Dinesh Babu Thapa Magar1, Devendra gauchan2
1Scientist, Socio-economic and Agricultural Research Policy Division (SARPOD), NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur;
Email: darlami.dinesh@gmail.com
2Bioversity International, Nepal and formerly Senior Scientist, SARPOD, NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur
Abstract
This study was conducted employing a sample survey of all the identified Shrijana tomato seed producers across the country including randomly selected commercial tomato vegetable farmers and Agrovets from Kathmandu valley, Kavre, Nuwakot, Dolakha, Kaski distrcts of Nepal in FY 2013/14. The sample survey was supplemented with a focus group discussion of tomato growing farmers in each of the study districts. The result showed an involvement of public and private sectors including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and farmers groups in Shrijana seed production and supply in Nepal. The study revealed an increasing trend of production, supply and price of Shrijana tomato seed in Nepal. A total of 293 kg Shrijana seed having a value of around 47 million Nepalese rupees was produced by these actors in FY 2013/14. Private sector was the dominant actor sharing about 85% of the total Srijana seed production in Nepal and about 95% of the total seed produced was consumed domestically while 5% was even exported to India. Agro-vets who act as a means of delivering seed to the farmers received about 17% to 25% marketing margin while selling Shrijana tomato seed. Producer's share was higher (66.6%) for farmers producing Shrijana seed in technical assistance of governmental organizations followed by seed producer farmers that were technical assisted by NGOs (53.3%) and farmers producing seed in contract with the private seed companies (26.7%) respectively. Majority of the sample vegetable tomato producing farmers shared their complaints on the flow of poor quality seed in the market due to which they had declining faith towards Shrijana variety. Concerns for improving the quality of parental lines were also raised by Shrijana seed producing actors. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on improving the quality production of Shrjana parental lines as well as hybrid seed. Focus should equally be given in capacity building and strengthening of value chain actors in ensuring access and quality use of the parental lines for the quality
production and supply of Shrijana tomato seed in Nepal.
Keywords: Marketing margin, Producer's Share, Seed quality, Shrijana tomato, Seed value chain