Understanding root, tuber, and banana seed systems and coordination breakdown: a multi-stakeholder framework

TLDR

Vegetatively propagated crop seed remains true to type but is bulky, disease‑prone, and slow to produce, requiring local sourcing, freshness, and limited market sale. The article reviews 13 case studies of root, tuber, and banana VPC seed systems. An adapted framework was applied to these case studies to describe seed systems, map stakeholder roles, and identify coordination breakdowns. The framework documents VPC seed systems, diagnoses coordination breakdowns, and guides decision‑makers and donors in designing sustainable interventions, while also enabling analysis of past programs and planning of future VPC seed initiatives.

Abstract

Vegetatively propagated crop (VPC) seed tends to remain true to varietal type but is bulky, often carries disease, and is slow to produce. So VPC seed needs to be handled differently than that of other crops, e.g., it tends to be sourced locally, often must be fresh, and it is less often sold on the market. Hence, a framework was adapted to describe and support interventions in such seed systems. The framework was used with 13 case studies to understand VPC seed systems for roots, tubers, and bananas, including differing roles and sometimes conflicting goals of stakeholders, and to identify potential coordination breakdowns when actors fail to develop a shared understanding and vision. In this article, we review those case studies. The framework is a critical tool to (a) document VPC seed systems and build evidence; (b) diagnose and treat coordination breakdown and (c) guide decision-makers and donors on the design of more sustainable seed system interventions for VPCs. The framework can be used to analyze past interventions and will be useful for planning future VPC seed programs.