Strengthening Rwanda’s seed sector: Company leaders participate in seed business management training

Rwanda's seed sector is crucial to the country's agricultural development, food security, and economic growth. However, the industry faces significant challenges, including inadequate seed quality and ineffective management practices among seed companies. To address these issues, the Feed the Future/USAID-funded Great Lakes Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative Rapid Delivery Hub (AID-I GLR) Project, led by IITA-CGIAR, organized a comprehensive training program in August.

This training, conducted in partnership with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), AGRA Africa, and the Seed Systems Group (SSG), aimed to equip seed companies with the skills to enhance seed business management practices and hybrid maize seed production.

The recent assessment conducted by IITA highlighted several critical challenges that hinder the growth of Rwanda's seed sector, including the lack of operational quality management systems and the inadequate quality of basic seed. Such challenges lead to lower seed quality, reduced crop yields, and decreased agricultural productivity and food security in the region. To overcome these obstacles, there is a need for targeted interventions that can strengthen the capacities of seed companies, particularly in the areas of seed business management and the production of high-quality seeds like hybrid maize.

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