Seed Info

WANA SEED NETWORK NEWS

This section presents information related to the WANA Seed Network. It regularly updates the progress of Network activities and reports on the meetings of Steering Committee and WANA Seed Council.

Planting the Seed for Harmonization Initiatives in CWANA

From the mid-1980s there has been a strong desire for liberalization to stimulate economic growth and development. The policy shift brought many changes in the seed industry which include: (a) policy and regulatory reforms to create an enabling environment for other actors to enter the seed markets; (b) reduced government involvement in seed production and allowing the participation of the private sector; (c) globalization of the seed industry where seed has become a strategic proprietary product for international trade; and (d) harmonization initiatives to create regional markets to attract external investments in the seed sector.

Within this context, a regional workshop on Review of Seed Programs and Seed Regulations was held on 2-3 November 2002 in Karaj, Iran under the umbrella of the WANA Seed Network. The workshop was organized by the Seed Unit of ICARADA in collaboration with Iran/ICARDA Agricultural Research Project and the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute of the Ministry of Jahad-e-Agriculture.

The participants of the workshop were policy makers or senior program managers with broad knowledge and experience in agricultural research and/or seed program development drawn from relevant institutions of respective countries dealing with variety development, seed production and seed certification. A total of 20 participants from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Khyrgzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan attended the meeting including the representatives of UPOV and ISTA.

The workshop reviewed national policies and regulations pertinent to varieties and seeds in respective countries and endorsed harmonization initiatives within the sub-region. It is a first step in a series of regional consultation bringing together stakeholders of the national seed industry of the respective countries to initiate dialogue and build confidence and trust among them. The workshop:
1. Reviewed the status of national seed industry of respective countries with particular reference to policy, regulatory, technical and institutional issues
2. Discussed opportunities and alternatives for harmonization and prioritized feasible policy and regulatory reforms at national and regional levels
3. Agreed on national action plans for implementing the policy and regulatory reforms
4. Discussed and agreed on national commitments in implementing the harmonization initiatives
5. Developed strategies for harmonization of polices and regulations at regional levels
6. Made key recommendation for possible action by policy makers for seed sector development
7. Endorsed harmonization initiative and seeking support from policy makers and international donor organizations

Any one interested to obtain the set of the recommendations can contact: Dr Tony van Gastel, Head, Seed Unit, ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria; E-mail: a.vangastel@cgiar.org.

Steering Committee Meeting

The Ninth Steering Committee meeting of the WANA Seed Network was held on 1 November 2002 in Karaj, Iran. The Seed and Plant Improvement Institute hosted the meeting where Steering Committee members from Cyprus, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Turkey participated.

The Secretariat prepared and presented a comprehensive progress report of the WANA Seed Network activities. The SC agreed that the Network activities be reactivated in earnest and Country Representatives actively participate in implementing them. The Steering Committee made several recommendations to revitalize the WANA Seed Network and requested that efforts be made to put the Network on sound financial footing in partnership with international organizations working in the region.

Network Publications

The Secretariat in consultation with the 'Lead Countries', completed the revision of three Network publications namely; WANA Variety Catalogue, WANA Field and Seed Standards Catalogue and WANA Seed Directory.

The WANA Seed Directory and the WANA Catalogue of Crop Varieties are now published on the internet and can be accessed from the Seed Unit website. However, it was agreed that the WANA Catalogue of Field and Seed Standards is printed and circulated for use as a reference document. The catalogue includes standards for certification in member countries for crops such as cereals, legumes, oilseeds, industrial crops (cotton, sugar beet), forage crops and some vegetable crops (beans, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, egg plant, onion, potato, pepper, tomato, water melon) in member countries.

Change of Country Representatives

In Iran Mr Kaveh Khaksar has been appointed Head of Seed Control and Certification Department of the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute upon the retirement of Mr Syed Javed Shahamoradi who was the Country Representative of Iran to the WANA Seed Network.

Mr Ammar Tahiri, become the Head of the Service de Contrôle des semences et Plants succeeding Mr Mohamed Tourkamani who was formely the Steering Committee member and the Country Represetative of Morocco to the WANA Seed Network. Mr Tahiri, become the Country Representative of Morocco and member of the Steering Committee.

Similarliy, Dr Abdul Mohsen Said Omar has been appointed Director General of the General Organization for Seed Multiplication and has replaced Mr Abdulwahab Madarati as the Country Representative of Syria and memebr of the Steering Committee.

We would like to thank Mr Shahmoradi Mr Tourkmani and Mr Madarati for their valuable contribution to the Network during their terms as Country Representatives of Iran, Morocco and Syria, respectively and welcome Mr Khaksar, Mr Tahiri and Dr Omar as new members. The full contact address of the new members is as follows:

Mr Kaveh Khaksar, Head, Seed Control and Certification Department (SCCD), SPII; P.O. Box 31585-4119, Karaj, Iran; Tel: +98 261 2709456; Fax: +98 261 2709405;E-mail: int.spii@abdnet.com or kavehkhaksar@yahoo.com.

Mr Ammar Tahiri, Service de Contrôl des Semences et des Plants, P.O. Box 1308, Rabat, Morocco; Tel: ++212-3-7771085; Fax: ++212-3-7779852; E-mail: amar.tahiri@menara.org.

Dr Abdul Mohsen Said Omar, Director General, General Organization for Seed Multiplication, P.O. Box 5857, Boustan Al-Basha Street, Aleppo, Syria. Tel: ++963-21-4650291; Fax: ++963-21-4644901; E-mail:gosm@mail.sy.

Change of Address for Country Representatives

The city code for telephone lines has been changed in Cyprus where the two-digit city codes formerly preceded by 0 is now replaced by 2 (e.g. city code for Nicosia was changed from 02 to 22). The WANA Seed Directory was updated accordingly to include the new changes. The correct address of the Country Representative of Cyprus to is as follows:

Mr Efstathios Xenophontos, Head, Seed Production Center, Department of Agriculture, P. O. Box 1412, Nicosia. Tel: ++357-22-305343; Fax: ++357-22-343419; E-mail: doagrg@cytanet.com.cy

The Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSCRD) in Pakistan also has a new e-mail address as follows:

Dr Akhlaq Hussain, Director General, FSCRD, G-9/4, Mauve Area, Islamabad 44000. Tel: ++92-51-9260126; Fax: ++92-51-9260234; E-mail: fscd @seed.isb.sdnpk.org.

The Secretariat requests that the members of the WANA Seed Network note the changes of the Country Representatives and the addresses for future communication with respective countries.

Seed Unit On-line

The Seed Unit website was launched on 19 August 2002 at ICARDA homepage. The site presents an overview of the Seed Unit activities including the WANA Seed Network. The website will continue posting relevant information on the national seed industry of Network member countries in CWANA region. In addition to Seed Info, the updated series of 'Focus on Seed Programs' and several Network publications will be made available online and can be accessed freely. The support of the Country Representatives and observers in providing up-to-date information related to their respective organizations remains crucial in this endeavor.

The website can be accessed through ICARDA homepage at http://www.icarda.cgiar.org (and then by clicking Seed System Support) or directly at http://www.icarda.cgiar.org/seed%20unit/file/home.htm. The electronic version of Seed Info is now also available under the same website. We welcome your suggestions, comments and ideas in improving the website and to provide you with relevant information and services. If you have any specific queries please do not hesitate to contact us at the Seed Unit. We wish you an enjoyable surfing!