TY  - PRO
AU  - Bett,Ch
AU  - CIMMYT|EARO
AU  - Muhammad,L.
AU  - Mwangi,W.M.
AU  - Njoroge,K.
ED  - Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Mexico DF (Mexico)
TI  - The seed industry in semi-arid Eastern Kenya
SN  - 92-9146-065-6
PY  - 1999///
CY  - Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
PB  - CIMMYT*EARO
KW  - Economic environment
KW  - Kenya
KW  - Maize
KW  - AGROVOC
KW  - Production economics
KW  - Production factors
KW  - Production policies
KW  - Seed industry
KW  - Seed production
KW  - Semiarid zones
KW  - Trade policies
KW  - Zea mays
KW  - CIMMYT
N2  - The arid and semi-arid region of Kenya covers about 85% of the total land area and is inhabited by approximately 20% of the population. The majority of the rural households in this region depend on the various agropastoral systems for subsistence. These are characteristically low input and low output. Seed is one of the main inputs. This paper describes the seed industry in the region, explains the roles of the various actors and the underlying factors that inf1uence the observed processes and constraints to adoption of the improved seed. Recent market reforms in the seed industry have introduced new players who generally combine seed with other businesses. In addition to the seed merchants, farmers as both producers and consumers, the government and non-governmental organizations are the main key players in the industry. Despite the presence of these interested parties, there occurs a plethora of problems that constrains the adoption of improved seed in this region. The problems were identified as poor seed quality and high production risks (high costs and unreliability of rainfall)
ER  -