SEED UNIT ACTIVITIES

The ultimate goal of the Seed Unit is to improve seed supply to farmers throughout the region. The main effort is directed at supporting national seed programs within the region which form the key link between research and agriculture. The activities through which this goal is pursued are as follows:

• Training - mostly through courses held at Headquarters or in the countries of the region, and by arranging customized training programs for individuals or small groups. A special feature is the 'Train the Trainers' approach which is intended to multiply the benefits of training through follow-up courses run by national seed organizations in their countries.
  

• Networking - the Seed Unit acts as the Secretariat for the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) Seed Network which has 19 member countries. This collects and circulates information, mostly through a regular Newsletter (SEED INFO) and special technical publications prepared by members. It is intended to strengthen the community of seed specialists within the region and to promote contacts with international organizations.

• Research - on topics related to seed production and seed quality; also through studies on seed supply systems. Current examples include the effect of mechanical harvesting on the quality of durum wheat seed and a comparison of the economics of seed production in a number of countries of the region.

• Consultancy - The Seed Unit provides customized consultancy services on request from national, regional or international organizations on issues related to seed program development. This may vary from assistance in formulating of seed projects to reviewing the national seed programs to recommend alternative options on policy, regulatory and institutional reforms to enhance the efficiency of the national seed industry.

• Seed Production - the Unit uses approximately 20 hectares of land each year to maintain varieties and produce early-generation seed of cereals, legumes and forage crops. This seed is distributed to national seed organizations throughout the region for further multiplication. The Unit operates a processing plant to clean and treat this seed and also the large seed lots produced by other ICARDA programs for trials purposes. A well-equipped seed laboratory is available for monitoring the quality of all seed stocks and a large store is managed by the Seed Unit on behalf of all the research programs of the Center. The facilities at Headquarters are also a valuable resource for practical training.
  

Seed Policy Reform In recent years, several countries in the region have reviewed their seed policies as part of the wider process of economic liberalization. The objective is to reduce the direct involvement of government in seed production and marketing and to create a policy climate more favorable to the development of a more diverse private sector. Current changes in the global seed industry may also affect national supply systems and the status of 'public-good' research generally, with uncertain consequences.

Promoting Seed Trade There are still many bureaucratic constraints to the movement of seed and varieties between countries. The Unit is concerned to promote regional trade in seed by working towards the harmonization of regulatory and quality standards, to facilitate the development of a free market for high quality seed and to maximize choice for farmers.

The Informal Seed Sector This is of special importance in areas where commercial seed supply is unattractive because of the type of crops grown or the weak rural infrastructure. Many of the ICARDA mandate crops, and many parts of the region, fall into this category, with the annual sowing requirement being largely met by farm-saved seed. It is important to maintain a system to deliver improved varieties rapidly to farmers in these areas so that they can benefit from the products of plant breeding. At the same time there is a need to conserve and improve well- adapted local material.

Seed Security In some parts of the region, farmers are vulnerable to periodic seed shortages, particularly due to drought. This can have very serious effects, because of the lack of seed at sowing time and the loss of well-adapted local materials. Emergency imports of seed are often of unsuitable varieties, leading to further risks for farmers. Seed security is now recognized as a crucial element in the larger picture of food security and the Seed Unit is playing an active role in the development of new strategies.