National breeding programs and variety release processes: A systematic review of how the interactions shape diversity and adoption of dryland legumes and cereals in Africa.

This article examines the systemic challenges in national breeding programs and variety registration and release processes affecting the development, availability, and adoption of improved dryland legumes and cereals in Africa. It highlights that breeding efforts predominantly focus on staple crops like maize and rice, while dryland crops such as millets, sorghum, cowpeas, and groundnuts receive limited attention due to constrained resources, weak regulatory frameworks, and poor coordination among stakeholders including National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), International Agricultural Research Centers (IARCs), seed companies, and farmers. The study identifies inefficiencies in early-generation seed (EGS) production and distribution, lengthy and costly variety registration procedures, and inadequate communication between breeders and farmers as key barriers to seed accessibility and crop diversity. To enhance agricultural resilience and productivity, the article recommends streamlining seed production and variety release processes, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, updating regulatory frameworks, and investing in infrastructure and capacity-building tailored to underutilized dryland crops.