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.

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Sambia e Zimbabwe
Agricoltura e sicurezza alimentare
Sicurezza alimentare domestica
Servizi agricoli & mercato
Cooperative agricole & organizzazioni di produttori agricoli
01.08.2020 - 30.11.2025
CHF  9’850’000
Contesto 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.
Obiettivi 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. 
Gruppi target

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. 

Effetti a medio termine

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. 

Risultati

Risultati principali attesi:  

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.


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Credito Cooperazione allo sviluppo
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
ONG internazionale o straniera
Economia privata
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Settore privato straniero Sud/Est


Altri partner
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. 
Coordinamento con altri progetti e attori 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 Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    9’850’000 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    5’865’937 Budget dell'organizzazione CHF    0 Progetto totale dalla prima fase Budget inclusi partner del progetto CHF   25’000’000
Fasi del progetto Fase 1 01.08.2020 - 30.11.2025   (Fase in corso)