Tomatoes increase nutritional food security and income among Ugandan smallholder farmers who have limited access to high quality seed. The objective of this study was to analyze the current tomato seed value chain for Uganda. Survey responses determined roles of key participants, including Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) for regulation and certification; National Agricultural Research Organization for breeding cultivars and seed multiplication; Makerere University for education and research; commercial seed companies for seed importation and conditioning; seed distributors for sales; and smallholder farmers as savers and end users of seed. Challenges included an inefficient domestic seed distribution system, technical constraints in seed production and conditioning by seed companies, inadequate networks and communication among the seed industry’s key participants, and partial regulation of the seed industry. Seed companies played a key role in seed conditioning processes. Companies imported all tomato seeds into Uganda and stated germination as their primary goal for quality. Challenges for seed companies included assistance from MAAIF to regulate and certify seed and access to improved technologies. Attaining high quality seed by commercial Uganda-parent companies will require additional investment and training of seed technologists for domestic testing and seed quality assurance.

中文翻译：

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乌干达种子公司中的番茄种子价值链分析和种子调理

在获得优质种子的乌干达小农中，西红柿增加了营养食品的安全性和收入。这项研究的目的是分析乌干达当前的番茄种子价值链。调查答复确定了主要参与者的角色，包括农业，畜牧业和渔业部（MAAIF）进行法规和认证；国家农业研究组织育种和种子繁殖；马凯雷雷大学，用于教育和研究；商业种子公司，用于种子进口和调理；种子分销商；小农作为种子的储户和最终用户。挑战包括国内种子分配系统效率低下，种子生产和种子公司进行调理的技术限制，种子行业主要参与者之间的网络和沟通不足，以及种子行业的部分监管。种子公司在种子调理过程中发挥了关键作用。公司将所有番茄种子进口到乌干达，并将发芽作为其首要质量目标。种子公司面临的挑战包括MAAIF提供的协助，以对种子进行监管和认证，以及获得改良技术的途径。商业乌干达母公司要获得高质量的种子，将需要追加投资并培训种子技术人员，以进行国内测试和种子质量保证。公司将所有番茄种子进口到乌干达，并将发芽作为其首要质量目标。种子公司面临的挑战包括MAAIF提供的协助，以对种子进行监管和认证，以及获得改良技术的途径。商业乌干达母公司要获得高质量的种子，将需要追加投资并培训种子技术人员，以进行国内测试和种子质量保证。公司将所有番茄种子进口到乌干达，并将发芽作为其首要质量目标。种子公司面临的挑战包括MAAIF提供的协助，以对种子进行监管和认证，以及获得改良技术的途径。商业乌干达母公司要获得高质量的种子，将需要追加投资并培训种子技术人员，以进行国内测试和种子质量保证。