Small-scale Maize Seed Production in West and Central Africa: Profitability, Constraints and Options

There is general agreement among national governments and foreign aid donors that the food security situation in most developing countries is worsening. In the African region, almost half the population is being considered to be food insecure. To achieve food security, a country must be able to grow sufficient food. Since most developing countries rely on their agricultural production for their food security, it follows that food insecurity is mainly due to deficient agricultural production and low productivity. A main reason for this situation is that seed and planting material of adapted varieties required by farmers are not always available when needed, a situation often referred to as seed insecurity. There have been consistent efforts by the various national governments to put in place policies and programmes that ensure adequate seed supply systems (Omaliko, 1998).