Browsing by Author "Tripp, Robert"

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Alternatives for Seed Regulatory Reform: An Analysis of Variety Testing, Variety Regulation and Seed Quality Control
(1997) Tripp, Robert; Louwaars, Niels P.; Van Der Burg, W. Joost; Virk, D.S.; Witcombe, J.R.
"This paper summarises the findings of a recently completed project which examined the conduct of seed regulation in developing countries and produced a set of guidelines for seed regulatory reform. The three areas of seed regulation included in the study were: public sector plant breeding (particularly the management of variety testing); variety regulation (registration, performance testing and release); and seed quality control (seed certification and seed testing). Adjustment to seed regulatory frameworks is necessary because of significant changes in national seed systems. These changes include: reductions in budget for public agricultural research; the failure of many seed parastatals; increasing concern about plant genetic diversity; pressure for the establishment of plant variety protection; the increasing contributions of commercial seed enterprises; and the emergence of innovative local level variety development and seed production initiatives. There are a variety of reasons why current public seed regulation is unsatisfactory. It is not efficiently organised, often uses inappropriate standards, does not offer opportunities for farmer and seed producer participation, and is not sufficiently transparent. At the same time there are a number of options for regulatory reform. In plant breeding, more emphasis should be placed on decentralising variety testing, breeding for particular niches, and making site selection, trial management and analysis more representative of farmers' conditions. In variety regulation, simpler registration procedures are required, and the demands of plant variety protection should not be allowed to bias or limit the development and use of public and farmer varieties. Variety performance testing for release should be made more flexible. In seed quality control, standards should be re-examined for their relevance to particular farming conditions, and much of the responsibility for monitoring seed quality should be passed to seed producers and merchants, accompanied by well defined public oversight and enforcement mechanisms."
The Enabling Environment for Agricultural Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Potential Role of Donors
(2003) Tripp, Robert
"To improve agricultural technology development in Africa requires strengthening of the enabling environment, including policies, public institutions and regulations. Various types of market failure imply that markets, by themselves, will not elicit the optimum amount of technology for Africas farmers. Priorities include more responsive regulations for input supply, support for emerging enterprises, strengthening input marketing, establishing adequate intellectual property protection, and addressing the challenges of biotechnology. Donors can play an important role, but short-term project interventions must give way to longer-term strategies for support to institutions including formal policies and regulations and informal rules and procedures that encourage indigenous organisational innovation."
The Erosion of Crop Genetic Diversity: Challenges, Strategies and Uncertainties
(1996) Tripp, Robert; Van der Heide, Wieneke
"Within the past decade the concept of biodiversity has passed from the domain of academic specialists to the widespread attention of the popular press. The general public and policy makers are increasingly aware of the scope and seriousness of the disappearance of the earths genetic heritage. Although much of the debate focuses on animals and wild plant species, there is growing recognition that the diversity of cultivated crop species has vastly diminished, affecting the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers and threatening the future of agricultural development. A number of proposals and policy initiatives are being discussed to address the problem, including preparations for a global plan of action for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources which will be presented at the 4th International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, to be held under FAO auspices in Leipzig in June 1996. This paper describes the challenges to crop genetic diversity, presents some of the strategies that are being implemented to reverse the erosion of that diversity, outlines several gaps in our knowledge that must be addressed in order to make such strategies more effective, and concludes with some policy implications."
Fresh Look at Agricultural Input Regulations
(1996) Tripp, Robert; Gisselquist, David
"The role of the state in agricultural development has shifted considerably in recent years. One of the areas where this reorientation is most noticeable is the organisation of input provision. Seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers are now more likely to be distributed by traders and merchants, rather than by the government input enterprises that dominated the scene until recently. Seed production and variety development are no longer the exclusive domain of the public sector. Government extension and farm credit programmes that were often sources of subsidised inputs have been severely curtailed. On the demand-side, farmers are more familiar with commercial seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides and are more likely to be the ones choosing inputs and deciding how much to use. Population pressure has led to the intensification of cropping patterns, generating further demand for purchased inputs. Crop diversification and technical change have also contributed to a wider demand for agricultural inputs. "In the midst of these changes in agricultural input supply and demand, the issue of input regulation has often been overlooked. Government involvement in the provision of inputs has been accompanied by a regulatory role that registers and controls the inputs that are available (whether imported or produced domestically) and monitors the quality of those products once they are on the market. There has been considerable concern over how effective or useful government regulatory performance has been in the past, and with a rapidly changing agricultural situation it is even more important that government s role in the regulation of inputs be reviewed. What are the priorities for regulation? When should a government regulatory agency have primary responsibility, and when is it more effective to rely on markets and consumers?"
GMO's and NGO's: Biotechnology, the Policy Process, and the Presentation of Evidence
(2000) Tripp, Robert
"The purpose of this paper is not to arrive at conclusions about biotechnology's relevance for agricultural development, but rather to point out certain implications and weaknesses in the arguments on both sides."
Information Exchange in Commercial Seed Markets in Rajasthan
(1998) Tripp, Robert; Pal, Suresh
"Although it is widely agreed that the private sector should take major responsibility for input delivery, concerns are often expressed about the degree to which commercial firms address the needs of resource-poor farmers. This paper examines the performance of the pearl millet seed market in a part of Rajasthan that is gradually increasing its utilisation of commercial inputs. The analysis focuses on the exchange of information between farmers and seed providers. About two-thirds of the farmers plant commercial pearl millet seed (public or private hybrids). They easily distinguish between hybrids and local varieties, but relatively few farmers are able to recognise the names or characteristics of the different commercial hybrids. Farmers are also confused about the names of public and private seed companies, When choosing which seed to purchase, farmers tend to rely on the advice of other farmers or merchants. Information flow from farmers to seed companies and plant breeders is also deficient. Despite these problems, commercial seed market expansion has had a positive effect on farm productivity. Suggestions are made for improving farmers' awareness of the characteristics of the seed market and for providing more opportunities for farmer feedback regarding varietal performance."
Is Low External Input Technology Contributing to Sustainable Agricultural Development?
(2006) Tripp, Robert
"Low external input technology (LEIT) is a prominent feature of many discussions about the role of agricultural technology in rural poverty reduction. There is a widespread conviction the LEIT is more accessible to resource-poor households and can be the basis for human and social capital formation. This paper summarises a recent review of the subject, presents findings on the outcomes of LEIT, and draws more general implications for donor strategies in agricultural technology generation."
Public Plant Breeding in an Era of Privatisation
(2000) Tripp, Robert; Byerlee, Derek
"Both agricultural research and national seed systems are undergoing increasing privatisation. Although there are a number of possibilities for making public agricultural research more efficient and better able to interact with the private sector, the major opportunities are in plant breeding. This paper examines the possibilities and limitations associated with revenue generation through public plant breeding; the opportunities for moving the products of public plant breeding through the private sector; and the need for increased contacts with, and contributions from, private research."