Seed Info 28, January 2005

S E E D I N F O

Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network

No. 28, January 2005

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Contributions from Seed Programs and Projects_______________________________
In this section we invite national seed programs, projects, universities, regional or international organizations to provide news about their seed related activities.

Rebuilding Sustainable Agricultural Production in Afghanistan

A CGIAR Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan (FHCRAA) is implementing four projects, namely: (a) demonstration and technology transfer, (b) village-based seed enterprise development, (c) potato seed production and (d) protected agriculture. These four projects are part of the Rehabilitation of Agricultural Markets Program (RAMP) operating in the provinces of Ghazni, Helmand, Kunduz, Nangarhar and Parwan.

Demonstration of new agricultural technologies
The objective of the project is to increase crop production and improve rural livelihoods through demonstration of improved technologies of agricultural and horticultural crops and their management practices. In 2004, a total of 341 on-farm demonstration trials were conducted in 27 districts within the five target provinces covering six main crops (wheat, rice, mung bean, potato, onion and tomato). The project also trained 110 Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MAAH) staff and 1957 farmers during the same period.

Establishment of village-based seed enterprises
The Village-based Seed Enterprises (VBSE) are farmer-led seed production and marketing units helping farmers to get rapid access to quality seed of improved crop varieties. ICARDA is responsible for organizing the farmer groups, providing technical support in preparing business plans, providing high quality source seed for multiplication, monitoring and evaluation of VBSE activities and capacity building of farmers and staff of partner organizations. ICARDA also assists in sourcing fertilizers, equipment and credit.

A train-the-trainer course for subject matter specialists of FHCRAA and partner organizations (MAAH, Extension service, NGOs) and two follow-up courses for VBSE member farmers were organized on seed production technology and enterprise management in February and May 2004, respectively. The first course was organized in Kabul whereas the two follow-up courses were held in Jalalabad and Kunduz. Moreover, two refresher courses were organized in financial accounting and enterprise management in Jalalabad and Kunduz in December 2004 for VBSE members.

During the first year of the project, 15 potential districts were identified in target provinces. In each district one VBSE was established and engaged in seed production and marketing. The enterprises produced 813 tonnes of wheat, rice, chickpea and mung bean seed and marketed to NGOs and/or exchanged with other farmers. A total of 113 VBSE members along with 187 partners (extension staff, MAAH staff, NGOs), were trained in technical seed production operations and enterprise management and financial accounting. Fifteen mobile seed cleaners are being manufactured in Syria for delivery in 2005 harvest season.

Potato seed production and marketing
The project aimed at quality seed multiplication and marketing to increase potato production. The activities included organizing demonstration trials and field days, construction of stores, formation of seed production groups, and training of farmers and staff of partner organizations. A total of 152 demonstration trials and 35 field days were organized as well as the construction of 15 potato storage facilities and establishment of 19 seed production groups in 23 districts of five target provinces. About 803 farmers and 166 partner organizations were trained in potato production technology. Moreover, one tissue culture laboratory and one screen house have been established in Kabul.

Introducing protected agriculture for cash crops
The project will promote the adoption of low-cost and sustainable protected agricultural systems to produce high value cash crops. The project established a Protected Agriculture Center and greenhouse-manufacturing workshop in Kabul, conducted a baseline survey and benchmark study with participating farmers and is collecting daily vegetable markets data on demand and supply. So far, nine greenhouses were installed and 49 farmers trained in protected agriculture technology. J. Rizvi, ICARDA, Kabul, Afghanistan; E-mail: j.rizvi@cgiar. org and T. van Gastel, Seed Unit, ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria; E-mail: a.vangastel@cgiar.org

Changes in Cyprus Seed Program after Joining the European Union

Cyprus became a full member of the European Union on 1 May 2004. Since then, a new seed law and corresponding implementing regulations have been enforced by which seed activities are fully harmonised with the Acquis Communitaire. The new legislation laid down provisions for licensing seed producers and seed traders as well as for the admission of the varieties of agricultural and vegetable crops to the National Catalogue of Varieties and the EU Common Catalogue. It also sets out provisions for seed certification and control within the EU principles. The Seed Production Center of the Department of Agriculture is operating as an independent organization similar to other private sector seed enterprises. A Seed Certification and Seed Testing Laboratory has been established as an independent entity for quality assurance. The commercial barley seed, which was provided regularly to the farmers in drought years, has to be replaced by farm-saved seed or should be met through certified seed.

Cyprus will become a member of UPOV through the EU Community Plant Variety Office based in Angers, France. The Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver´s Office of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism will implement the Plant Breeders' Rights.

The EU has granted Cyprus a transitional period of five years during which existing varieties not listed in the Common Catalogue can be freely marketed locally. Moreover, during the transition period, Cyprus will be allowed to market lower standards of barley certified seed produced locally, due to some technical difficulties presently to meet EU standards. Petros Xystouris, Seed Certification and Seed Testing Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Nicosia, Cyprus; Fax: ++357-22-343419; E-mail: pxystouris@da.moa.gov.cy

Egypt Taps into New Technology

The Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute is one of the leading biotechnology research centers in Egypt and the region. The institute has developed transgenic drought-resistant wheat. The wheat, which contains the HVAI1 gene from barley, needs one irrigation compared to eight for conventionally bred varieties. The wheat has had field trials over three seasons and if biosafety testing proves it to be safe it could be the first GM product on the market. Scarce water is an increasingly important constraint to agriculture around the world, and drought-resistant varieties hold great promise. At present Egypt grows 38% of wheat needs because of scarce water. Source: New Agriculturalist; Website: http://www.new-agri.co.uk/04-6/newsbr.html

Ethiopia Reorganizes the National Agricultural Input Authority

In Seed Info No 25 we reported the activities of the National Agricultural Input Authority in Ethiopia (NAIA) an agency responsible for policy and regulatory matters for all agricultural inputs including seeds and planting material, fertilizers and pesticides. However, following the current reforms NAIA has been dissolved and reorganized into a department within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Ministry has three main agricultural departments (sectors) and three autonomous organizations.

The Agricultural Marketing and Input Sector has seven departments and three autonomous organizations including the Agricultural Inputs Certification Department. The main activities of the Agricultural Inputs Certification Department are:

•	Provide quality assurance certification for seed producers, processors, importers, exporters, retailers and laboratory service providers
•	Quality control of seed based on national standards
•	Quality control of imported fertilizers based on national standards
•	Issue import permits for seed (including flower cuttings) and specialized fertilizers
•	Provide capacity building (training, etc.) to seed producers, regional seed laboratories, etc.
•	Advisory service to public and private seed producers

At present, only seed and fertilizers are controlled but in the future the responsibility will expand to other agricultural inputs. Seed quality control will be conducted both at federal and regional seed testing laboratories equipped with the necessary facilities and trained manpower. The quality of fertilizer is monitored at the distribution stores and if necessary samples will be sent for testing to the laboratory of the Quality and Standard Authority. The Agricultural Inputs Certification Department is operating from the same office of NAIA. Ayenew, Arega, AIQCD, P.O. Box 9197, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. E-mail: ayenew2001@yahoo.com

Iran Achieves Self-sufficiency in Wheat Production

In Iran, cereals are the most important crops where wheat and barley alone occupy about 8 million ha each year. In November 2004, the country announced self-sufficiency in wheat production, which was marked at a national ceremony. ICARDA received a letter of appreciation from the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture for its outstanding contribution towards these noble endeavors.

Release of wheat, barley and maize varieties
The Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) is leading a very strong plant breeding program on cereals. In 2002/03, SPII released eight wheat and one barley varieties for cultivation. The durum wheat cultivars Arya and Karkheh are spring types released from breeding materials introduced from ICARDA. The other six are bread wheat varieties which are winter type (Shahriyar), facultative (Toos) and spring types (Dez, Shiraz, Pishtaz and Hamoon). Toos and Dez are derived from ICARDA and CIMMYT breeding materials, respectively. However Shiraz, Pishtaz, Hamoon and Shahriyar are selected from national crossing blocks. The barley variety Sahra is a facultative type and derived from breeding material supplied by ICARDA.

A hybrid maize variety released
in Iran

Maize production is also growing fast in the country. According to the maize production plan the area will increase to 425,000 ha by the end of five-year plan. The introduction of maize as a second crop during summer requires hybrids with early to medium maturity. The SPII also released two new single cross hybrid maize varieties. KSC 700 is a high yielding late maturing hybrid whereas Karaj 500 is a medium maturing hybrid with acceptable yield during second cropping season.

Participation of private sector in wheat seed marketing
Privatization is one of the major goals of the government in its 4th five-year national development plan. Article No 11 of the 'Plant Variety Registration, Seed and Planting Material Certification' Act stipulates privatization as one of the priorities for seed sector development. Although, the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture is providing policy support for its implementation, privatizing the seed sector of self-pollinated crops remains difficult. In 2003, however, about 32,000 tonnes of wheat seed was produced, processed and marketed by private seed companies mainly in Fars and Khorasan provinces competing with a subsidized public sector, the Agricultural Support Services Company. In 2004, private companies planned to market an estimated 50,000 tonnes of wheat seed which is equivalent to 18% of total national seed requirement.

The major characteristics of these new hybrids are shown in the table below.

Varietal characteristics	V a r i e t i e s
Varietal characteristics	KSC 700	Karaj 500
Maturity group	FAO 700	FAO 500
Days to maturity	125-140	125-130
Plant height (cm)	210	208
Ear length (cm)	110	110
Recommended plant density per /ha	65000-75000	75000
Tolerance to diseases	Ear rot	-
Cob color	Pink to red	Red
Kernel type	Dent	Dent
Kernel color	Yellow	Yellow
No. of kernel rows/ear	18	20-22
No. of kernels/row	45	45
1000 seed weight (g)	330	298
Grain yield (tonnes/ha)	12.8	9-10

Samad Mobasser, Seed and Plant Certification and Research Institute, P.O. Box 31535-3383, Karaj, Iran; Fax: ++98-261-2716794; E-mail: Sa_mobasser@yahoo.com

Lebanon Releases Cereal and Legume Varieties

The Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) has had a long-standing and fruitful collaboration with ICARDA since the inception of the Center in the 1970s. In October 2004, LARI has released one variety each of durum wheat and chickpea selected from breeding lines supplied by ICARDA for general cultivation in Lebanon.

A durum wheat line (Lahn/Hcn), a cross between Lahn and Haurani (a local landrace widely grown throughout the countries of the region) was released as Lahn 2. The variety was tested in various locations in Lebanon as part of the joint LARI/ICARDA On-farm Trials over the last four years. The results showed that it had a good yield potential under rainfed conditions with average grain yield between 3300 to 3430 kg ha^-1. The variety performed very well over the last 3 seasons particularly, in the coastal areas and ranked first in 2003/4 trials across all locations. The average 1000 kernel weight ranged from 40 to 50g depending on the location; largest seeds were obtained in the coastal areas.

A chickpea line FLIP 86-5 was released under the name of Balila 2. It was also tested in the LARI/ICARDA On-farm Trials over the last four years and proved to be a high yielder under all climatic conditions of Lebanon. In the last three seasons, it ranked first at the coast (2400-2500 kg ha^-1) under rainfed conditions. It had a good seed size comparable to Balila (45 g/100 seeds) and average plant height of 43 cm across locations.

Farmer's field day at Akkar, Lebanon

Hassan Machlab, Research and Development Manager, Debbané Frères SAL, P.O. Box 11-9666 Beirut, Lebanon; E-mail: hmachlab@hotmail.com

Syria Exports Over Ten Thousand Tonnes of Wheat and Barley Seed to Iraq

In the 1990s, there was strong government support to the seed sector in Iraq to increase agricultural production to offset the effect of international sanctions. In the pre-war situation the country had an organized public sector involved in seed production and distribution of cereals and legumes. The Iraqi Seed Production Company, the Mesopotamia Seed Company and the Seed Technology Center played a major role in seed production and distribution. These seed companies altogether managed 18 processing plants and each year produced on average over 25, 000 tonnes of wheat and barley seed for distribution to farmers. The State Board for Seed Testing and Certification (SBSTC) is responsible for seed quality control and certification.

Following the war, the formal seed supply has been disrupted and the entire infrastructure has been destroyed with littlie/no functional organization in the seed sector. As a result it is impossible to meet farmers demand for quality seed from local production. In an effort to stabilize and increase crop and food production the Transitional Iraqi Government has sought for an alternative solution to import seed from neighboring countries. Syria stands a natural choice given the similarities in agroecology and farming systems as well as in crops and varieties which are adaptable to Iraqi condition. Above all, the availability of seed of acceptable quality and quantity; the geographic proximity and good on-land transportation links; and the need for a reliable partner make the General Organization for Seed Multiplication in Syria the main supplier for wheat and barley seed.

ICARDA, having a longstanding working relationship with NARS from Iraq and Syria, was contacted by the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture to assist in identifying wheat varieties adaptable to Iraqi conditions and make contacts with the General Organization for Seed Multiplication in Syria to facilitate the purchase of wheat and barley seed. ICARDA played a key role in bringing together the clients and helping them negotiate the deal. Following the discussion between the Iraqi technical delegation and the management of GOSM an agreement has reached on terms and conditions of delivery by September 2004. In early December 2004 a total of 10, 600 tonnes of bread wheat seed variety Cham 6 and 110 tonnes of barley seed variety Furat 2 was delivered to Iraq for distribution and planting by farmers. The understanding reached between the Iraqi and Syrian counterparts in removing the barriers to allow the movements of varieties and seeds between the two countries is a classic example of responding to emergency situations. Moustapha Dawalibi, General Organization for Seed Multiplication, P.O. Box 5857, Aleppo, Syria; E-mail: dawalibi@scs-net.org