Geographic scope

The Access to Seeds Index measures seed companies’ efforts to improve access to quality seeds in countries with (1) a significant smallholder farmer presence (2) a food security challenge and (3) agricultural potential.

The countries that meet all these criteria determine the geographic scope. The main changes compared to the 2016 Index are in Africa. Following advice from regional experts, Western Africa has been expanded to include countries in Central Africa, and Eastern Africa has been extended to include Southern Africa.

Disclaimer: Country borders or names do not necessarily reflect the Access to Seeds Foundation’s official position. Maps used are for illustrative purposes and do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Foundation, concerning the legal status of any country or territory or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.

Latin America

The countries in Central America, the Caribbean and South America that meet the criteria for index country selection are combined in one index region: Latin America. As a result of its improved score on the Global Hunger Index, Belize is excluded from the scope of the 2019 Index.

Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru

Western & Central Africa

All the countries in this index region meet the criteria for index country selection. Following advice from regional experts, the boundaries of this index region are based on membership of CORAF/WECARD. For the 2016 Index, the United Nations geoscheme was used to delineate the region. Consequently, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mauritania and Republic of the Congo are now part of the 2019 Index scope. CORAF/ WECARD member Mauritania did not meet the criterion for agricultural potential.

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Togo

Eastern & Southern Africa

This index region includes all SADC and EAC member states plus Ethiopia and Somalia. All countries in this region meet the criteria for index country selection, with the exception of Botswana and Angola. These countries were added to the scope following advice from the African Union that the index would be more relevant for policymakers if all the countries in sub-Saharan Africa were included.

Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

South & Southeast Asia

This index region includes all the countries that meet the criteria for index country selection. Although Indonesia scored above the yield gap threshold, it was included following advice from external experts. Sri Lanka is a new addition to the scope as it meets all the criteria. Due to incomplete data, it was not included in the 2016 Index.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

Criteria for Index Country Selection

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