Empowering youth and women seed producers: a business-centric approach to Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) success

Tanzania’s dryland crop production faces a major hurdle: the limited availability and high cost of quality seeds, especially certified ones. Recognizing this critical barrier to agricultural development, the government adopted the Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) system. This FAOdeveloped approach offers a more accessible and cost-effective method for ensuring seed quality within resource constraints. By promoting locally available QDS, the initiative aims to bridge the seed access gap, enhance seed trade, and ultimately, improve food production nationwide.