Update on FAO Seed Sector Activities in Africa African Seed Trade Association Zanzibar Congress March 6, 2012
Presentation Overview Seed in the Strategic Objectives of FAO Seed Policy Activities Activities with CEMAC Forum for African Seed Testing (FAST) West African Sustainable Rice Production project (APRAO) Publications on Seed Enterprises http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/corethemes/theme/seeds-pgr/projects/en/
FAO Strategic Objectives FAO has 11 Strategic Objectives Strategic Objective A: Sustainable Production Intensification (Save and Grow Publication) http://www.fao.org/ag/save-and-grow/index_en.html 4 Organizational Results 1. Production Systems 2. Trans boundary Pest and Diseases: EMPRES, IPPC 3. Reduce Pesticide Risk: IPM, Rotterdam Convention 4. Plant Genetic Resources and Seed
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Seed Policy Activities What is Seed Policy? It is a explanation of Government s position and intentions related to the seed sector It has clearly stated objectives regarding the seed sector and specifies how to achieve them (in the Plan of Action). requires broad participation in its development( public sector, research, farmers, NSAs, etc Expert Consultation on Seed Policy March 2011 10 Key Elements (Variety Development, Seed Production, Seed Enterprise Development, Seed Marketing, Extension, Seed Security, Value Chain, Regulatory Frameworks, Capacity Building, Coordination) Seed Policy Formulation process Seed Policy Implementation guidance
Seed Policy Activities (cont.) West African Regional Workshop on Seed Policy Benin in collaboration with AFRICA RICE Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Madagascar institutions: AGRA, AFSTA, ASN, UEMOA, ECOWAS, AfDB, IFAD, IFDC,CORAF National Seed Policy activities: Togo, Mauritania, Liberia
Activities with the Economic Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) CEMAC Seed Harmonization Process: Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea Endorsement expected in April 2012 Development of Regional Variety Catalog National Seed Sector Studies Underway
Forum for African Seed Testing (FAST) Seed testing is an essential element of seed certification. FAST proposes a network of African Seed Analysts helping fellow seed analysts KEPHIS has agreed to host FAST Executive Committee Meeting in September 2011: African Union, AFSTA, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Egypt, Uganda, Zambia, and FAO Draft Action plan developed starting with surveys of seed labs and seed analysts training workshops
l Amélioration de la Production de Riz en Afrique de l Ouest en Réponse à la Flambée des Prix des Denrées Alimentaires (APRAO) Project Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Niger, Cote d Ivoire www.fao.org/ag/spid/fr/ Seed production 44 small scale seed enterprises supported 2602 MT of certified seeds produced during 2011 rainy season Mali 2050MT Mauritania 409 MT Senegal 113 MT Niger 30MT
Seed Production Training of 1105 seed growers Training of 51 technicians Training of 38 managers in seed business management Support to research centers for the production of basic and prebasic seed, maintenance breeding and introduction of new varieties Rice production 150 facilitators and 2500 rice farmers trained through FFS in improved agricultural practices (IPM, Seed quality) and post-harvest Equipment provided for rice cultivation and post-harvest handling (11 drillers, 30 weeders, 20 threshers, 3 rice huller and 10 parboilers) Improvement of seed quality Training of 38 agents in seed quality control and inspections Official registration of new seed enterprises Stimulation of seed demand Promotion of seed quality through posters/radio programmes Facilitated access to credit in Mauritania, Mali and Senegal SMS system for seed supplies and prices to be established
Quality certified seed APRAO RICE VALUE CHAIN APPROACH Sustainable increase of production and productivity Quality local rice Rice Available at affordable prices in markets Processing Seeds Paddy production Commercialization Seed system analised and improved Sustainable intensification Harvest and post harvest Resource opmization Efficient drying and storage Efficient processing units Quality product Existence of a market Efficient distribution Improvement of the performances of all segments of the value chain
Publications on Seed Enterprises Promoting the Growth and Development of Smallholder Seed Enterprises for Food Security Crops (translated into French and Spanish) African Seed Enterprises: Sowing the Seeds of Food Security* * Published in collaboration with Africa Rice
The Road Ahead to a Vibrant Seed Industry in Africa