Afghanistan

The seed sector in Afghanistan

According to the survey conducted by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in 2014, more than 60% of Afghan farmers use farm-saved seeds.

Farmers also purchase large amounts of seed, which are usually unlabeled and untested, from local markets.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock plays an important role in public sector involvement in the seed sector, while the private sector is brought together under the Afghanistan National Seed Organization (ANSOR).

The World Bank, through its Afghanistan Agriculture Input Project (AAIP), is addressing the limited capacity of smallholder farmers to access certified seeds.

Local companies Helal Group and Noor Agro Group (members of ISF and/or APSA) and USAID-sponsored farm service centers, among others, are additional sources for the formal seed sector in Afghanistan.

Observations

Nine index companies report having a presence in Afghanistan. None of the companies in the index carry out seed production, testing, breeding, processing or extension services. This can be attributed to the poor enabling environment.

The companies that indicate having a presence in the country are only involved in the sale of vegetable crops.

There is a need to strengthen private sector involvement in activities such as field demonstrations, marketing strategies, extension services and so on to enhance smallholder access to quality seed. Public-private partnerships will play a key role in the development of the seed sector in Afghanistan.