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Based on a concept for demand-orientation in seed systems, we characterized Nigeria's cassava (Manihot esculenta) seed system from national to local level and farmers' demand in three study sites. Interviews with seed-system actors explained their roles for supply-side functions. Focus group discussions and a survey described multiple aspects of farmers' demand. Our findings show that the national agriculture development program alone did not have the capacity to supply farmers with sufficient seed of desired varieties. Seed exchange between farmers and informal seed sellers contributed to the distribution of seed and new varieties. The presence of seed sellers and farmers' demand for cassava seed varied between the three study sites, farmer types and gender. We conclude that informal seed sellers and village seed entrepreneurs have a potential to respond to farmers' heterogeneous demands. However, without recurrent demand for specialized seed production or continuous support from the formal system, they do not reach underserved markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective and sustainable tools, mechanisms and strategies are needed to significantly improve the prevailing agricultural productivity, farmer remuneration, and food availability globally to be able to meet the food, livelihood, and nutritional needs of the projected population in coming decades. Digital agriculture has the potential to efficiently bring together the benefits of the advances in agricultural research and the developments in information and communication technology space to help positively transform the entire spectrum of pre-farm to post-fork activities in the agriculture sector. Through interactions with over 338 stakeholders across India and Africa, supplemented with study of various digital agricultural interventions across the globe, the author observed that most digital agricultural interventions did not succeed, causing great loss of time and resources, which the world can ill afford. The world is falling behind on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing lessons from the failures and successes of the past digital agricultural interventions, the author has developed an innovative MS Excel tool called HeDAPSEE, to help estimate the success of a digital agricultural intervention before implementing it. This can help strengthen it in planning stages and enhance its chances of success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until recently, there has been little commercial sale of vegetatively propagated crop seed, except for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). This is especially true in developing countries. However, a formal, commercial seed sector for cassava (Manihot esculenta) is emerging in Nigeria. In 2016, a project, Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System in Nigeria (BASICS), started to encourage village farmers to certify and sell cassava seed. A questionnaire survey of 30 cassava entrepreneurs across Nigeria in 2019 included some of those village-based growers as well as larger producers, including some who certified their planting material. In the long run, if there is a consistent demand for certified cassava seed, medium-sized producers may be able to satisfy some of that demand, especially if they have continued programmatic support; otherwise, these budding seed entrepreneurs may close down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]