MASAP - Markets and Seeds Access Project


This initiative promotes the utilization of quality seeds of drought tolerant small grains and legumes through support to farmers’ organisations and enterprises, private sector engagement and evidence-based advocacy. 94’000 smallholders will benefit from increased market participation, higher incomes, and consumption of nutritious diets.  It is implemented by NIRAS with the Community Technology Development Organisation and the Swiss-based Research Institute of Organic Agriculture.

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Zambie
Zambie et Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Agriculture et sécurité alimentaire
Sécurité alimentaire des ménages
Services agricoles & marché
Coopératives agricoles & organisations d’agricultrices/eurs
01.08.2020 - 30.11.2025
CHF  9’850’000
Contexte Women and children tend to be disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and malnutrition, which are related to an overreliance on the maize staple, combined with increasingly frequent drought episodes. Access to diverse climate adapted seed varieties is a major constraint. Commercial markets fail to provide adequate seeds of small grains and legumes resulting in farmers lacking access to them. These crops are important for women and their families’ nutritional needs, income and climatic environment. There are weaknesses and distortions in the seed sector, including poor governance, non-inclusive policies, biased investments favouring limited crops and lack of systematic coordination and collaboration among seed system actors. With its long-term investments that have enhanced the availability of affordable diversified crop varieties in Southern Africa, Switzerland has become a prominent and trusted partner in the seeds sector, and it thus well positioned to support this initiative.
Objectifs Strengthened seed value chains and increased utilisation of improved and diverse seed varieties of small grains and legumes contribute to resilient livelihoods of smallholders in Zimbabwe and Zambia. 
Groupes cibles

The primary target group are 94’000 smallholder farmers (470’000 beneficiaries) of which 60% are women and youth.

The secondary group are farmers’ associations, local seed companies, Agriculture Ministry departments (seed services, crop breeding institutions and extension) civil society organisations and policy makers. 

Effets à moyen terme

1.    Smallholder farmers – in particular women, youth and other marginalised groups - have nutritious food and higher incomes.

2.    Sustainable and predictable availability and access to affordable quality seed and related services by smallholder farmers through increased engagement of the private sector.

3.    Gender and youth responsive enabling policy environment supportive of small grains and legumes sectors’ needs and interests developed. 

Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

1.    Community owned enterprises and associations are empowered to provide services that meet the demands and needs of women, youth and other marginalised groups.

2.    Private and public sectors are incentivised and strengthened to provide access to seeds, on-farm technologies, finance and markets

3.    Increased availability and usage of evidence related to wider small grains and legumes production, processing and marketing.


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Crédit Coopération au développement
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
ONG internationale ou étrangère
Secteur privé
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Sectreur privé étranger Sud/Est


Autres partenaires
NIRAS - a Scandinavian multidisciplinary consulting limited company headquartered in Denmark - with sub-contractors, Community Technology Development Organisation and Swiss-based Research Institute of Organic Agriculture. 
Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs Synergies with the Seed and Knowledge Initiative, Strengthening Agrobiodiversity in Southern Africa, Opportunities for Youth Employment as well as the Pan African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) the Integrated Seed Sector Development Seed project, and other seed projects funded by USAID, EU, KfW, and Oxfam Novib will be strengthened. 
Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    9’850’000 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    6’718’512 Budget de l'Organisation CHF    0 Projet total depuis la première phase Budget y compris partenaires de projet CHF   25’000’000
Phases du projet Phase 1 01.08.2020 - 30.11.2025   (Phase en cours)