3.1 Guiding Principles

Seed Production, Distribution and Import of
Seed and Planting Material (SPM) of Field Crops
for
AFGHANISTAN

National Seed Policy (NSP)
The first step in creating and maintaining an improved seed supply for farmers is to establish a formal, official government policy-a National Seed Policy.

The NSP has the effect of law and reflects the Government's official approach to seed. The NSP sets out what Government will do, how it views seed supply, and how it will support seed development.

A NSP is the first step in creating an economic environment in which government programs and private sector agencies will be willing to invest their money and efforts in seed. A seed program is a long-term investment. No one is willing to make a long-term investment unless they can be sure of economic, political and operating stability that will permit them to recover and make a profit from their investment.

A good NSP creates the framework and establishes the overall guiding principle on which a country's seed industry is based and encourages the development of the essential infrastructure, institutions, operating procedures, and standards of performance.

The National Seed Law sets out the legal framework and regulations in which the country's seed industry operates. There must be an implementation agency and staff trained, equipped and funded adequately to serve both farmers and seed suppliers.

This will require a network of facilities including Official Seed Testing Laboratories, to measure seed quality. Seed Health Laboratories can be combined with Plant Quarantine programs.

An efficient way to implement this might to combine Seed Law implementation, seed testing, and seed certification under the umbrella of one agency. This should be discussed in detail with MOAL.

The main purpose of the NSP is to ensure that farmers receive good seed of established standards, national interests are protected, and investors in the seed industry are rewarded for their investment, management and technical skills, and the risks they take.

Definition of "Guiding Principles"
Guiding principles provide a practical operating guide and common cooperative approach that is followed by all to help maximize effectiveness and ensure maximum benefit for the majority of farmers in Afghanistan. For seed supply, this involves identifying, emphasizing and implementing those aspects-technical, operational, managerial, marketing, business, ethical, etc.-that ensure that farmers receive the best possible seed.

Why "Guiding Principles"?
Many assistance agencies (national, international, bilateral, multilateral, FAO, ICARDA, NGOs, etc., hereinafter referred to as AGENCIES) are trying conscientiously to help Afghanistan rebuild and develop its agricultural sector.

There is a need to establish guidelines and common procedures to (1) help AGENCIES maximize benefit to Afghanistan from investments made, (2) maintain trust and respect of the Afghan people, and (3) minimize confusion, harmful effects, and wasteful duplication. This is particularly important for seed and planting materials, since these could be subject to deterioration and abuse, and could introduce other problems.

These Guiding Principles are intended to be reviewed, revised, and improved as further experience is gained from seed activities.

Effects on "Informal" and "Formal" Seed Sectors
In Afghanistan's emergency situation, except for FAO's program, little infrastructure of a formal seed sector remains in operation. Throughout most of Afghanistan, the informal seed sector is predominant. This consists essentially of farmers who produce seed for planting their own fields or for farmer-to-farmer exchange and/or sale. These local seed systems have continued operating in spite of the drought and hostilities that have taken place during the past 20 years. Any seed operation must be careful not to destroy these resilient systems that have helped the communities survive during these difficult years.

However, these informal sector farmers often do not have sufficient training, resources or facilities to produce large volumes of high-quality seed. It is essential to provide them with the maximum support, equipment, stock seed, and training.

                                         Code of Conduct: Guiding Principles
Agency Coordination
1. A Coordinating Committee for Seed Sector Development (CCSSD) should be established under the umbrella of the MOAL, to be chaired by the Deputy Minister. This committee will consist of voting members who are representatives of departments and institutions concerned with seed, including research, seed production, plant protection, extension; and farmer seed producers, farmer representatives, and others as the need arises. FAO will coordinate the non-voting advisory participation of the International organizations. ACBAR will do the same in respect to the NGOs.

2. The Committee will meet at least four times a year and keep all stakeholders fully informed of activities, developments, norms and methodologies.

3. All AGENCIES involved in seed issues shall abide by the agreed and established guidelines.

Seed Provision Activities
4. AGENCIES involved in seed issues should focus their activities on developing the management and planning skills of local people, in order to assist them to become self-sustaining and handle successful seed operations/enterprises on their own. AGENCY efforts should be planned so as to leave viable local operations in place.

5. AGENCIES should focus on:
· Developing a cost-effective and sustainable seed supply system.
· Organizing sources of stock seed.
· Promoting the use of adapted varieties.
· Training farmers to be seed producers.
· Training in equipment maintenance.
· Training managers at different levels of operation.
· Organizing and equipping seed processing facilities.
· Organizing local sources of supply.
· Assist in the organization of seed marketing, including timely delivery.

These activities and guiding operations will assist in developing an ultimately profitable and self-sustaining local seed industry. They ensure a good "informal" seed sector, which should ultimately move toward a "formal" sector. Different AGENCIES will be responsible for different aspects of the above.

6. A functioning credit system existed in the past. It is essential that such a system be re-established as fast as possible. Without such as system, development of a sustainable seed sector will not be possible. It is strongly recommended that the Afghan Government assume responsibility for this.

7. To the extent possible, seed of locally adapted cultivars should be produced within Afghanistan. This:
· ensures that varieties are adapted.
· demonstrates to local seed growers the procedures required.
· demonstrates to farmers the cropping value of the seed.
· helps develop local agro-industries.
· maximizes benefits to target areas.
· contributes to the in situ maintenance of useful genetic resources for food and agriculture.

8. Where it is necessary for AGENCIES to supply seed directly to farmers, they must ensure that high quality seed is always provided. Quality includes seed of adapted varieties, which are physically pure (freedom from foreign materials), of good germination, and pest and disease-free. To assist in this, an official descriptive list of recommended varieties should be published and kept current. Seed should be treated with an appropriate fungicide before sowing.

9. AGENCIES should not provide seed to farmers free of charge. Seed should be sold or exchanged at a price above the local grain price. This price must be approved by the CCSSD.

Crops and Varieties/Landraces
10. All crops and varieties promoted for distribution and made available to Afghan farmers must have performed well in tests for adaptation and performance in Afghanistan for two years. Only in emergency situations should crops and varieties known to perform well in similar agro-ecologies and deemed most likely to perform well within Afghanistan be introduced without prior testing, and only after due consultation with the CCSSD and approval of the Government.

11. Many varieties have been tested in Afghanistan. The CCSSD should make all information on variety tests, and likely sources of seed, available to all stakeholders.

Seed Import
Seed that meets all Seed Law requirements, both in the country of origin and in Afghanistan, should be imported. In an emergency situation, if such seed is not available, the seed must be of the best possible quality and its quality must be maintained until it reaches the farmer.

12. FAO Guidelines for Imported Quality Seed should be followed.

Quality Standards
13. The 'Quality Declared seed' standards (ANNEX II), of FAO, should be used as minimum seed and field standards (FAO.1993. Quality Declared Seed. Technical Guidelines for Standards and Procedures. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 117. FAO, Rome Italy. 186 pp).
14. For wheat, the minimum standards are as specified QDS standards, with the exception that additional specific standards for rye and wild oats are set as follows:

Field Standards
Rye (max. %) 0.5
Wild oats (max. %) 0.1
Loose smut, Bunt (max. %) (because of loose smut and bunt, it is highly recommended that seed is treated with an appropriate fungicide)

Seed Standards
Wild oats (max. %) 0.1
Rye (max. %) 0.5

15. QDS Standards for other crops, if required, may be developed by the CSSD.

Afghanistan Consortium

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