NAFASO

Access to seeds for smallholder farmers and governance and accountability
The company’s access to seeds strategy prioritises three measurement areas. For marketing and sales, it has set targets for demonstrations, distribution points and promotion strategies, and in capacity building it has targets for training programmes, while in seed production it focuses on expanding its producers into target areas. The company’s head of production, quality manager and sales team are responsible for implementing various aspects of its access to seeds strategy for smallholder farmers. To improve in this area, the company can expand its strategy to include other aspects of ensuring access to seeds and can assign its highest governance body responsibility for overseeing its strategy.

Stakeholder engagement
NAFASO undertakes stakeholder engagement activities with organisations such as Africa Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and the National Union of Seed Producers of Burkina Faso, covering topics like variety research and distribution of seeds. However, the company can disclose 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 countries and variety testing
The company has collaborative breeding activities in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. In addition, it indicates that it works with public research institutes on research projects, such as “OneRice” with AfricaRice, to develop and deliver improved varieties of rice faster to smallholder farmers in the index region. In three of the 14 index countries where it is active, the company also performs variety trials on crops from other breeding programmes, such as those of public research institutes. NAFASO could disclose more information across the research and development measurement area, particularly about its collaborative research projects.

Seed production activities in index region
The company has seed production locations in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, where it involves local companies, farmer organisations and cooperatives, as well as intermediaries and local farmers. Smallholders carry out the company’s entire seed production in Cote d’Ivoire. The company, however, it has the opportunity to disclose additional details of its seed production activities

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.

Diverse portfolio
The company has four or more varieties for the majority of crops in its portfolio in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Sierra Leone, and it offers both open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and hybrids for the majority of crops in its regional portfolio.

Quality assurance and after-sales
The company has implemented quality management systems that include monitoring its distribution network, conducting certification tests every six months to ensure that seeds are not sold past their shelf life and providing after-sales support through a telephone number for customer feedback. NAFASO can improve its disclosure in this area regarding its quality assurance system and measures taken to prevent the sale of counterfeit seeds.

Demonstration and promotion strategies
The company has demonstration and promotion programmes, including demonstration plots and radio advertisements in Burkina Faso. However, it can disclose further information about programmes that specifically target women smallholder farmers.

Information and communications technology (ICT)
The company partners with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) to provide ICT services for smallholder farmers. This included information on seed prices and information on farming practices.

Extension services
The company provides extension services through partnerships in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. It has reached 1 million farmers in the region, but it has the opportunity to provide examples as to who these include.

Cowpea
Maize
Rice

Cowpea
Groundnut
Maize
Millets
Potato
Rice, paddy
Sesame
Sorghum
Soya bean

Cabbage
Cucumber
Eggplant
Green bean
Okra
Onion
Pepper (hot)
Tomato

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