Cassava Seed System Advocacy and Scaling Model

From Advocacy to Action: Replicating Success with Lasting Investment

This technology is a model that helps governments and development partners improve cassava seed systems at national level. It uses advocacy, planning, and teamwork to create the right conditions for improved cassava seeds to be used widely and sustainably. The model does not produce seeds itself. Instead, it helps countries include good seed practices—like Early Generation Seed (EGS), SAH, nodal cuttings, and digital tools—into their public programs and policies. It supports local leadership, funding, and better coordination among all actors.

The approach follows six main steps: diagnosing the seed system, engaging stakeholders, integrating seed strategies into plans, building capacity, promoting innovations, and monitoring progress. It has already been used in Nigeria and Tanzania and is expanding to other countries. It has helped create stronger national plans, support seed businesses, and improve farmer access to clean, high-quality cassava seed.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•9

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

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

Gain access to training, market opportunities, and investments through policy-driven support.

The poor: Positive medium

Supported through stronger, market-based seed systems that reduce dependence on free seed distribution.

Under 18: Positive medium

May benefit from inclusive frameworks, though not directly targeted by advocacy activities.

Women: Positive medium

Included indirectly through seed entrepreneurship and policy engagement, though not the primary focus.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

The model works across diverse agro-ecological zones and promotes climate-resilient cassava seed technologies.

Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement

Improves farmer preparedness by supporting access to climate-smart varieties and good practices through national programs.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Encourages the use of multiple improved cassava varieties, helping reduce genetic erosion and supporting varietal diversity.

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Digital coordination and policy planning reduce the need for repeated physical meetings and seed distribution trips.

Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health

Promotes clean planting material and lowers the use of agrochemicals by reducing the spread of seed-borne diseases.

Problem

Free seed distribution weakens the market:
In many countries, cassava seed is still given out for free to show quick results. This creates dependency, distorts the seed market, and prevents the growth of local seed businesses.
Good models are not scaled or sustained:
Even when innovative seed system models exist, they often remain small. Without strong advocacy and funding, they are not included in national policies or budgets, and their impact stays limited.
Lack of strategic advocacy and coordination:
Cassava seed innovations are not always known or supported by key decision-makers. Without a clear strategy and coordination, these technologies fail to influence policy or attract long-term investment.
Project-based approaches don’t lead to lasting change:
Most seed system efforts are tied to short-term projects. Once funding ends, activities stop, and there are no mechanisms to sustain or expand the work.

Solution

Solving the free seed dependency problem:
The model reduces reliance on free seed by building demand for improved varieties through public-private innovation showcases and communication campaigns. It supports seed entrepreneurs and promotes commercial seed systems, helping to grow a sustainable market.
Ensuring models are scaled and sustained:
Through targeted advocacy and strong partnerships, the model helps integrate successful seed system approaches into national agricultural policies and budgets. This secures long-term support and allows innovations to move beyond pilot projects.
Addressing weak advocacy and coordination:
The model establishes dedicated advocacy platforms that bring together governments, donors, and seed system actors. These platforms ensure that cassava seed technologies are understood, supported, and prioritized by decision-makers.
Replacing short-term projects with systemic change:
By using seed system assessments, capacity building, and policy integration, the model creates national structures that last beyond individual projects. Tracking tools are used to monitor results and ensure continuity and learning.

Key points to design your project

Implementing this model requires more than technical tools—it depends on strong government leadership, coordination, and commitment. Before adopting the approach, national authorities should clearly understand what is needed to create the right policy, institutional, and financial environment. The following points offer practical guidance to help governments prepare for effective implementation, starting with the first step: engaging with the lead technical partner.

Key Points for Government Decision-Makers

Begin by contacting IITA to initiate structured engagement. To explore how the model can be adapted to your national context, reach out to IITA. Early engagement allows access to technical tools and guidance for planning and coordination.
Ensure institutional buy-in. Ministries of Agriculture, national research systems, or key development agencies should formally endorse or co-lead the process to align with national priorities and secure political support.
Organize stakeholder alignment workshops. Host inception workshops or multi-actor forums to define roles, responsibilities, and shared goals among seed regulators, researchers, extension services, and private sector actors.
Formalize collaboration through simple agreements. Use Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or collaboration agreements to clarify responsibilities and promote accountability between government entities, NGOs, and development partners.
Integrate the model into existing structures. Link the approach with ongoing cassava task forces, seed system platforms, or agricultural investment programs. This avoids duplication and maximizes existing efforts.
Use standardized tools and materials. Apply tested advocacy guides, training modules, and monitoring frameworks provided by IITA or partners. This ensures consistency, quality, and comparability across regions.
Secure early budget and political commitment. Even modest public funding signals ownership and can unlock additional donor investment. Include cassava seed system reform in national strategies and agricultural budgets.
Start with a seed system diagnosis. Before launching large-scale activities, conduct a rapid assessment to identify key policy, market, and capacity gaps.
Build on what exists. Strengthen national institutions and avoid parallel systems. This improves long-term sustainability and reduces operational costs.
Costs are scalable and flexible. Governments can start small—focusing on strategy and coordination—and expand as capacity and resources grow.

IP

Open source / open access

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
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

Supports income generation for farmers and seed entrepreneurs by creating a sustainable, market-oriented seed system.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Improves food security through wider access to clean, high-yielding cassava varieties.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Promotes job creation and strengthens seed sector institutions, supporting rural economic activity.

Goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure

Institutionalizes scalable innovations like digital seed certification and processor-led seed models.

Goal 10: reduced inequalities

Supports inclusive policies and local ownership, improving access for women and youth in rural areas.

Goal 17: partnerships for the goals

Built on partnerships among governments, donors, research institutions, and the private sector for coordinated action.

Seed System Diagnosis
Assess the current cassava seed system to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for scaling.
Stakeholder Engagement
Organize advocacy meetings, policy dialogues, and sensitization sessions with key actors such as government ministries, donors, and technical partners.
Strategy Integration
Work with national planners and funding partners to embed cassava seed system priorities into agricultural strategies, investment plans, and public programs.
Capacity Building
Train seed regulators, extension agents, seed entrepreneurs, and media actors to strengthen the overall seed system.
Innovation Promotion
Conduct demand creation trials, showcase successful cases, and promote public-private collaboration to increase awareness and uptake of improved cassava seeds.
Monitoring and Reporting
Use tracking tools to measure progress on policy change, investment, adoption, and overall system performance.