Executive summary -- 1. Background -- 2. Old approaches, new trends -- 3. Toward a new strategy -- Bibliography -- Boxes -- Tables -- Figure.

This study emphasizes the increasing importance of improved seeds in agricultural development and advocates a re-direction in the strategies of governments and donor agencies in their support of seed system development in developing and formerly centrally-planned countries. The paper reviews the nature and limitations of past assistance and interventions in this area, highlights several global technological and economic trends which are and will continue to strongly influence the development and dissemination of seed-based technology, and develops a strategy for future assistance. The strategy centers around policy and institutional reforms and an array of mechanisms to support the seed producing and marketing activities of farmers, specialized seedsmen, private enterprises and other non-governmental organizations. The strategy sees the private sector taking increasing responsibility for the production and delivery of seed products and calls for greater attention to support for informal, farmer- or community-based, seed supply arrangement. It also recognizes the critical and complementary roles of the public sector in the areas of research, training, quality assurance, and promotion. The paper provides guidelines for pragmatically phasing in greater private sector activity. Examples of effective recent policy reforms and collaborative public and private sector activities in several countries are highlighted.