CSAM: Organized support networks for cassava seed entrepreneurs

Building stronger cassava seed businesses for African seed entrepreneurs and farmers.

The Cassava Seed Association Model (CSAM) is designed to create formal, cooperative structures among cassava seed producers to improve efficiency, quality, and market access. By forming associations, seed entrepreneurs can collectively address common challenges such as high production costs, inconsistent seed quality, and limited access to financing. The model promotes joint certification, facilitating access to higher-value markets, and provides a platform for collective marketing and advocacy. Entrepreneurs also benefit from capacity-building programs that improve seed production standards.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•3

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 3/9

IP

Open source / open access

Problem

Fragmentation of seed production: Individual seed entrepreneurs operating independently, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistent seed quality.
High production costs: Lack of coordination increases costs and reduces profitability for seed producers.
Limited access to certification: Difficulty in meeting certification standards limits market access and the potential for scaling production.
Challenges in accessing finance: Seed entrepreneurs face barriers to financing that hinder their ability to scale operations and improve production processes.
Dependency on free seed distribution: The prevalence of free seed distribution creates dependency, which undermines the development of a commercial seed market.
Weak market influence: Lack of collective bargaining power and formal structures restricts the ability of seed entrepreneurs to influence prices and policies.

Solution

Formation of structured associations: CSAM brings together cassava seed entrepreneurs to create associations that can provide collective benefits and economies of scale.
Joint certification: Associations enable seed producers to meet certification standards more easily, enhancing their market access.
Access to finance: By working collectively, entrepreneurs improve their chances of securing financing for seed production and business expansion.
Capacity building: Training and development programs equip entrepreneurs with the skills needed to improve seed quality and increase productivity.
Collective marketing: Associations allow seed entrepreneurs to market their products more effectively, reaching larger markets and increasing sales.
Policy advocacy: Stronger associations can advocate for favorable policies, influencing regulations and improving the overall business environment for seed production.
Over 2,700 entrepreneurs benefitting: The model has demonstrated its impact, with over 2,700 seed entrepreneurs benefiting from enhanced quality, increased market access, and improved financial opportunities.

Key points to design your business plan

The Cassava Seed Association Model is a business-enabling approach that organizes cassava seed entrepreneurs into formal associations to improve coordination, reduce production costs, and scale up delivery of certified, climate-resilient cassava planting material. To maximize returns and ensure operational success, we recommend integrating the following key components into your business or project strategy:

Partner identification and onboarding: Engage with seed entrepreneurs, farmer cooperatives, certification bodies, financial institutions, and aggregators to identify business-ready clusters.
Association formation support: Facilitate the creation and legal registration of cassava seed associations, enabling streamlined service delivery and partnership agreements.
Technical training and compliance: Provide tailored training for association members to meet national seed certification standards and improve quality control.
Joint certification systems: Support group certification processes to reduce individual costs and accelerate seed availability on the market.
Business planning and finance access: Enable associations to build investable business models and link them to microfinance institutions or outgrower schemes.
Branding and group marketing strategies: Help associations develop a unified product identity and establish buyer relationships (e.g., aggregators, processors, NGOs).
Digital support tools (optional): Integrate simple digital solutions for logistics, order tracking, and business reporting.
Performance monitoring: Track production volumes, client satisfaction, inclusivity, and profitability using practical KPIs.
A business implementation package is available and includes:
- Association formation toolkit
- Training manuals on seed entrepreneurship and quality assurance
- Model business plans and financial templates
- Partnership MOUs and service contract templates
- Case studies from successful scale-ups in Nigeria and Tanzania
Partner with local and regional leaders in cassava production and IITA.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

Enhanced income opportunities, access to finance, and better-quality seeds for farming.

Others: Positive medium

By increasing the availability of quality cassava seeds, improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and offering access to finance for those with limited resources.

Women: Positive high

Promotes female leadership and decision-making roles, improving gender equity and access within seed business networks.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

By improving the quality of cassava seeds, its contributes to the development of more climate-resilient crops, better able to withstand climate-related stresses.

Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement

Training and access to quality seeds enhance farmers' ability to adapt to climate change, ensuring more reliable harvests.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

By preserving local cassava varieties, contributing to the protection of biodiversity.

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

By promoting sustainable farming practices, which can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with cassava production.

Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health

By reducing the need for excessive chemical inputs, it contributes to healthier ecosystems.

Water use: Same amount of water used

Cassava’s water requirement remains unchanged, but improved crop establishment reduces replanting, promoting efficient water use.

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

By organizing seed entrepreneurs into associations, its helps reduce production costs and improve incomes.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Its improves access to quality cassava planting material, increasing yields and food security.

Goal 5: gender equality

Women are actively included in CSAM associations and benefit from training, financial access, and market linkages.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

By professionalizing cassava seed production, encouraging formalization, investment, and decent income opportunities.

Goal 10: reduced inequalities

By providing voice for smaller producers and marginalized groups by improving access to certification, markets, and financial services.

Goal 17: partnerships for the goals

By relying on public-private partnerships and multi-stakeholder collaboration to sustainably scale cassava seed systems.

Assess the need: Identify the benefits of joining or forming a seed association, including access to certification, finance, and training.
Engage potential members: Bring together a group of cassava seed entrepreneurs who are interested in joining the association.
Develop a constitution: Establish the guiding principles, objectives, and responsibilities of the association through a formal agreement.
Register the association: Officially register the association with relevant authorities to gain legal recognition.
Provide training: Organize training sessions for all members on topics like seed production, quality control, and business management.
Promote services: Raise awareness about the services offered by the association, such as access to finance and certification.
Build linkages: Establish connections with government bodies, NGOs, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to support the association.
Develop a business plan: Create a plan to guide the association’s activities and ensure its financial sustainability.