Da-Allgreen Seeds

Access to seeds for smallholder farmers and governance and accountability
Da-Allgreen Seeds has set objectives for marketing and selling its seeds to smallholder farmers, including packaging, distribution and promotions. However, it has an opportunity to expand its strategy to include other aspects of ensuring access to seeds for smallholder farmers. Its marketing team and marketing lead are responsible for implementing its access to seeds objectives. To improve accountability, the company could designate oversight of its strategy to its highest governance body.

Stakeholder engagement
The company has shown that it undertakes stakeholder engagement activities, through its involvement with the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and various international development agencies. However, it has an opportunity to disclose an overview of issues raised through these activities as well as how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders.

No relevant disclosure was found for the company in the genetic resources and intellectual property management measurement area.

Plant breeding activities in index regions and developing improved varieties of global and local crops
Da-Allgreen’s collaborative research portfolio includes six global field crops: cowpea, maize, rice (paddy), sorghum, sesame and soyabean and local crop yam. The company partners with research institutes in Nigeria to develop and test varieties suitable for smallholder farmers in the index region. It has an opportunity to expand its collaborative research portfolio to include newer varieties of crops that can help farmers cope with new developments, such as new pests and diseases or changing weather conditions as a result of a changing climate.

Seed production activities in index region and engaging smallholder farmers in seed production
The company has seed production activities in Nigeria and engages seed out-growers in its out-grower scheme for seed production, which comprises individual farmers and farmers in cooperatives and organisations. The company involves smallholder farmers in its seed production activities and offers them formal contracts, either directly or through intermediaries. The company could consider disclosing additional information regarding its seed production activities in the region.

Quality management in seed production in index countries
The company has an internal management system to ensure the quality of its seed production in index countries, however, it discloses limited information. As such, it has an opportunity to disclose how it ensures quality across its seed production.

Social and labour rights in seed production
The company does not disclose a policy committing to prohibit child and forced labour nor does it disclose a commitment to respect the health and safety of workers both when seed production is carried out by the company itself or through an intermediary. Furthermore, the company does not disclose that it pays its workers a living wage or requires its intermediaries to do so.

Demonstration and promotion strategies
Da-Allgreen Seeds has demonstration and promotion strategies that include demonstration plots, field days, radio advertisements and print marketing materials in Nigeria. The company could disclose additional details regarding its approaches to reach women smallholder farmers in index countries.

Diverse portfolio
As the company has only a few varieties for the majority of crops in its portfolio in Nigeria, it can diversify its portfolio by offering more varieties per crop.

No relevant disclosure was found for the company in the capacity building measurement area.

Maize
Rice
Sorghum

Cowpea
Maize
Rice, paddy
Sesame
Sorghum
Soyabean

Carrot
Cucumber
Okra
Onion
Pepper (hot)
Pepper (sweet)
Tomato
Watermelon

Yam

Download the portfolios of all companies in the 2021 index for Western and Central Africa here.