By Deborah Olaoluwa
Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) in collaboration with the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), the Mastercard Foundation, and eProd Solutions Ltd hosted stakeholders to a Regional Capacity-Building Workshop on Strengthening Rice Seed Networks in Africa from August 25 to 27, 2025, in Mbé, Côte d’Ivoire.
The workshop, with the theme “Revolutionising the Rice Value Chain through Improved Information Access and Partnerships,” seeks to enhance the capacity of national and regional rice seed networks. The focus is on improving the production, dissemination, and adoption of high-quality seeds from climate-resilient rice varieties.
Over 100 stakeholders from 18 African countries—including Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Mali, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Cameroon participated.
Representatives from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), seed companies, meteorological departments, and digital service providers equally attended.
The workshop explored using digital innovations to improve seed system efficiency, foster business-to-business linkages among seed value chain actors, and establish pathways for strengthening climate services and early warning systems for rice farmers and processors.
The workshop reinforced participants’ understanding of robust, transparent, and sustainable seed systems that boost farmer confidence, increase productivity, and contribute significantly to food security and resilience across the continent by equipping them with tools, knowledge, and practical strategies.
