Seed industry stakeholders share experiences on seed policies, regulatory frameworks and best practices for food systems resilience
Multiple seed industry stakeholders across Africa gathered to unpack challenges in the industry and recommend technical and policy related national and regional interventions to enhance food systems resilience and agricultural transformation in the continent. This transpired during a Seed Policy Learning Event (SPLE) co-hosted by the World Bank, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Government of Zambia, in Lusaka from the 21st to the 23rd of February 2024.
The event was officially opened by the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Agriculture of Zambia, Mrs Yvonne Mpundu. In her remarks, the PS noted that the theme of the event, which was “Advancing Seed Policy for Resilient Seed Systems”, resonated with the global aspirations of ensuring food and nutrition security through the availability and access to affordable high-quality seeds for a wide range of resilient varieties to farmers. “In some of our countries, farmers have not fully benefitted from the advantages of using quality seed. This is attributed to several challenges, including inefficient seed production, distribution and quality assurance systems, and to some extent, bottlenecks resulting from lack of appropriate seed policies”, remarked Mrs Mpundu.
The PS of the Ministry of Agriculture of Zambia, Mrs Yvonne Mpundu, delivering her opening remarks.
The SPLE provided a platform to share best practices, the enabling environment for seed supply, mapping of different initiatives that help bridge identified gaps at country and regional levels to improve seed supply and food security in the region. The SPLE was attended by the State Minister of Agriculture of Ethiopia, Mr Meles Mekonnen, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Seed Control and Certification Departments, representatives of regional and national Agro-dealers, farmers’ representatives, seed producers’ representatives, development partners, representatives of Regional Economic Communities (COMESA, EAC, and SADC), and seed experts from Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
According to Mr Ernest Ruzindaza, the Senior Agriculture Economist from the World Bank, it was important to bring regional stakeholders to Zambia for them to know how the country successfully domesticated the regional harmonized seed regulatory system and how it functions. For the AGRA SeedSAT Programme Manager, Dr Francis Mwatuni, Zambia is advanced in adopting the regional seed regulatory systems, hence it is pivotal to learn from their experience and find ways of enabling fair and smooth regional seed trade across the region. However, for the CCARDESA Executive Director and Head of Mission, Prof Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini, “Food and nutrition security is not attainable without paying due attention to seed security. Seed security enhances food and nutrition security in the sense that it enhances production, productivity and resilience to the impacts of climate change related hazards and associated impacts".
On the last day of the learning event delegates visited AFRISEED and Seed Co to learn from their experience in the industry, including the positive implications of harmonised regulatory seed systems in regional seed trade and exchange of germplasm. The SPLE was aimed at bringing together stakeholders to discuss and share experiences on seed policies, regulations, and best practices. The event also focused on tracking the performance of the seed sector at country level, with the goal of identifying challenges, opportunities, and strategies for improvement.
Delegates visiting seed multiplication fields at Seed Co, Zambia.
