ICARDA News

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE DRY AREAS
P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
21 November 2002
For more information contact:S.Varma@cgiar.org
Cooperation Could Lead to Common Market for Seed
To help promote freer trade in quality seed, the ICARDA Seed Unit, the ICARDA–Iran Project, and the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran, held a workshop entitled "Review of National Seed Systems and Regulations in Central and West Asia," in Karaj, Iran, 2–3 November 2002.
    There is now a strong trend toward political and socioeconomic integration at the sub- or supra-regional level to promote freer movement of goods and services. Within this context, harmonization of policies and regulations for freer movement of crop
Participants in the workshop entitled "Review of National Seed Systems and Regulations in Central and West Asia," Karaj, Iran, 2–3 November 2002.
varieties and seed throughout Central and West Asia could lead to establishment of a common regional market. This might in turn attract private investment and help create a competitive, efficient, and sustainable seed industry.
    The Karaj workshop explored opportunities for harmonization of seed policies and regulations. The effort began with a review of national policies and regulations relevant to crop varieties and seeds. Senior managers and policy makers from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan participated in the workshop.
    Observers from the International Seed Testing Association, the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, Iran, and other country representatives from West Asia and North Africa took part in the discussions.
    The participants endorsed the harmonization initiative and agreed to take the first step by organizing an in-depth review of policies, laws, and regulations pertaining to the seed sector in each country.
    The workshop came to a successful conclusion through the valuable assistance, support, and participation of Dr Abbas Keshavarz, Director General, SPII, and ICARDA Board Member; Dr Habib Ketata, Coordinator, ICARDA–Iran Project; and Dr Raj Paroda, Coordinator, ICARDA Regional Program for Central Asia and the Caucasus. Dr Tony van Gastel, Head of ICARDA’s Seed Unit, and Mr Zewdie Bishaw, Seed Production Specialist, Seed Unit, participated in the workshop.

ICARDA's (www.icarda.org) mission is to improve the welfare of people and alleviate poverty through research and training in dry areas of the developing world by increasing production, productivity, and nutritional quality of food, while preserving and enhancing the natural resource base. ICARDA is a Future Harvest Center.
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