated to reach a billion people is the
main challenge facing African countries in the twenty-first century. This demands increased utilisation
of technologies designed to enhance crop productivity and quality, especially considering
predictions in climate change and variability. Crop productivity is constrained by biotic and abiotic
stresses, and by socio-economic factors, especially timely availability of affordable seed of improved
varieties. The main limitation is a lack of integrated seed delivery systems linking key players in the
seed value chains of most crops. Universities are key players in this system, a position recognised by
recent policy change for Kenyan universities as described in the Universities Act (2012). The development
of more than 18 new pigeon pea, onion and bean cultivars and of a seed delivery system at the
University of Nairobi over the past two decades illustrates the potential of and challenges for implementing
an integrated seed delivery system and defining the role of universities. This paper describes
the current seed delivery system in Kenya, and proposes an integrated and sustainable seed delivery
system and the functions of the key actors.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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