Open Access

A survey was conducted in six regions of mainland Tanzania, namely Dodoma, Manyara, Singida, Songwe, Katavi, and Rukwa, covering 11 districts: Babati, Hanang’, Chemba, Kondoa, Chamwino,Bahi, Mlele, Sumbawanga, Momba, Mbozi, and Singida. The key objective was to characterize seed dealers handling dryland crops, analyze the market share and diversity of traded varieties, assess determinants of trade volume, identify challenges and opportunities in the seed system, and develop actionable recommendations for strengthening dryland crop seed delivery. A cross sectional research design and a multistage sampling technique were used to select 204 seed dealers. Data were collected through face to face interviews using a semi structured questionnaire that captured both qualitative and quantitative information. Most seed dealers handling dryland crops were Quality Declared Seed producers at 68%, followed by agrodealers at 22% and seed companies at 10%. QDS producers were widely distributed, with the highest concentrations in Dodoma and Songwe, while seed companies were mainly located in Manyara and Songwe. QDS producers primarily traded field crop seed such as sorghum, pigeonpea, groundnut, and common bean, which accounted for 67% of their business lines. Agrodealers, however, also handled a wider range of agricultural inputs including crop chemicals, veterinary products, fertilizers, livestock feed, and vegetable seed. More than half of the seed dealers, 53%, had only primary education or less, with QDS producers making up most of this group. Only 60 of the 204 dealers were members of trade associations. Market share analysis indicated that QDS producers dominated the dryland crop seed trade with 67%, while seed companies accounted for only 6%. The assessment of varietal diversity revealed a narrow range of varieties traded for sorghum, groundnut, pigeonpea, and common bean, which limits farmer access to preferred and promising varieties. This underscores the need for stronger cordination between breeders, seed producers, and market actors to better align supply with farmer demand. Dealers reported increasing demand for dryland crop seed over the past five years, with 61% of sorghum, 85% of groundnut, 67% of pigeonpea, and 90% of common bean dealers citing rising sales and enquiries. Cash on delivery remained the dominant trading arrangement. For quality assurance, 58% relied on certification from TOSCI, 28% sought regulator inspections or tests, and 20% conducted their own germination tests. Farmers’ preferred seed attributes, as reported by dealers, consistently emphasized high yield, reliable market access, grain quality, and reasonable pricing. Seed traders continue to rely on a small set of popular but ageing varieties, many of which have remained in the market for 20 to 35 years. In sorghum, Macia, released in 1998, still accounts for about 70% of all seed traded, while older varieties such as Pato from 1997 and Hakika from 2002 also remain in circula tion. Groundnut shows a similar pattern. Although Naliendele 2016 is the most traded, nearly one third of the market comes from varieties between 15 and 26 years old. Pigeonpea shows the greatest stagnation, with Mali, released in 2002 and now 22 years old, accounting for more than 80% of traded seed. Common beans show slightly more diversity, yet older varieties such as Jesca, Lyamungo 90, and Lyamungo 85 remain central to the market, while the newest release, TARIBEAN6, represents only 8%. These patterns indicate slow varietal turnover and limited diffusion of new releases. Storage practices were found to be inadequate, with many QDS producers keeping seed in their homes alongside other household commodities due to lack of dedicated storage space. This raises concerns about maintaining seed quality, especially for moisture sensitive crops. Training gaps were also evident, particularly in technical storage areas such as management of carry over seed. Regression analysis identified for significant predictors of dryland crop seed trade volumes. These were seed business experience, promotional activities, seed buying price, and packaging. Dealers with more years of experience traded an estimated 30.3 kilograms more seed on average, aligning with evidence from sub Saharan Africa that experience improves business performance, supply chain management, and farmer trust. Supporting less experienced dealers through targeted training, mentorship, and improved access to finance could therefore help close this performance gap. Promotional activities also had a significant effect. Dealers who conducted field demonstrations, advertising, or community outreach traded an average of 189.6 kilograms more seed than those who did not, reaffirming the importance of awareness creation in driving adoption of improved varieties. The survey highlighted several constraints affecting the production, distribution, and marketing ofdryland crop seeds. Key recommendations include strengthening stakeholder partnerships, expanding seed business management training, increasing participation in trade associations, improving storage and quality management practices, and expanding market access to build a more robust seed delivery system. Overall, the findings reveal a seed system with strong community based supply but limited varietal diversity, weak storage infrastructure, low business capacity, and underutilized market opportunities. Strengthening the dryland crop seed system is essential for improving farmer access to quality seed, accelerating varietal turnover, and increasing productivity in Tanzania’s dryland areas. With rising demand and clear entry points for innovation, the system is well positioned for targeted investments that can unlock commercial growth, enhance resilience, and deliver improved varieties to more farmers at scale.

Text in English