Forming National Policy: The Seed Systems Code of Conduct
| Incidents by well-meaning but inexperienced NGOs operating in Afghanistan have resulted in negative impacts on Afghan farmers, such as the importation of poor quality seed that failed to germinate and unsuitable varieties. There was a clear need to coordinate activities and to agree on guiding principles for regulatory and seed system support interventions, including standards for seed production, seed quality, quarantine, importation, and distribution. | ||
|
|
Ismet Hakim
of UN-FAO, H.E. Mohammad Sherif, Dep. Min. MOAL, Dr William Erskine
ICARDA, Dr Ray Morton of USAID, H.E.Sayed Hussein Anwari, Minister MOAL |
|
|
To protect farmers from imported pests or unsuitable, poor quality seed, it was necessary to formulate some regulatory guidelines in three key areas of seed and planting materials: production, importation and distribution. To create a national code of conduct, a workshop was coordinated by ICARDA in collaboration with the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. In May 2002, eighty participants helped create and define standards and procedures affecting seed systems. |
||
 |
Participant input on standards and definitions | |
| The Code of Conduct developed at this workshop was adopted by the Acting Interim Government as the national seed policy and regulatory framework for Afghanistan. These guiding principles are an important tool for creating new businesses, developing consumer confidence and protecting Afghan farmers as the country moves from dependence on emergency assistance to sustainable agricultural production. | ||
© 2008 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
See copyright and disclaimer information.
See copyright and disclaimer information.