Seed Info No.26
January 2004
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
PDF File

Arabic Version:

Address

E-mail

Subscribe

Back Issues

English Version:


493KB

ICARDA Home

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.

Harmonization Initiatives in CWANA
In Seed Info No. 24 we reported about a Regional Workshop on Review of Seed Programs and Seed Regulations that was held on 2-3 November 2002 in Karaj, Iran under the umbrella of the WANA Seed Network. The policy makers and senior seed program managers from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Khyrgzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan participated in the workshop.

The workshop participants identified and prioritized issues for harmonization at national and regional levels and made commitments to initiate the process in their respective countries. Each participant has agreed to serve as national resource person to undertake an extensive review and needs assessment of his respective national seed program.

The Secretariat of the WANA Seed Network in consultation with FAO has developed comprehensive guidelines to review national policies, laws and regulations and technical procedures for variety testing, evaluation, release and registration; seed quality control and certification; international seed trade; plant quarantine; and plant variety protection with relevant institutions as the first step towards harmonization. The guidelines were also translated to Russian and distributed to focal persons in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Khyrgzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The focal persons are expected to undertake an extensive review and needs assessment of rules and regulations in each country.

It is anticipated that in each country the study will be followed by a national consultative workshop to inform and consult all stakeholders to reach a consensus on policy and regulatory reforms required at national level and for possible collaboration/harmonization at the regional level.

ICARDA and FAO are working together to find alternative ways for merging the harmonization activities of the WANA Seed Network (ICARDA) and of the Consultative Forum on Seeds for NENA (FAO) and secure funding for the implementation of the harmonization process in the CWANA region.

Network Publications
The WANA Seed Network continues to implement one of its primary functions, the exchange of information. Thirteen new and updated Focus on Seed Programs from member countries were posted at the Seed Unit website for access by the general public. The WANA Catalogue of Field and Seed Standards was also made available on the ICARDA website. The WANA Seed Directory and WANA Variety Catalogue have also been regularly updated on the website. For more information or access to some of the publications, please visit the website at http://www.icarda.cgiar.org/seed_unit/SeedUnit/home.htm. If you need hard copies of some publications, please contact the WANA Seed Network Secretariat at z.bishaw@cgiar.org or a.vangastel@cgiar.org

Change of Address
The e-mail address of Mr Bahattin Bozkurt has been changed. Mr Bozkurt is the Country Representative of Turkey and member of its Steering Committee. His full address will be as follows: Bahattin Bozkurt, Deputy Director General, General Directorate of Agricultural Production and Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Milli Mudafa Cad. No. 20 Kat 9, 06100 Bakanliklar, Ankara, Turkey; Tel: +90-312-425 0175; Fax: +90-312-4170026; E-mail: bbahattin@tarim.gov.tr
-