Characterising Tree Seed Systems (Input chains or value chains)

Characterising Tree Seed Systems

(Input chains or value chains)

Major Elements in a Tree Seed System

Seed Sources Seed Procurement Seed Distrib./Sale

The major elements of the commodity chain are the seed sources, the seed procurement methodology and the seed distribution/sale methodology

Types of Seed Sources

The type of seed source, used for description of the tree seed system, relates to the seed collection methods to be applied for the seed source.

SEED SOURCE TYPE

Natural Forests Natural vegetation, ranging from high forest to woodlands

Farmland Tree species on farms - planted or remnants of natural vegetation

Plantations Trees planted in a plantation or woodlot

Seed Orchards Trees planted in a plantation or woodlot, specifically for seed production

SOURCE TYPE

Vegetative propag. Grafts, stem cuttings, micro cuttings or somatic embryos propagated from selected clones or seedlings

NTSC National Tree Seed Centres

NARS National Agricultural Research Systems

NGO Non Governmental Organisations

FD Forest Departments

LG Local Governments

CBO Community Based Organisations

SD Seed Dealers

F Farmers

Major Actors in Tree Seed Supply Systems

Parameter Measure

Information flow needs Producers (high, low), Customers (high, low) Amounts Big, Medium, Small Species Diversity High, Medium, Low Outreach Few, Medium, High Costs High, Medium, Low Quality High, Medium, Low Sustainability High, Medium, Low Seed Handling Ability High, Low

Qualitative and Quantitative Characteristics of the Seed Supply System

Theoretical Number of Seed Systems

Se

ed

So

urc

e T

yp

e

Se

ed

So

urc

e O

wn

er

Se

ed

Pro

cu

rem

en

t M

eth

od

olo

gy

Se

ed

Dis

tribu

tion

Me

tho

do

log

y

Info

rma

tion

ne

ed

s

Am

ou

nts

of s

ee

d

Sp

ec

ies

div

ers

ity

Ou

trea

ch

Co

st o

f se

ed

Qu

ality

of s

ee

d

Su

sta

ina

bility

Se

ed

ha

nd

ling

ca

pa

bility

1 1-8 1-8 1-8 h,m,s h,m,l h,m,l h,m,l h,m,l h,m,l h,m,l h,l





All possible combinations of the parameters presented in ealier slide come to the number 11,197,440 (5x8x8x8x3x3x3x3x3x 3x3x2).

From 11,197,440 to ‘only’ 2,560 Seed Source Models

The values of the qualitative and quantitative parameters are a result of the combinations of the seed source type, the seed source owner, the seed procurement methodology and the seed distribution methodology

Seed

Sou

rce T

ype

Seed

Sou

rce O

wn

er

Seed

Pro

cu

rem

en

t Meth

od

olo

gy

Seed

Distrib

utio

nM

eth

od

olo

gy

1 1-8 1-8 1-8

2 1-8 1-8 1-8

3 1-8 1-8 1-8

4 1-8 1-8 1-8

5 1-8 1-8 1-8

From 2,560 to 40 Seed Systems

We use the seed source type as the entrance to the seed system, as we assume, that any agroforestry tree species can be referred to one or more of the five seed source types.

Seed Source Owner

Seed Procurement

Actor

Seed Distribtion

Actor

1 C C C

2 C C D

3 C D D

4 C D C

5 D D D

6 D D C

7 D C C

8 D C D

If we group the eight actors into two categories of actors, - a centralised and a decentralised, we will have only 8 (2x2x2) possible seed supply systems for each seed source type.

A centralised owner or actor is defined as an institution, company or ‘person’ of which only one or a very limited number exists, and a decentralised owner or actor is defined as an institution, company or ‘person’ of which many exists.

Definition of ‘Centralised/Decentralised’ in the

Seed System context

Centralised Owner/Actor Decentralised Owner/Actor

NTSC, NARS, FD, NGO, LG CBO, SD, F

The Validity of the ‘8 Principle Seed Models’

Let us evaluate the validity of each of the eight principle models, or in other words let us se if each of the eight principle models actually represent seed supply systems, which exist or can be established and working ‘in real life’.

Seed Supply Model

Example of operational Seed Supply Systems

1 CCC Centralised government/large NGO model NTSCs, NARS, NGOs

2 CCD Not applicable.

3 CDD Centralised seed sources, decentralised enterprise model

CBOs and SDs using NTSC’s sources

4 CDC Contract worker model CBO/F collect for NTSC

5 DDD Decentralised seed sources, decentralised enterprise model

CBOs,SDs, Fs

6 DDC Out-grower model, procurement done by producer

NTSCs, NARS, NGOs buying from CBO/F

7 DCC Out-grower model, procurement done by distributor

NTSCs, NARS, NGOs coll./sell from CBO/F sources

8 DCD Not applicable.

The 6 Valid Seed System Models

Mo

del

Info

flow

need

s

Am

ou

nts

Sp

p. D

iversity

Reach

Co

sts of seed

Qu

ality

Su

stainab

ility

Seed

Han

dlin

g

Ab

ility

1. CCC Customers - LOWProducers - LOW

B/M H/M/LL

(middlemen)H H M/L H

3. CDD Customers – HIGHProducers – LOW B/M/S H/M/L H/M L/M L/M H/M L

4. CDC Customers – LOW Producers – MEDIUM

B/M/S H/M/LL

(middlemen)H/M L/M/H M/L L

5. DDD Customers – HIGHProducers – HIGH

B/M/S H/M/L H/M L/M L/M H L

6. DDC Customers – LOWProducers - MEDIUM

B/M/S H/M/LL

(middlemen)M/H L/M M L

7. DCC Customers – LOWProducers – LOW

B/M/S H/M/LL

(middlemen)H/M M/H M/L H

Description and Evaluation of Seed Supply Systems for different Seed Sources

Mo

del

Info

flow

need

s

Am

ou

nts

Sp

p. D

iversity

Reach

Co

sts of seed

Qu

ality

Su

stainab

ility

Seed

Han

dlin

g

Ab

ility

1. CCC Customers - LOWProducers - LOW

B HL


3. CDD Customers – HIGHProducers – LOW S H H M L M L

4. CDC Customers – LOW Producers – MEDIUM

S HL

(middlemen)H L M L

5. DDD Customers – HIGHProducers – HIGH

S L H M L H L

6. DDC Customers – LOWProducers - MEDIUM

S LL

(middlemen)H L M L

7. DCC Customers – LOWProducers – LOW

S LL


“Natural Forest” Seed Source:

Assessment of Seed Supply System/Model in relation to the seed source type “Natural forest”

• 1.CCC: The most efficient model for larger scale seed collection and distribution and it is the only model that can ensure a larger scale introduction of indigenous species on farmland.

• 2.CDD and 4.CDC: These models may only be feasible for small scale collection and if used for larger scale introduction of species on farmland, it would lead to introduction of inferior material.

• 5.DDD, 6. DDC, and 7. DCC These models may only be feasible for small scale collection and if used for larger scale introduction of species on farmland, they would lead to introduction of inferior material.

Assessment of Seed Supply System/Model in relation to the other 4 seed source types

‘Farmland’:

DDD: Informal seed exchange between farmers (through gifts, barter and sale) is the common form of introduction of a species into a landscape and informal seed exchange is the way that species are commonly retained when landscapes are transformed from forest lands to farmland.Commercial operations takes place on a modest scale at many small scale nurseries that source seed from farmlands around the nursery.

DDC and CDC: Many NGOs encourage collection of seed from farmland, when supporting tree planting by farmers. A common DDC is that NGOs/projects finance the collection of seed from farmlands by farmers and then provide free seed to farmers through support to establishment of nurseries. This model may be the most frequent model of seed distribution to farmers in many tropical countries. CDC is used, when NTSC hire villagers to collect from their seed sources.

DCC: In this model the control of the seed source is with the farmer, while seed procurement and distribution is under the control of a central organisation.

A general picture of the five channels/sources of germplasm

Use of Methodology in Seed Supply System Development

It is our belief and hope, that the method can be used for:

1. Describing existing seed systems by clarifying the roles of the various actors and the pros and cons of the system in general.

2. Identifying alternative seed systems by defining which of the qualitative and quantitative parameters should be given highest priority in any given seed supply situation.

3. Identifying/proposing new roles for the actors already involved in the seed system in question.

4. Identifying the inputs needed to make the a seed system functioning.

Characterising Tree Seed Systems (Input chains or value chains)

Documents

Transcript of Characterising Tree Seed Systems (Input chains or value chains)