Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network
No. 36, January 2009
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In this section we invite national seed programs, projects, universities, and regional and international organizations to provide news about their seed-related activities.
Afghanistan Establishes National Seed Association
Afghanistan will soon formally register its new National Seed Association, which will become the main umbrella organization in the seed industry for advocacy and representation both at national and international levels. In preparation for this landmark registration, up to 100 stakeholders from across Afghanistan gathered at the National Seed Secretariat in Badam Bagh, Kabul for the first general assembly meeting of the Afghanistan National Seed Organization (ANSOR). This is an outcome of the unanimous agreement of stakeholders' representing the public, private and NGOs following sub-national consultations, which culminated in a wrap-up workshop in Kabul on 12 May 2008.
The meeting was organized under the aegis of the Variety and Seed Industry Development project, which is being implemented by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) with funding from the European Union (EU).
The meeting was devoted to a thorough review of the articles of association until unanimous agreement was reached on all its elements. The meeting also deliberated and made unanimous agreement on the membership structure, fees and the registration of the articles of association. The General Assembly then elected a nine member board of directors who shall manage and supervise all activities of the association and enforce the articles of association. The new Board comprises representatives of the major stakeholders including the private sector, government seed institutions and an NGO seed producer. The Board elected its President and other executive members during its first meeting.
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| The ANSOR assembly in Kabul, 19 October 2008 |
With its 30 ordinary and 2 associate members, ANSOR will work closely with the National Seed Committee in ensuring effective enforcement of the national seed policy and encourage a quick enactment of the seed law by the Afghanistan parliament. The secretariat of Afghanistan National Seed Organization is located within National Seed Secretariat in Badam Bagh, Kabul, Afghanistan (Tel: +93-700601824; E-mail: contact@afghanseed.org)
The annual seed review meeting for planning seed production in 2008/09 followed the general assembly of ANSOR. About 43 private and public seed enterprises, NGOs and agricultural research from all over Afghanistan met to finalize production planning for the 2008/09 cropping season. The meeting also gave the producers an opportunity to select the wheat varieties and estimate the quantities of foundation seed needed, and the quantities of certified seeds they would like to produce and sell next year. This plan will serve as a reference for seed producers, quality control officers and marketing agents. With a total of 532 t foundation seed of 18 improved varieties for irrigated and rainfed conditions available, it is expected that up to 16,000 t of certified wheat seed will be made available for sale to Afghan farmers in 2009. This is in comparison with the project's target output of 25,000 t certified wheat seed per year by 2011.
The meeting was held in a recently inaugurated National Seed Secretariat in Badam Bagh, Kabul. The National Seed Secretariat is situated in close proximity to the Central Seed Testing Laboratory in Kabul and accommodates the apex institutions for coordinating seed industry functions in Afghanistan, comprising the National Seed Board and its affiliated bodies namely the Variety Release Committee, the Seed and Plant Health Inspectorate, the Seed Certification Agency, and the Afghanistan National Seed Organization. The National Seed Board will be proclaimed upon ratification of the Seed Law, which is currently in parliament for consideration. The Seed Board will function as the highest body in the seed sector with overall oversight for the management of the national seed program and having autonomy and freedom to carry out its functions.
Mohammad Jawad and Sam Kugbei, Variety and Seed Development Project, FAO, Kabul, Afghanistan; E-mail: samuel.kugbei@fao.org
Egyptian Private Sector Establishes Second Seed Trade Association
The Egyptian Seed Industry Association (ESIA) was formally established and registered on 16 April 2006, under Law No. 84 of 2002. It is the second association, after the Egyptian Seed Association (ESAS). Fifteen private seed companies established the association whose membership today grew to 41 members. The membership is open to all reputable seed industry stakeholders as full and associate members, all receiving same services and privileges except for voting rights in general assembly and membership of board of directors congruent to the bylaws of the association.
ESIA's membership includes all leading seed companies in field crops (except one) with their own plant breeding program and seed processing plants. They account for 87% of maize seed production in Egypt. All leading Egyptian vegetable seed companies representing the multi-national seed companies and with their own seed testing and acclimatization stations are also members of the new association. In addition, several reputable seed traders /distributors and professional and experienced contract seed growers are members.
The main objective of ESIA is to make available quality seed and planting material and serve the Egyptian farmers in achieving higher production and productivity in the agricultural sector. The association represents the interest of its members and contributes to the dialogue of challenges facing the seed industry at national, regional and global levels. The association also contributes to the on-going national dialogue to improve the regulatory framework and enabling policy environment such as the amendments of Agriculture Law No 53 of 1966, amendments to IPR law, variety release protocols and breeders' rights recognizing the role of private sector in the seed sector.
ESIA is officially recognized and is a member of several government committees such as the Seed Council, Plant Varieties Registration Committee, Biosafety Committee, Grain Council, and Agricultural Crops Committee. In addition, ESIA maintains close relations and regular meetings with all relevant institutes of Agricultural Research Council, as well as the newly formed Agriculture Modernization Consultative Council. ESIA has seven board members elected by the general assembly every two years which in turn elect its Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
Adel Sayed Ahmed, ESIA, 10 Midan Abou Al Lethammein, Agouza; Giza 11213, Egypt; E-mail: esia_ahmed@yahoo.com
Ethiopia Establishes Seed Growers and Processors Association
Ethiopia is an agrarian country. About 86% of its population resides in rural areas and make a living from agriculture. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy in the traditional mixed crop-livestock production systems and largely practiced in the middle and highland agro-ecologies. The agricultural sector is largely under-developed and dominated by subsistence farmers, focusing on household food security.
There is a growing demand for improved seeds against a huge shortage in the country. About 90% of certified seed is supplied by a subsidized public seed enterprise. Public sector seed supply remains inadequate to satisfy a constantly growing demand from farmers. The role of the private sector in the production and marketing of seeds is low and confined to hybrid maize seed (25-30%).
A policy change is now in effect to encourage the participation of domestic and foreign companies in seed production and marketing of hybrid maize and self-pollinating crops in an attempt to address the critical shortage of improved seeds. The new strategy aimed at gradually withdrawing the public sector from production to regulatory tasks as the private sector develops and expands to take over seed production and marketing.
There is growing interest of the private sector to engage in seed production and marketing illustrated by the recent expansion of investments in commercial private farms in different parts of the country. Nevertheless, efforts have been isolated and beset with a number of policy and technical constraints. To date the private sector is too weak to take off the ground and make the anticipated contribution unless organized and backstopped by a strong policy environment.
The establishment of a national seed trade association was one essential component lacking in efforts to strengthening the private sector. The Ethiopian Seed Trade Association (ESTA) was established in 2005. To date it has only managed draft bylaws and obtain legal status. The slow progress and weak performance stemmed from lack of vision, clear work-plan, commitment and strong leadership.
ESTA, reinforced with the election of new five-member board in June 2007. The board has sets the annual plan of action and seeks financial support to kick-start activities. The association is currently undertaking the following activities: (i) establishing an office with essential facilities and forming an office management team; (ii) creating a forum for members and non-members to discuss policy and technical issues; (iii) delivering services to members; (iv) training of members; and (v) linking ESTA to African Seed Trade Association.
Objectives
The objectives of ESTA are as follows:
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To promote the use of improved quality seed conforming to national and international quality standards |
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To promote the development of seed industry for improving crop production in Ethiopia, in Africa, and the world |
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To represent the interests of the seed industry in Ethiopia and internationally |
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To improve communication between the seed industry in Ethiopia and the world |
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To promote activities that lead to regulatory harmonization in Ethiopia, Africa, and other regions to facilitate seed movement |
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To interact with national and international organization involved in seed activities to promote the interests of the seed industry |
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To improve communication between seed suppliers in Ethiopia, Africa and the entire world by providing necessary seed industry information and holding meetings, seminars, workshops, etc |
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To advise relevant government regulatory authorities in drafting rules and regulations pertaining to seed trade, etc |
Membership
Although over 20 firms are licensed to produce seed to date only the following are registered as members: three government farms (Bale state farm, Awassa state farm, Coffee plantation), Ethiopian Seed Enterprise, Pioneer Hi-bred Seeds Ethiopia and 10 local private seed companies.
Melaku Admasu, Pioneer Hi-bred Seeds Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; E-mail: melakua@ethionet.et