Mid-term performance evaluation of the scaling seeds and technologies partnership (SSTP) in Africa : wave two survey report : smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved seeds in program areas

This report analyzes the findings from the second wave of the longitudinal panel survey undertaken as part of the broader evaluation (Longley, Kamiri, and Remington, 2017). The panel survey tried to reach the same set of randomly sampled direct and indirect beneficiary smallholder farmers (as trackable over time) to assess and track their application and adoption (or not) of improved seed and other technologies. Farmers themselves, through interactions with relatives and neighbors, were found to be the greatest influence in motivating farmers to apply and adopt SSTP-promoted improved varieties (as identified by the farmer), while motivation from agro-dealers and seed companies was less important, especially among the indirect beneficiaries. Beneficiaries chose not to adopt varieties for reasons relating to the varietal characteristics, or if they could not sell the output after harvest. Future efforts to encourage smallholder farmers to both try out and continue to use improved varieties should: encourage farmer-tofarmer learning; ensure that appropriate varieties are selected for promotion; support linkages to output markets; support seed companies to enhance their marketing and distribution channels (including their relationships with agro-input dealers and the use of free varietal “tester packs”); and encourage more inclusive extension approaches that include women and poorer and socially marginalized groups.