East African Seed and Seed Co. secured the top two positions in the 2019 Access to Seeds Index, which evaluates Eastern and Southern African companies on their initiatives to provide quality seeds to smallholder farmers. East African Seed achieved a score of 2.87, while Seed Co. earned 2.85 for their regional impact.
Seed Co., which originated in Zimbabwe but is now based in South Africa, climbed nine spots from its 2016 ranking. The company operates the largest seed breeding, production, and sales network across Eastern Africa, alongside extensive agronomic training programs. East African Seed improved two positions since 2016 due to expanded seed access strategies, enhanced research initiatives, and increased extension staff support for farmers.
The Kenya Seed Company placed 14th in the index, recognized for its research and marketing capabilities. Kenya Highland Seed ranked 16th, with strengths in marketing, capacity building, and governance. Ugandan firms Victoria Seeds, NASECO, Equator Seeds, and FICA Seeds also featured in the top 10, reflecting the region's focus on smallholder agriculture.
"African seed companies’ leadership in the index underscores their tailored approaches to regional farming challenges," said Sanne Helderman, Senior Research Lead at the Access to Seeds Index. "These firms demonstrate that localized models can outperform larger multinational competitors in integrating smallholder farmers."
