Executive Summary
Somalia’s seed sector is vital for agricultural growth, food security, and rural livelihoods, yet it continues to face a range
of systemic challenges. Supply and demand remain imbalanced, with farmers often lacking timely access to quality seeds
while imports (for Vegetable Seeds) and humanitarian distributions dominate the market. In response to this challenge,
Ugbaad project specifically focusing on developing seed system to spur adoption was needed. The Climate Resilient
Agriculture in Somalia (Ugbaad) is a seven-year (2024–2031) program funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF). The aim is
to promote sustainable agriculture, improve water and input access, strengthen institutions and develop dependable seed
supply system that delivers climate-resilient, high yielding varieties to farmers and pastoralists.
The sector has seen progress with the establishment of SARIS, enactment of the Seed and Plant Variety Law, release of
new crop varieties, and emergence of private seed companies—laying the groundwork for a formal seed system. To support
evidence-based policy and investment decisions, a Seed Market Analysis was commissioned in September 2025 under
the Ugbaad Project by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MoAI). The study aimed to assess seed supply and
demand, pricing, and value chain bottlenecks across Southwest, Hirshabelle, Jubaland States, and Mogadishu. Using
a mixed-methods approach, it collected data from 504 farmers, 21 seed producers, 26 agro-dealers, and 12 institutions
(including MoAI, SARIS, NGOs, and universities). The findings, validated by MoAI and SARIS, provide a comprehensive
understanding of the seed sector’s performance—focusing on availability, accessibility, affordability, and quality—and
will inform national reforms and investments under Somalia’s National Agricultural Transformation Plan (2025–2029).