Horticulture and seed-sector development

Horticulture and seed-sector development focus on improving the cultivation and availability of fruits, vegetables, flowers and high-quality seeds, thereby enhancing the diversity and nutritional value of crops, and contributing to food and nutrition security and better health outcomes. Through research and development, improved crop varieties are created that are more resistant to pests, diseases and adverse climatic conditions, ensuring higher productivity and reliability for farmers. The overall objective of stronger horticultural and seed sectors is to ensure all farmers have access to high-quality seeds of their preferred varieties, thereby enhancing their food sovereignty.

Additionally, the development of the horticulture and seed sectors involves establishing robust supply chains and market linkages to support smallholder farmers. This includes providing access to high-quality seeds of improved varieties, training on best horticultural practices, and facilitating connections with local and international markets. Furthermore, working on a conducive enabling environment, in the form of adequate policies and regulations, is key to ensuring increased trade and investment. By strengthening these sectors, farmers can achieve higher incomes and contribute to the overall economic development of their communities. Moreover, increased availability of nutritious horticultural products promotes healthier diets and improves nutrition security.

In Ethiopia, Resilience is contributing to a stronger seed sector through the Ethiopia-Netherlands Seed Partnership. We work with local seed companies to grow their portfolios in terms of production and number of varieties, and strengthen several value chains (e.g. leafy vegetables, animal feed) important for food and nutrition security. In Côte d’Ivoire, we are establishing a Horticulture Training and Demonstration Centre together with several Dutch companies, to both train and demonstrate to farmers and youth sustainable vegetable production technologies that deliver higher yields. The project will not only increase the productivity and income of vegetable farmers, but also create employment opportunities for young people in the horticulture sector.