ASSOCIATION FOR STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA (ASARECA)

Transcription

1 ASSOCIATION FOR STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA (ASARECA) SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR TEN SELECTED CROPS OF MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE IN EAST AFRICA AND RWANDA A report of the Eastern Africa Seed Committee (EASCOM) of ASARECA s ECAPAPA Project on Harmonization of Seed Policies and Regulations in Eastern Africa (July 2007) Compiled by: Obongo Nyachae Secretary, Eastern Africa Seed Committee c /o Seed Trade Association of Kenya (STAK) P. O. Box , NAIROBI Tel: , Fax: stak@kenyaweb.com Regional Seed Certification Standards 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...ii REGIONAL SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS INTRODUCTION OPERATIONALIZATION OF AGREEMENTS ON HARMONIZATION: EASCOM STRUCTURE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS (TWG) PROCESS OF DEVELOPING REGIONAL SEED CERTIFICATION ST ANDARDS NOTES TO THE TABLES REGIONAL SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS: EAST AFRICA & RWANDA...6 TABLE 1a: OPV MAIZE (Zea mays)...6 TABLE 1b: HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays)...7 TABLE 2a: OPV SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annus)...8 TABLE 2b: HYBRID SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annus)...9 TABLE 3: OPV SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor)...10 TABLE 4: DRY BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris)...11 TABLE 5: RICE (Oryza sativa)...12 TABLE 6: WHEAT (Triticum aestivum)...13 TABLE 7: CASSAVA (Manhot esculentus)...14 TABLE 8: POTATO (Solanum tuberosum)...15 TABLE 9: SOYA BEAN (Glycine max)...16 TABLE 10: GROUND NUTS (Arachis hypogea) KEY REFERENCES Regional Seed Certification Standards

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was prepared by experts selected from the National Certification Agencies of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, representatives from seed trade associations including representatives of seed industry, ministries of agriculture and ECAPAPA through the Secretariat of the Eastern Africa Seed Committee (EASCOM). It is the beginning of operationalizing agreements arrived at during the process of harmonization of seed certification standards of 10 crops selected as being of major economic importance in the Pilot Phase countries (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) of ASARECA member countries. I wish to thank the Managing Director of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), The Director of Tanzania Organization of Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), the Director of National Seed Service of the Republic of Uganda and the Director of the Rwandan National Seed Service for availing the expertise to guide the team. The contributions of the other members of the Technical Working Group on development of harmonized seed certification standards listed above are also greatly acknowledged. I also acknowledge the contributions of all the members of the Seed Regional Working Group (S-RWG), the predecessor of EASCOM, which was steered by Dr Isaac Minde, then ECAPAPA Coordinator, for the information they provided, which was drawn from various sources, and was used to arrive at the harmonized standard finally selected for East Africa. In this regard, the information provided by all external resource persons, including those drawn from Iowa Seed Science Center, International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Association of Official Seed Certification Agencies (AOSCA). The report was compiled by the EASCOM Secretariat and support given by the Seed Trade Association of Kenya (STAK), which hosts EASCOM, is greatly acknowledged. Last but not least, many thanks go to ASARECA Executive Secretary Dr Seyfu Ketema and the ECAPAPA Programme Coordinator Dr Michael Waithaka (and his predecessor Dr Isaac Minde) for providing financial support and over-sight respectively, for the work presented in this report. Obongo Nyachae Secretary, Eastern Africa Seed Committee, July 2006 Regional Seed Certification Standards 3

4 REGIONAL SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS 1.0 INTRODUCTION The process of harmonization and rationalization of seed policies and regulations started as a pilot phase for East African countries in It soon encompassed other countries, who joined as second phase, while others joined the process later as third phase. The process was undertaken as all inclusive and involved national, regional and external resource persons, seed industry players and regulatory and policy players, with ASARECA s ECAPAPA Playing an oversight role. Five areas were identified for harmonization as they were considered important in increasing seed trade movement the region. These were: Variety evaluation, release and registration Certification Phytosanitary services Plant variety Protection, and Import and export issues The agreements arrived at on each of these key issues are detailed in the ASARECA Monograph Series No. 4: (Harmonization of Seed Policies and Regulations in Eastern Africa: Results and Agreements, 2002) These were digested and presented as a document for Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Agriculture of the three EAC Member countries dated June 18, 2003 titled Harmonization of Seed Policies and Regulations in East Africa: Key Agreements, 2.0 OPERATIONALIZATION OF AGREEMENTS ON HARMONIZATION: 2.1 EASCOM STRUCTURE In order to operationalize the agreements arrived at in the harmonization process, a Seed Regional Working Group (S-RWG) was constituted during a regional seed stakeholder meeting held in Arusha on 4 6 June, The S-RWG operated till June 2004, when its operations were expanded to include representatives responsible for policy issues. A new outfit called Eastern Africa Seed Committee (EASCOM) was inaugurated by the Secretary General of EAC during a well attended regional meeting of seed industry stakeholders and development partners. EASCOM was operationalized during its first meeting in 4 Regional Seed Certification Standards

5 Kigali in November 2004, and an Executive Committee elected, comprising of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary. The Chairman and Vice would rotate amongst members every after one year. The Secretary would be responsible for EASCOM secretariat activities and would rotate amongst countries of EASCOM every after three years. The Programme Coordinator of Eastern and Central Africa Programme on Economic Policy Analysis (ECAPAPA) would provide oversight and support to the Committee s activities. The other members of EASCOM were as follows: Representative of National Designated Authority from all the 10 ASARECA Member Countries Representative of the parent ministry responsible for agriculture in charge of policy issues Representative of national seed trade associations Representative of national plant breeders associations 2.2 TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS (TWG) In order to effectively operationalize the agreements, EASCOM agreed to work through Technical Working Groups (TWG s). Up to the time of preparing this report three TWGs had been actively participating in harmonizing EASCOM regional activities. These are 1. TWG on certification standards 2. TWG on Phytosanitary measures, and 3. TWG on Plant Variety Protection (PVP) issues This report is the output of the TWG on harmonizing seed certification standards. 3.0 PROCESS OF DEVELOPING REGIONAL SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS The key issues to harmonize under certification included the following: Determining crops of major economic importance in the ASARECA region that could fall under compulsory certification Developing harmonized field and laboratory certification standards for these key crops Regional Seed Certification Standards 5

6 Harmonizing seed classes in accordance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) i.e. into four seed certification classes (Breeder ; Basic ; Certified and Standard) Incorporating authorization of private inspectors/laboratories to certify seed based on the OECD and International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) rules Developing a common seed tag for movement of seed in the region Establishing an inter-agency certification scheme amongst members Assisting the informal seed sector to graduate to formal seed business Ten crops were selected as of major economic importance in the East Africa region. These are: Maize ; beans ; sorghum ; wheat ; Irish potato ; sunflower ; groundnut ; soybean ; rice and cassava. A TWG on certification was formed to develop harmonized certification standards for these 10 crops. The meeting of this Group took place in Arusha on September, Participants to this TWG included the following : Mrs Tasiana Maingu TOSCI, Tanzania Mrs Theresia Buza TOSCI Tanzania Dr Roshan abdalla TIPRI, Tanzania Dr Joseph Ahenda KEPHIS Kenya Mr Simon Komen KEPHIS Kenya Mr Saleem Esmail STAK Kenya Mr Dominic Gitau STAK Kenya Dr Robert Karyeija MAAIF, Uganda Mr Joseph Bazaale MAAIF Uganda Mr Emmanuel Bubangizi FICA USTA Uganda Mr Obongo Nyachae EASCOM Secretary Mr Robert Lawson Iowa Seed Center External Resource Person Geoffrey Ebong ECAPAPA (Facilitation) Dr Isaac Minde ECAPAPA (Facilitation) This TWG reviewed the standards prepared during the regional consultative meetings in Entebbe and later in Arusha Tanzania and which were facilitated 6 Regional Seed Certification Standards

7 by Dr Vincent Gwarazimba of then Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association, with support of Dr Isaac Minde, ECAPAPA Programme Coordinator. The TWG developed Draft standards for nine crops (excluding cassava) identified for harmonization. A second meeting of the TWG was held in Nairobi on September, This meeting was attended by the following 1. Dr Joseph Ahenda KEPHIS, Kenya 2. Mrs Gladys Maina KEPHIS, Kenya 3. Joseph Bazaale National Seed Certification Service, Uganda 4. Mr Innocent Uwimana National Seed Service, Rwanda 5. Mr Baptiste Ngabo Gafarasi National Seed Service, Rwanda 6. Mrs Tasiana Z. Maingu TOSCI Tanzania 7. Mrs Veneranda Mtobesya TOSCI Tanzania 8. Mr Dominic Gitau STAK Kenya 9. Mr Obongo Nyachae EASCOM Secretariat, c/o STAK The members reviewed the work of the previous TWG and completed development of standards for all the crops. An Editorial Committee Meeting, comprising Ms Gladys Maina of KEPHIS Kenya, Mrs Tasiana Maingu of TOSCI Tanzania, Mr Joseph Bazaale of NSCS Uganda, Mr Gafarasi Ngabo of NSS Rwanda and Obongo Nyachae of EASCOM Secretariat, was then held in Nairobi on 3 4 July This Group edited the Seed Certification Standards for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and developed standards for Rwanda for the 10 selected crops, taking into account, any additional comments received from other EASCOM members. The output of the TWG on certification is the harmonized seed certification and laboratory standards for the 10 selected crops, covering East Africa, including Rwanda. The harmonized seed certification standards are presented in Tables 1 10 appended to this report. Regional Seed Certification Standards 7

8 4.0 NOTES TO THE TABLES 1. The seed certification standards presented in this report are for East Africa (Kenya, Uganda Tanzania) and include Rwanda. They were arrived at after considering field and laboratory standards for the following organizations/ countries : OECD Field Schemes ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) Rules AOSCA (Association of Official Seed Certification Agencies of the US) Kenya Uganda Tanzania, and Rwanda. 2. In the Tables, Other seeds are composed of seeds of other crop species and weed seeds. The noxious weed seeds will be handled under respective ordinances just like pests and diseases. 3. The group did not distinguish grain sorghum from herbage sorghum since the standards were the same. 8 Regional Seed Certification Standards

9 5.0 REGIONAL SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS: EAST AFRICA & RWANDA TABLE 1a: OPV MAIZE (Zea mays) SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Land requirement (seasons before) Isolation (meters) Maximum off-types (%) Number of inspections (minimum) Diseases Head Smut at final inspection Common smut at final inspection Loose smut at final inspection Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards 9

10 TABLE 1b: HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays) 10 SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 Land requirement(seasons before) 1 1 Isolation (meters) Maximum off-types (%) 0 1 Number of inspections (Minimum) 5 3 Maximum selfing levels % 1 Diseases Head Smut at last inspection 0 2 plnts/ha Common smut at last inspection 0 2 plnts/ha Loose smut at final inspection 0 0 Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Minimum Moisture % Regional Seed Certification Standards

11 TABLE 2a: OPV SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annus) SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Land requirement (Seasons before) Isolation (Meters) Maximum off-types (%) Number of inspections(minimum) Diseases Sclerotinia 0 5 plts/ plts/1000 Verticilium wilt 0 5 plts/ plts/1000 Downy mildew 0 5 plts/ plts/1000 Alternaria helianthus 0 5 plts/ plts/1000 Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards 11

12 TABLE 2b: HYBRID SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annus) Field Standards SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS EAC & RWANDA Land requirement (seasons before) 1 Isolation (Meters) 1700 Maximum Off-types (%) 0.1 Number of inspections(minimum) 2 Diseases Sclerotinia 0 Verticilium wilt 0 Downy mildew 0 Alternaria helianthus 0 Laboratory standards Pure seed % 99.0 Maximum Inert matter % 0.95 Maximum Other seeds % 0.05 Minimum Germination % 85 Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards

13 TABLE 3: OPV SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor) SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Land requirement(seasons before) Isolation (meters) Maximum Off-types % 1/30m 2 1 pl/10m 2 1 pl/10m 2 Minimum Number of inspections Diseases Bunt 1/1000 plants 2/1000 plants 2/1000 plants Mildew 1/1000 plants 2/1000 plants 2/1000 plants Ergot Head /covered smut at final inspection 1/1000 plants 2/1000 plants 2/1000 plants Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards 13 For a quarantine disease the tolerance is zero both in field and Laboratory. The standards also apply to herbage sorghum

14 TABLE 4: DRY BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris) 14 SEED CERTIFICATION STA AN NDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Land requirement (Seasons before) Isolation (Meters) Maximum Off-types % 1/30m 2 1/10m 2 1/10m 2 Minimum No. of inspections Diseases Common Bean Mosaic Virus % Anthracnose % Halo Blight (Pseudomonas Phaseolicola ) % Common Blight (Xanthomonas phaseoli) % Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards

15 TABLE 5: RICE (Oryza sativa) SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Rainfed Paddy Rainfed Paddy Rainfed Paddy Land requirements (seasons before) Isolation(meters) Maximum Off-types (%) Minimum Number of inspections Red rice (or noxious weeds) Diseases Rice blast Bacterial leaf blight White tip nematode Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards 15 Importation of rice seed is prohibited or subjected to quarantine requirements.

16 TABLE 6: WHEAT (Triticum aestivum) 16 SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Land requirements (seasons before) Isolation (Meters) Maximum Off-types % 1/100 m C 1 =5/100m 2 C 1 =5/100m 2 C =6/100m2 2 C =6/100m2 2 Minimum No. of inspections 2 Other crop (inseparable) Diseases Kernel Bunt 0 1/100m 2 1/100m 2 Loose smut 1/100m 2 1/100m 2 1/100m 2 Ear cockle 1/100 m 2 1/100 m 2 1/100 m 2 Objectionable weeds (noxious weeds e.g. wild oats, Datura) Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Other crops (inseparable) refer to other wheat varieties, Triticale, barley, and oats Regional Seed Certification Standards

17 TABLE 7: CASSAVA (Manhot esculentus) SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards EAC & RWANDA Land requirements (seasons before) 5 Isolation (meters) 10 Maximum Off-types % 0 Minimum No. of inspections 4 Diseases/pests Cassava Mosaic Virus?? Stem cutting quality standards Minimum length 30 cm Minimum number of live nodes 10 Minimum diameter 3 cm % skin injury/ scar/damage (maximum) 20% Minimum moisture content % 60% Cassava planting material is subject to Phytosanitary and quarantine regulations. Regional Seed Certification Standards 17

18 TABLE 8: POTATO (Solanum tuberosum) 18 SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 C3 Land requirements (seasons free of potato or related family) 5 3(**) 3(**) 3(**) Isolation (meters) /100 plants 2/100 plants 2/100 plants BR=0 PB=1 B=2 Maximum Off-types % Minimum number of inspections Diseases: Bacterial wilt % Wart % Golden Nematode % Ring rot % Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid % Mycoplasma 1/1000 plants 1/1000 plants 1/1000 plants 1/1000 plants Black leg % Potato Virus Y 1/1000 plants 10/1000 plants 13/1000 plants 13/1000 plants SMV 0 13/1000 plants 15/1000 plants 15/1000 plants Fusarium wilt 0 2/1000 plants 3/1000 plants 3/1000 plants Verticilium wilt 0 2/1000 plants 3/1000 plants 4/1000 plants **for Bacterial Wilt, 7 year rotation is required. Regional Seed Certification Standards

19 Basic Potatoes cont Seed Classes Size: Basic C1 C2 C mm 5 tubers/25kg bag 5 tubers/25kg bag 5 tubers/25kg bag 5 tubers/25kg bag mm 5 tubers/25kg bag 5 tubers/25kg bag 5 tubers/25kg bag 5 tubers/25kg bag Standards during storage Maximum Scab % (No more than 50% tuber covered) per 25Kg bag Rhizoctonia % Regional Seed Certification Standards 19 Pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica) % Soft rot (Erwinia spp) % Severe Tuber Moth % Misshaped and damaged tubers % Table 9 ; Key : BR = Breeder s Seed ; PB = Pre-basic Seed ; B = Basic (seed classes) Seed potato importation is subject to quarantine regulation.

20 TABLE 9: SOYA BEAN (Glycine max) 20 SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards ar a Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Land requirement (seasons before) Isolation (meters) Maximum Off-types % 1/30m 2 1/10m 2 1/10m 2 Minimum Number of Inspections Disease: Soybean Mosaic Virus ?? 0.02?? Bacterial Pustule Bacterial Blight Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards

21 TABLE 10: GROUND NUTS (Arachis hypogea) SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Field Standards Seed Classes Basic C1 C2 Land requirement (seasons before) Isolation (meters) Maximum Off-types % Minimum No. of inspections Diseases Rosette Virus 1/1000plants 5/1000 plants 5/1000 plants Bacterial wilt Laboratory standards Pure seed % Maximum Inert matter % Maximum Other seeds % Minimum Germination % Maximum Moisture Content % Regional Seed Certification Standards 21

22 6.0 KEY REFERENCES 1. ASARECA Monograph Series No. 4: Harmonization of Seed Policies and Regulations in Eastern Africa: Results and Agreements (2002) 2. Association of Seed Certification Agencies of the US (AOSCA) 3. International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Rules 4. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes Reports of resource persons assigned to undertake national seed studies in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Eritrea and Ethiopia 6. Seeds Act Tanzania 7. Seeds and Plant Varieties Act Cap 326 of the Laws of Kenya, Seeds Statute Uganda 22 Regional Seed Certification Standards

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