A blog on the Lal Teer site ends with information the SDGs and the Access to Seeds Index:
SDG and Access to Seed
193 Member States of the United Nations have adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015 which are the priorities for the world upto 2030. There are 17 SDGs in total. Improving the productivity of smallholder farmers is one of the main target. Smallholder farmers need to not only produce more food, but at the same time adapt their agricultural practices to changing weather conditions caused by climate change. By improving access to quality seeds, seed companies can make a vital contribution in supporting smallholder farmers with overcoming this challenge.
Access to Seed Index
The Access to Seeds Index an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of the Netherlands, aims to encourage seed companies to step up their efforts to support smallholder farmer productivity. By benchmarking seed companies the index gives credit to companies that show leadership and encourages others to follow their example. It also provides valuable information for governments, research institutes and donors interested in breeding partnerships with seed companies. The Index had explored the contribution of seed companies in six dimensions; availability, affordability, sustainability, capability, profitability and autonomy. It also reviewed the activities in breeding, production, marketing & adoption and how companies are tailored to smallholder farmers.
Ranking of LTSL in South & South East Asia
In 2019 Access to Seeds Index for South & Southeast Asia (17 countries) published recently, Lal Teer Seed Limited ranked 13 for their leadership to support the productivity of the smallholder farmers. The evaluation is made at the global and regional level, including the differences and similarities in the roles global and regional companies play in reaching smallholder farmers.
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