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English Version:
Arabic Version:
Seed Info aims to stimulate communication and information exchange among seed staff in the Central, West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region. The purpose is to contribute towards the development of stronger national seed programs which supply quality seed to farmers.
In the last issues of Seed Info we covered a new topic on setting up a new enterprise in the seed sector. The subject was well received by readers and we have received several interesting comments. In this issue we will present a first of the two series article on seed policy and regulatory issues. N.P. Louwaars, from CPRO in Wageningen, The Netherlands writes about the widening scope of seed policy and regulation with respect to changes in the global seed industry and international conventions. Moreover, we will conclude the harmonization initiatives undertaken in Sub-Saharan Africa, by presenting a detailed account of one of the regional initiative in Eastern and Central Africa courtesy of Issac Minde from Eastern and Central Africa Program for Agricultural Policy Analysis (ECAPAPA). There is also news from international organizations, namely; the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Seed Federation (ISF). The former deals with admission requirements to OECD Seed Schemes whereas the latter covers the newly formed organization through the merger of the International Seed Trade Federation and the International Association of Plant Breeders.
The section on SEED PROGRAMS includes news from Afghanistan, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan and Syria. We will continue reporting on the activities of the Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA) which is coordinated by ICARDA. The report includes seed distribution for autumn planting, wrap up meeting on needs assessment, rehabilitation of infrastructure and human resource development in the seed sector. There is a brief note on the Pakistan seed sector and short report on the First Iran/ICARDA Seed Workshop held in Kaaraj, Iran,
In the HOW TO section, your regular contributor, Abdoul Aziz Niane once again explains the ISTA Quality Assurance program describing the essence of ISTA Seed Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program. This time we will focus on quality policy for seed testing laboratories.
Seed quality is comprised of many aspects including genetic, species and physical purity; physiological quality; freedom from seed-borne pests; and acceptable level of uniformity. In the past, routine laboratory seed testing focused on physical and physiological aspects of seed quality with little attention to seed health. However, seed health certification through field inspection of standing crops and laboratory seed testing coupled with seed treatment has become an increasingly popular approach to check the spread of plant pests both at national and international levels. The RESEARCH section highlights the efforts of seed health certification by the Federal Seed Certification and Registration in Pakistan.
We wish you an enjoyable read.
Happy New Year
Zewdie Bishaw, Editor