Agricultural Productivity and Markets Thematic Area

FANRPAN Partners’ Meeting

13 June 2011Pretoria, South Africa

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Challenges and ConstraintsLow agricultural productivity is a major challenge amongst smallholder farmers due in part to:

Low access to technology 2.5% of African smallholder farmers use improved seed Africa’s seed trade amounts to less than 2% of the global seed

trade

High post-harvest losses Physical grain losses (prior to processing) amount to 10 - 20 % Valued at around $4 billion annually

Poor input and output market linkages and marketing information

unstructured markets, disorganised supply chains, erratic price fluctuations

Seed Security in SADC

ChallengeIn SADC farmers remain seed insecure due in part to

different seed laws and regulations, procedures which hinder the timely movement of seed across borders

Solution Harmonization of seed policies, laws, regulations and procedures into

a unified strategy with the aim of increasing the flow of seed across national borders.

Impact This will increase the choice of quality seed available to farmers,

leading to increased productivity, income and food security.

1987: Proposed in the Danagro study of national seed systems

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History of Seed Harmonization in SADC

2007: Three SADC Seed Harmonization Protocols finalized and endorsed

2010: MOU for the implementation of SADC seed regulatory system signed

1988 - 2003: 11 regional meetings and five national workshops on seed harmonisation

SADC Seed Security Network Project (SSSN1)

LaunchSSSN 1 was launched in July 2001 as a unit within the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) directorate of the SADC secretariat

AimTo contribute to policy dialogue and formulation, culminating in elimination of trade barriers that are hindering intra-regional seed trade.

FundingFrom 2004-2006 the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) successfully funded SSSN 1.

SADC Seed Security Network (SSSN) Outputs

A Harmonised Seed Regulatory system with 3 componentsi. Variety registration and release-to increase the choice of varieties available

to farmers;ii. Seed certification and quality control-to improve seed quality and allow

more efficient movement of seed in the region; andiii. Phytosanitary and quarantine measures for seed- to enhance safer and

faster movement of seed

Often time regional protocols are developed but not implemented. FANRPAN is conducting a pilot project in an attempt to ensure that the

regional protocol on seed policy harmonization is domesticated and implemented in order to benefit farmers.

Harmonized Seed Security Project (HaSSP)

The Harmonised Seed Security Project (HaSSP)

Project Purpose: Domesticating and implementing the SADC Harmonised Seed Regulatory System in four pilot countries Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Project Goal: To contribute to improved food security of smallholder farmers in the SADC region through increased availability of and access to improved seed

Duration: Four years (2010 – 2013)

Funding: Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC)

Project Objectives

1. Alignment of variety release policies in four Member States with SADC protocols

2. Alignment of seed certification policies in four Member States with SADC protocols

3. Alignment of phytosanitary policies in four Member States with SADC protocols

4. Strengthening of seed certification facilities (equipment).

5. Assessment of institutional and individual capacity needs, and capacity strengthening along the seed value chain.

Project Status

February 2010 - Official launch of the Project at Regional level in Pretoria March 2010 - Official launch of national project activities in Malawi May 2010 - Common visioning regional planning meeting held in

Johannesburg

FANRPAN Board Chairman with SDC Deputy Resident Director and the Swiss Deputy Ambassador at the official launch in Pretoria

National Planning Workshops

Country Date Official Opening

Zimbabwe 30 June –2 July 2010

Permanent Secretary of Agriculture and Mechanisation: Mr N. Masoka

Zambia 14-16 July 2010 Permanent Secretary of Agriculture and Cooperatives: Mr A.K. Banda

Swaziland 28-30 July 2010 Minister of Agriculture: Mr C. Dlamini

Malawi 4-6 August 2010 The Controller of Agriculture, Extension and Technical Services: Dr J. Luhanga

Committee of HaSSP Seed Elders FANRPAN has constituted a committee of seed elders which provides

support to the project.

Membership of the committee comprises :

Former Ministers and Permanent Secretaries from the project countries. Members of the Private Sector who are champions on seed issues; Experienced farmers and researchers.

TORs

Seed Elders provide strategic guidance and oversight to the HaSSP Project.

Advocacy support to ensure HaSSP contributes to regional integration.

Resolve conflicts between stakeholder groups.

Resolve strategic or political challenges that may arise.

HaSSP Seed Elders

Zambia Seed Elder, Dr. S. Mundia

Malawi Seed Elder, Mr. E. Musople Malawi Seed Elder, Dr. E Sibale

Zambia Seed Elder, Mr. W. Chibasa

HaSSP Seed Elders

Zimbabwe Seed Elder, Dr. S Muchena

Swaziland Seed Elder, Mrs T Goodday Swaziland Seed Elder, Hon O Dlamini

Zimbabwe Seed Elder, Dr. L Mhlanga

Key Engagements

Engagement of SADC FANR Secretariat in the company of HaSSP Seed Elders (Gaborone) – September 2010.

Presentation of HaSSP at the technical meeting preceding the SADC Ministers of Agriculture Meeting in Windhoek, Namibia- November 2010.

FANRPAN HaSSP Seed Elders with SADC FANR Secretariat Director, Mme Nyirenda and Dr. Simon Mwale, Seeds Programme Officer

Seed Certification-A key area that HaSSP is focusing on is seed certification.

Aim: To produce seed with a minimum acceptable genetic purity and specified physical quality in terms of germination, moisture and purity [standards are specified in legislation].

Adherence to seed certification procedures by seed growers is required in seed laws and is monitored during: Crop inspections in the field by govt. authorised seed inspectors, and Seed testing in the laboratory by govt. authorised seed analysts.

FANRPAN commissioned an audit of the seed certification institutions in the 4 pilot countries. The results of the audit will enable FANRPAN to identify institutional and human capacity gaps and training needs.

Breeders Certified SeedBasic Seed

Seed certification audits

Country Malawi Swaziland Zambia Zimbabwe

No. of satellite labs

3 0 5 0

Amount of seed tested/year in MT

20 000 6 000 55 000 36 000

Legislation To amend To amend To amend To amend

Staffing levels Not adequate Not adequate Adequate Adequate

Training Training needed

No training program

Refresher courses needed.

No training manuals

Seed certification audits (cont)Country Malawi Swaziland Zambia Zimbabwe

Official labels, Certificates and SADC Seals

None None None None

Electronic data base

None None None None

Lab equipment Most equipment is out-dated.

Ovens not working.

Table germinators, incubation chambers, grinding mill and moisture meter.

Fume hood too small

Seed blower; table germinator, fume hood, andsieves.

Germination chambers, andplanting substrate.

Purity analysis room too small.

Handbooks ISTA rules None ISTA rules ISTA rules

HaSSP Training workshops

Participants of the Malawi M& E Workshop held in Lilongwe

Participants of the Zambia M& E Workshop held in Kabwe

Participants of the Swaziland DUS VCU Training Workshop

Participants of the Zimbabwe DUS VCU Training Workshop

Capacity Building Workshops

Farmers during seed production training in Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia

Ms Chakanyuka (Seed Services Zimbabwe), training farmers in Zaka.

Farmers during seed production training in Zaka, Zimbabwe

Farmers during seed production training in Shewula, Swaziland

Overview of Community seed enterprises

Country District No. of growers

Crops grown

Malawi Lilongwe Dowa

40 Maize Beans Groundnuts

Swaziland Lubombo Manzini

22 Maize

Zambia Kapiri Mposhi

50 Maize Groundnuts

Zimbabwe Zaka

77 Groundnuts Sugar beans

HaSSP Field Days

HaSSP Field Day in Zaka, Zimbabwe HaSSP Field Day in Kampiri Mposhi , Zambia

HaSSP Field Day in Tubungu, Swaziland HaSSP Field Day in Mvera, Malawi

Scaling up of the Project

Tanzania and Mozambique have requested for assistance in domesticating the SADC seed protocol.

On 26 May 2011 FANRPAN received a formal request from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Mozambique expressing Mozambique’s readiness to commence the domestication` of the SADC seed protocols and requested FANRPAN to link them with development partners.

Next Steps: 2011-2012

During the next year the focus will be on: Re-alignment of seed legislation Re-equipping of institutions:

a) Procurement of small scale seed processing and storage equipment for smallholder seed producing

communitiesb) Procurement of vehicles for seed certification institutes

Training will continue

Review and learning workshops.

Thank You

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