Characterising Tree Seed Systems (Input chains or value chains)

Major Elements in a Tree Seed System Seed SourcesSeed ProcurementSeed Distrib./Sale The major elements of the commodity chain are the seed sources, the seed procurement methodology and the seed distribution/sale methodology

Types of Seed Sources The type of seed source, used for description of the tree seed system, relates to the seed collection methods to be applied for the seed source. SEED SOURCE TYPE Natural ForestsNatural vegetation, ranging from high forest to woodlands FarmlandTree species on farms - planted or remnants of natural vegetation PlantationsTrees planted in a plantation or woodlot Seed OrchardsTrees planted in a plantation or woodlot, specifically for seed production SOURCE TYPE Vegetative propag.Grafts, stem cuttings, micro cuttings or somatic embryos propagated from selected clones or seedlings

NTSC National Tree Seed Centres NARS National Agricultural Research Systems NGO Non Governmental Organisations FD Forest Departments LG Local Governments CBO Community Based Organisations SD Seed Dealers F Farmers Major Actors in Tree Seed Supply Systems

Parameter Measure Information flow needs Producers (high, low), Customers (high, low) Amounts Big, Medium, Small Species Diversity High, Medium, Low Outreach Few, Medium, High Costs High, Medium, Low Quality High, Medium, Low Sustainability High, Medium, Low Seed Handling Ability High, Low Qualitative and Quantitative Characteristics of the Seed Supply System

Theoretical Number of Seed Systems Seed Source Type Seed Source Owner Seed ProcurementMethodology Seed DistributionMethodology Information needs Amounts of seed Species diversity Outreach Cost of seed Quality of seed Sustainability Seed handlingcapability 11-8 h,m,sh,m,l h,l 21-8 h,m,sh,m,l h,l 31-8 h,m,sh,m,l h,l 41-8 h,m,sh,m,l h,l 51-8 h,m,sh,m,l h,l

All possible combinations of the parameters presented in ealier slide come to the number 11,197,440 (5x8x8x8x3x3x3x3x3x 3x3x2). From 11,197,440 to ‘only’ 2,560 Seed Source Models The values of the qualitative and quantitative parameters are a result of the combinations of the seed source type, the seed source owner, the seed procurement methodology and the seed distribution methodology Seed SourceTypeSeed SourceOwner SeedProcurementMethodology SeedDistributionMethodology

From 2,560 to 40 Seed Systems We use the seed source type as the entrance to the seed system, as we assume, that any agroforestry tree species can be referred to one or more of the five seed source types. Seed Source Owner Seed Procurement Actor Seed Distribtion Actor 1CCC 2CCD 3CDD 4CDC 5DDD 6DDC 7DCC 8DCD If we group the eight actors into two categories of actors, - a centralised and a decentralised, we will have only 8 (2x2x2) possible seed supply systems for each seed source type.

A centralised owner or actor is defined as an institution, company or ‘person’ of which only one or a very limited number exists, and a decentralised owner or actor is defined as an institution, company or ‘person’ of which many exists. Definition of ‘Centralised/Decentralised’ in the Seed System context Centralised Owner/ActorDecentralised Owner/Actor NTSC, NARS, FD, NGO, LGCBO, SD, F

The Validity of the ‘8 Principle Seed Models’ Let us evaluate the validity of each of the eight principle models, or in other words let us se if each of the eight principle models actually represent seed supply systems, which exist or can be established and working ‘in real life’. Seed Supply Model Example of operational Seed Supply Systems 1CCCCentralised government/large NGO modelNTSCs, NARS, NGOs 2CCDNot applicable. 3CDDCentralised seed sources, decentralised enterprise model CBOs and SDs using NTSC’s sources 4CDCContract worker modelCBO/F collect for NTSC 5DDDDecentralised seed sources, decentralised enterprise model CBOs,SDs, Fs 6DDCOut-grower model, procurement done by producer NTSCs, NARS, NGOs buying from CBO/F 7DCCOut-grower model, procurement done by distributor NTSCs, NARS, NGOs coll./sell from CBO/F sources 8DCDNot applicable.

The 6 Valid Seed System Models Model Info flow needs Amounts Spp. Diversity Reach Costs of seed Quality Sustainability Seed HandlingAbility 1. CCC Customers - LOW Producers - LOW B/MH/M/L L (middlemen) HHM/LH 3. CDDCustomers – HIGH Producers – LOWB/M/SH/M/LH/ML/M H/ML 4. CDCCustomers – LOW Producers – MEDIUM B/M/SH/M/L L (middlemen) H/ML/M/HM/LL 5. DDDCustomers – HIGH Producers – HIGH B/M/SH/M/LH/ML/M HL 6. DDCCustomers – LOW Producers - MEDIUM B/M/SH/M/L L (middlemen) M/HL/MML 7. DCC Customers – LOW Producers – LOW B/M/SH/M/L L (middlemen) H/MM/HM/LH

Description and Evaluation of Seed Supply Systems for different Seed Sources Model Info flow needs Amounts Spp. Diversity Reach Costs of seed Quality Sustainability Seed HandlingAbility 1. CCC Customers - LOW Producers - LOW BH L (middlemen) HHM/LH 3. CDDCustomers – HIGH Producers – LOWSHHMLML 4. CDCCustomers – LOW Producers – MEDIUM SH L (middlemen) HLML 5. DDDCustomers – HIGH Producers – HIGH SLHMLHL 6. DDCCustomers – LOW Producers - MEDIUM SL L (middlemen) HLML 7. DCC Customers – LOW Producers – LOW SL L (middlemen) HHM/LH “Natural Forest” Seed Source:

Assessment of Seed Supply System/Model in relation to the seed source type “Natural forest” 1.CCC: The most efficient model for larger scale seed collection and distribution and it is the only model that can ensure a larger scale introduction of indigenous species on farmland. 2.CDD and 4.CDC: These models may only be feasible for small scale collection and if used for larger scale introduction of species on farmland, it would lead to introduction of inferior material. 5.DDD, 6. DDC, and 7. DCC These models may only be feasible for small scale collection and if used for larger scale introduction of species on farmland, they would lead to introduction of inferior material.

Assessment of Seed Supply System/Model in relation to the other 4 seed source types ‘Farmland’: DDD: Informal seed exchange between farmers (through gifts, barter and sale) is the common form of introduction of a species into a landscape and informal seed exchange is the way that species are commonly retained when landscapes are transformed from forest lands to farmland. Commercial operations takes place on a modest scale at many small scale nurseries that source seed from farmlands around the nursery. DDC and CDC: Many NGOs encourage collection of seed from farmland, when supporting tree planting by farmers. A common DDC is that NGOs/projects finance the collection of seed from farmlands by farmers and then provide free seed to farmers through support to establishment of nurseries. This model may be the most frequent model of seed distribution to farmers in many tropical countries. CDC is used, when NTSC hire villagers to collect from their seed sources. DCC: In this model the control of the seed source is with the farmer, while seed procurement and distribution is under the control of a central organisation.

A general picture of the five channels/sources of germplasm

Use of Methodology in Seed Supply System Development It is our belief and hope, that the method can be used for: 1.Describing existing seed systems by clarifying the roles of the various actors and the pros and cons of the system in general. 2.Identifying alternative seed systems by defining which of the qualitative and quantitative parameters should be given highest priority in any given seed supply situation. 3.Identifying/proposing new roles for the actors already involved in the seed system in question. 4.Identifying the inputs needed to make the a seed system functioning.