Project description
Designing seed subsidies for smallholder farmers in Africa
Seed subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa support agricultural productivity and inclusion but adoption of improved seeds remains low. How specific input subsidy programme (ISP) features affect outcomes or how these programmes interact with broader institutional seed delivery systems is unclear. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the INSEEDS project aims to fill this gap. It will conduct a systematic review of ISP evaluations in which programme features are disaggregated and an empirical analysis of Senegal’s seed subsidy programme. Qualitative fieldwork will map how seeds move through delivery chains from central allocation to farm use. Findings are expected to inform the evidence-based redesign of more effective, inclusive seed subsidy programmes.
Objective
This project investigates how the design and implementation of seed-focused input subsidy programs (ISPs) shape agricultural productivity and inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite significant public spending, adoption of improved seeds remains low, and existing evidence on ISPs is fragmented and largely limited to short-term input uptake. Moreover, little is known about how specific design features—such as targeting criteria, distribution channels, or the type of seeds subsidized—affect outcomes, or how these programs interact with the broader institutional structure of seed delivery. This project fills this gap through a three-part research agenda.
First, I conduct a systematic review of recent ISP evaluations, focusing specifically on seed provision and disaggregating effects by design components, geographic regions, and implementation modalities. This synthesis provides a conceptual foundation for the project and highlights key channels of interest. Second, I empirically assess the effects of Senegal’s seed subsidy program on productivity and adoption using nationally representative, georeferenced household surveys merged with administrative targeting data. Third, I conduct qualitative fieldwork and institutional mapping to document how seeds move through the delivery chain, from central allocation to farm-level use. This component will identify implementation bottlenecks, supply-side failures, and behavioral responses by farmers and intermediaries.
These important findings will inform the design of more effective and inclusive subsidy programs, with relevance for other low- and middle-income countries. Through policy briefs, open data, audiovisual materials, and stakeholder engagement, the project aims to bridge the gap between research and action, contributing to sustainable agricultural transformation and better use of public resources. This work will inform future policy design.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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45128 Essen
Germany
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