Stephanie Maylon / CIAT POLICY BRIEF
Challenges and opportunities in the improved forage seeds 
market in selected East and West African countries
Jesús Fernando Flórez; Peggy Karimi; John Jairo Junca Paredes; Natalia Triana Ángel; Stefan Burkart
International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Forages Program
INTRODUCTION 
KEY MESSAGES In Africa, as in the rest of the world, cattle farming is becoming 
increasingly important. The demand for products of animal 
y Key players in the improved forage sector anticipate origin is expected to rise due to population growth, increased 
sustained growth in seed demand in the coming family income, and the expansion of urban centers. Africa 
years, both in East and West Africa. hosts a third of the global cattle population, contributing to 
y Among the main challenges are high seed prices, about 40% of the continent's agricultural gross domestic 
delays in the registration process for new varieties, product (Balehegn et al., 2021). Cattle farming in Africa is crucial 
and limited awareness among producers regarding economically, socially, and environmentally, necessitating 
their use and benefits. strategies for sector improvement. Since forages are the 
primary feed source for cattle, animal nutrition should be a 
y A virtuous circle for the adoption of improved forages central focus in designing these strategies, presenting an 
is identified in the selected African countries. opportunity for enhancement. On the continent, the adoption 
Stakeholders share common interests but must of improved forages has proven to be a successful strategy 
collaborate cohesively to activate this virtuous circle for enhancing sector productivity in terms of quantity and 
in the coming years. quality. It also improves climate change adaptation and 
mitigation (Enciso et al., 2021; Enciso and Burkart, 2019; Maina 
et al., 2020; Schiek et al., 2018; Sandoval et al., 2023).
The seed market is crucial for promoting the adoption of 
improved forages. Coordinated efforts among key players in 
the forage value chain, including seed developers, seed import 
and trading companies, government entities, development 
organizations, producer associations, and cattle farmers, 
are essential for the proper functioning of this market. This 
qualitative study aims to develop a descriptive analysis of the 
behavior of the improved forage seed market in selected East 
and West African countries in recent years. It also provides 
a perspective on the expected evolution of this market in 
the coming years, along with identifying key challenges and improved forages, the most frequently used ones are 
improvement opportunities. Megathyrsus maximus and Urochloa spp. (e.g., Urochloa 
hybrids cvs. Mulato II, Cayman, Camello, and Cobra). 
MATERIALS AND METHODS Market perspectives 
A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured The interviewed key players expect the current market growth 
interviews with key actors in the forage value chain, as trend to continue in the coming years, with an increase in 
mentioned in the introduction. This qualitative methodology demand for seeds and sales. Achieving a more rapid growth 
was chosen as it was deemed more appropriate for gaining in seed supply is crucial to closing the gap between supply 
a deep understanding of the perceptions of key actors and demand and stabilizing prices. Regarding varieties, it is 
and for identifying the main challenges as reported by the anticipated that the continued growing popularity of Urochloa 
interviewees. Between October and December 2022, a total spp. and Megathyrsus maximus will continue. It is essential 
of 43 interviews involving 48 individuals were conducted, for research centers, governments, and development 
spanning 10 countries and involving 22 institutions, organizations to continue promoting the adoption of 
organizations, and companies. The selected countries these varieties. The interviewees hope that plant breeding 
include Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Senegal, programs, such as the one at CIAT in Colombia, will persist 
Mali, Benin, Madagascar, and Rwanda. For each type of key in improving existing varieties and generating new ones. Key 
actor, an interview guide was designed, consisting of three requirements for plant breeding programs, as highlighted by 
sections focused on each of the research questions: i) market the interviewees, include:
development, ii) market perspectives, and iii) challenges and 
improvement opportunities. Additionally, in October 2022, y Continue with hybrid breeding, i.e., of Urochloa spp. and 
various dairy farms where improved forages are cultivated Megathyrsus maximus.
were visited in Kenya, and the perspectives of eleven y Start working on the improvement of local African 
producers were collected to enrich the present study.  varieties, i.e., Cenchrus purpureus and Chloris gayana. 
Start improvement of legumes such as Medicago sativa 
RESULTS and Desmodium spp.
y Increase biomass production.
Recent market behavior and development y Enhance the nutritional quality of forages.
The improved forage seeds market is an emerging market 
in Africa, where local forage varieties still predominantly y Work on the environmental adaptation of forages.
serve as a source of feed for cattle. It is important to note y Develop resistance to pests and diseases, especially 
that forage cultivation in Africa is a common practice in dairy resistance to spider mite.
farming. Therefore, improved forages have garnered more y Increase drought tolerance and reduce water 
interest from dairy producers rather than beef producers. requirements for forage cultivation.
The following is a brief description of the market behavior in 
recent years. y Improve the palatability and digestibility of forage for 
increasing animal welfare.
y Local forage varieties are the main feed source in dairy 
farming. y Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Develop forage 
varieties that can reduce CH4 emissions from ruminants.
y Sustained growth in demand and prices of improved 
forage seeds has been observed.
y Currently, there is a deficit in seed supply in the region, 
i.e., demand outstrips supply, and if this gap is not closed, 
prices will continue to rise.
y The sales price ranges between 40-50 US$/kg, posing a 
barrier to access this technology for producers.
y The most used varieties in the region are local varieties, 
mainly Cenchrus purpureus and Chloris gayana. Regarding 
CIAT
2 | POLICY BRIEF
Challenges and improvement opportunities more accessible prices through bulk purchases. Finally, at the 
The interviewees identified three major challenges and foundation of this value chain, dairy producers are interested 
improvement opportunities for the improved forage seeds in improved forages to increase milk production, reduce land 
market: use for feed production, and mitigate vulnerability to climate 
change. To realize the market's potential, specific strategies 
i. Seed prices: The primary constraint is access to seeds are needed to address its main constraints, such as i) the 
for producers due to their high price (40-50 US$/kg), which sustained increase in seed prices, ii) the complex process of 
is associated with seed scarcity and high transportation registering new varieties, and iii) the low knowledge levels 
costs for importing seeds, as they are not produced in the among producers. 
region. Transportation costs increased significantly with the 
COVID-19 crisis and the temporary disruption of the global 
supply chains. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ii. Registration of new varieties: This process is quite This work was carried out as part of the One CGIAR Initiatives 
Market Intelligence (MI) and Sustainable Animal Productivity 
complex and delays the introduction of new varieties to the 
(SAP). We thank all donors who globally support our work 
region, creating a disincentive for importation. The regulatory 
through their contributions to the CGIAR System. The views 
authority responsible for registering new seed varieties in one 
expressed in this document may not be taken as the official 
of the prioritized countries described the process in three 
views of these organizations.
main steps: i) the importing company submits the request to 
the regulatory authority, ii) the regulatory authority conducts 
stability and adaptation tests in different agroecological REFERENCES
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Africa with a focus on the environment. Animal Frontiers 11(4): 
variety, and authorized for commercialization. The regulatory 47-56. doi.org/10.1093/af/vfab034
authority acknowledges that this process is slow and involves Enciso, K., Burkart, S. (2019). Evaluación económica de materiales 
significant administrative burden. forrajeros en Colombia. Centro Internacional de Agricultura 
Tropical (CIAT), Cali, Colombia. 36p. hdl.handle.net/10568/106847
iii. Knowledge: Improved forages can be more challenging to 
Enciso, K., Charry, A., Castillo, Á.R., Burkart, S. (2021). Ex-Ante 
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producers still have limited knowledge about these forages the Colombian Orinoquía. Frontiers in Environmental Science 9. 
and their on-farm management, and many of them, i.e., in doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.673481
remote areas of the countries, are not even aware of their Maina, K.W., Ritho, C.N., Lukuyu, B.A., Rao, E.J.O. (2020). Socio-
economic determinants and impact of adopting climate-smart 
existence. Consequently, it is challenging for producers to Brachiaria grass among dairy farmers in Eastern and Western 
decide to replace local varieties with improved forages. regions of Kenya. Heliyon 6(6): e04335. doi.org/10.1016/j.
heliyon.2020.e04335
CONCLUSIONS Sandoval, D., Flórez, J.F., Enciso, K., Sotelo, M., Burkart, S. (2023). 
Economic-environmental assessment of silvo-pastoral systems 
in Colombia: An ecosystem service perspective. Heliyon 9(8): 
The improved forage seeds market is a growing market with e19082. doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19082
significant potential in the studied countries of East and West Schiek, B., González, C., Mwendia, S., Prager, S.D. (2018). Got forages? 
Africa. There exists a virtuous circle that includes the specific Understanding potential returns on investment in Brachiaria 
interests of the sector’s key players that can facilitate the spp. for dairy producers in Eastern Africa. Tropical Grasslands-
Forrajes Tropicales 6(3): 117–133. doi.org/10.17138/TGFT(6)117-133
acceleration of the adoption of these forages in the region: 
Research centers aim to continue their plant breeding 
programs and seed selection to improve existing varieties and ABOUT THE AUTHORS
introduce new ones to the market. Similarly, seed companies 
Fernando Flórez Economist. j.f.florez@cgiar.org 
are interested in expanding their seed offerings both in quantity 
and variety diversification. Governments and development Peggy Karimi Agronomist. p.karimi@cgiar.org
organizations express their interest in continuing to support Jhon Jairo Junca Economist. j.j.junca@cgiar.org 
and finance the promotion and adoption of improved forages. 
Dr. Natalia Triana Anthropologist. n.triana@cgiar.org
Producer associations plan to form partnerships with seed 
companies to distribute varieties among their members at Dr. Stefan Burkart Economist. s.burkart@cgiar.org 
Improved forage seeds market in East and West Africa 3
CORRECT CITATION
Flórez, J.F.; Karimi, P.; Junca, J.J.; Triana-Ángel, N.; Burkart, S. (2023) Challenges and 
opportunities in the improved forage seeds market in selected East and West 
African countries. Cali (Colombia): CGIAR Initiative on Market Intelligence. 4 p. 
CIAT
CONTACT
Stefan Burkart
    s.burkart@cgiar.org
alliancebioversityciat.org cgiar.org
November 2023