The seed law adopted since 2006 in Burkina Faso remains little known as its tools are unsuited to the conditions of the farmers. So, it must be revised to take into account the knowledge levels of different seed producers. To
increase crops yields, the country has initiated an extension program of improved varieties. Despite the efforts to replace local seed system, the impact remains in general below expectation. In order to develop documentation on the seed sector and to have more information about the formal seed system, an investigation was carried out in six districts of Burkina Faso. The study revealed that the majority of farmers grow on a small area and only a small number of crops are improved seeds. Moreover, for the six districts, the study showed a weakness of this sector in Burkina Faso and a localization of the majority of seed suppliers in the sudano-sahelian area of the country. The main cultivated crops are traditional cereals and leguminous species. Nevertheless, a continuous increase of seed
suppliers was observed during the last ten years. Maize and cowpea are respectively the cereal and leguminous crops which had high certified seed production during 2001-2010 period. So, a strong complementarity between
formal and local sector is necessary. The seed policies of both sectors must be carefully developed in the country with contribution of all actors of the seed system.

Burkina Faso, Seed system, improved varieties, crops, survey