[BENIN][BURKINA FASO][GAMBIA][GHANA][COTE D'IVOIRE][MALI][NIGER][NIGERIA][SENEGAL][TOGO]

SENEGAL

One of the important activities of the network is to assess the seed production needs in West Africa. The assessment has two components, i.e., the potential and the effective demand assessment.

How much seed will be needed if all areas would be planted with seed of improved varieties (potential seed demand.) This is relatively simple to calculate and can be based on acreages, seed rates, and common renewal rates.

Establishing the effective seed demand for high quality seed (seed that can actually be sold) is much more difficult, since it depends on many uncertain factors. The effective seed demand depends mainly on introduction rate (how fast is a new variety introduced) and actual replacement or renewal rate. Both rates depend on many technical, sociological, economical, and institutional factors. As a first indication, the seed that is annually sold (not just the production) will indicate the effective demand. But, it is understood that in several countries this demand could be significantly raised if appropriate measures are taken.

WASNET will calculate the potential seed demand for seed of major food crops in each member country and attempt to assess the effective seed demand. It is suggested to start with the information available for the most important cereals and legume crops in each country.

APPROCHES SUGGEREES :

Step 1:

Collect from each member country the following information to enable the calculation of the seed demand for the most important cereal and legume crops:

• Acreage annually planted with the most important cereal and legume crops (provide data per crop for 5 years);
• Annual production of grains (provide data per crop for 5 year)

• Seed rates used for planting;

• Amount of seed produced for each of the cereal and legume crop (provide data for past 5 years).
• Amount of seed sold for each of the cereal and legume crop (provide data for past 5 years).

Step 2:

Compile information per country and per crop.

Step 3:

Summarize situation in the region.

Step 4:

Prepare the summarized information obtained under 2 and 3 for publication

Step 5:

Make information available to all network member countries with the assistance of the secretariat.