Seed policy in Mozambique

Abstract

Sorghum and Millet Improvement Program (SMIP) recently completed a review of seed policies in Mozambique in collaboration with the national Ministerio da Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural and Michigan State University. This study estimates Mozambique is annually losing up to US $77 million in productivity gains from the failure of the national seed system to disseminate new varieties of grain and grain legume crops currently identified on the national registration list. This includes an annual loss of US$14 million resulting from the failure to disseminate improved varieties of sorghum and pearl millet. Substantially larger sums are being lost if one considers the complementary costs of continuing food insecurity and poverty