The suitability of a particular seed supply system

for a given situation depends on technical, social and economic considerations, the nature of which can be very localized. National seed policies and legislation have an important impact on the development of an effective seed supply for farmers. Seed supply systems in developing countries offers an overview of biological and technological aspects of seed supply and presents different seed supply systems which operate either individually or in combination. Various local seed supply systems are reviewed: for most farmers in the tropics, such local systems are the main or only source of seed for the majority of crops. They are compared with the formal seed supply system which is a vertically-organized chain of operations, from germplasm management and variety development through to seed production, conditioning and distribution. The book is intended for agronomists, social scientists and for planners and policy makers whose work is concerned with improving the availability of good quality seed. Seed supply systems in developing countries by N P Louwaars with G A M Marrewijk 135pp ISBN 92 9081 1471 available from CTA to the readership described above.Seed supply systems in developing countries by N P Louwaars with G A M Marrewijk 135pp ISBN 92 9081 1471 available from CTA to the readership described above