Kenyan seed companies East African Seed and Seed Co. secured the top two positions in the 2019 Access to Seeds Index for Eastern and Southern Africa, surpassing multinational competitors through localized agricultural solutions, according to research by the Amsterdam-based Access to Seeds Foundation. The index, first published in 2016, evaluates seed companies' impact on smallholder farmer productivity.
East African Seed, a Kenyan firm, distinguished itself with a diverse crop portfolio and extensive extension networks across multiple countries. Seed Co, originally based in Zimbabwe but now headquartered in South Africa, operates the region's most expansive breeding, production, and sales infrastructure, alongside wide-reaching agronomic training programs. Sanne Helderman, Senior Research Lead at the foundation, noted the significance of African-led companies leading the ranking: "Two African seed companies at the top of the ranking is no surprise, given their deeper understanding of the region and the challenges smallholder farmers face. But Thailand’s East-West Seed in third place is eye-catching too, because it suggests they are transferring their knowhow and experience with smallholders in Asia to Africa."
The 2019 index included 22 seed companies, with Thailand’s East-West Seed, US-based Corteva Agriscience, and Swiss firm Syngenta completing the top five. Ugandan companies Victoria Seeds, NASECO, Equator Seeds, and FICA Seeds also featured in the Top 10, highlighting regional agricultural initiatives. The report revealed uneven development, with eight companies breeding seeds in South Africa and eight producing in both Kenya and Tanzania, while extension services lagged in countries like Angola, Namibia, Madagascar, and South Sudan.
