Sector Comercial de Sementes - Progressos e Perspectivas de Desenvolvimento

This work was carried out as a monitoring activity for the seed commercial sector. The commercial sector of seed is examined, in order to identify the incidence of market failure, and assess the need of specific public investments. It was found that: 1) there is no available data sets on seed sector; 2) although new rules were created to motivate the seed sector, there is still need for creation of places for companies’ registration. There is also need for the creation of lower category for classification for local origin seed; 3) there is limited demand for certified seed; 4) there is a weak linkage between the seed companies, group of seed producers, and the public sector initiatives which provide incentives for use of certified seed; however, there is a noticeable interest in producing seed by farmers; 5) the existence of one more seed company in the market, increased the competition in the sector, and increased the number of variety of seed to be chosen by the farmers. However, it is necessary to improve and simplify the procedures for companies’ registration, in order to increase the competition and the exposure of farmers to different alternatives for better choices. It is also necessary to undertake national campaigns in order to emphasize the potential benefits of new seed varieties. The new approach of seed distribution through agents must be monitored in order to play an important role in availability and diffusion of new varieties among the farmers.