Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network
No. 30,
January 2006
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This section presents information related to the WANA Seed Network. It provides updates on the progress of Network activities and reports on the meetings of the Steering Committee and WANA Seed Council.
International Seed Trade Conference for CWANA Region: A Great Success
Conference organizers
.The Turkish Seed Industry Association (Türk-Ted), in collaboration with the Seed Unit of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), organized the First International Seed Trade Conference in CWANA Region (ISTC2005) from 29 November to 1 December 2005 in Antalya, Turkey, to bring together the public and private sectors from the CWANA region and beyond to stimulate regional contacts and encourage seed trade.
Conference objectives
The ISTC2005 was aimed at exploring and promoting seed trade within the CWANA region and beyond with the following specific objectives: (i) Review the potential of seed market in CWANA region; (ii) Provide a forum to promote business contacts among seed companies; (iii) Provide opportunities for stimulating regional seed trade; (iv) Share experiences in seed trade among seed companies; and (v) Explore options for creating a regional seed trade association.
Conference participants
The conference attracted participants from (i) Private and public seed companies from CWANA region; (ii) Private seed and agricultural input suppliers from Africa, Asia, Europe and USA; (iii) Private seed equipment manufacturers from Asia, Europe and USA; (iv) International/regional/ national seed trade associations from Asia and Europe representing the private sector; and (v) International/regional research and development organizations working on seeds (FAO, ICARDA, ISF, ISTA, OECD, UPOV, CIHEAM). A total of 222 participants from over 40 countries attended the conference, making it one of the most successful seed trade congresses in the region.
Trade exhibitions
Promoting contacts and seed trade were the key elements of the ISTC2005. These objectives were successfully achieved with a high turnout of private seed companies who organized trade exhibitions. During the conference there were stands by (a) private and public seed companies, (b) manufacturers of seed equipment, and (c) input supply companies for the agricultural and seed sector. A total of 33 international, regional and national private and public seed companies, input suppliers and equipment manufacturers exhibited their product during the conference. Such regional and international congresses are becoming increasingly important in international seed trade where several business dealings are can take place.
Technical presentation
A number of key presentations covering policy, regulatory, institutional and technical issues affecting the seed industry at global, regional and national levels were presented by selected resource persons. The following topics were covered during the conference: (i) Impacts of international treaties and agreements on seed trade; (ii) The status and prospects of seed industry in CWANA region; (iii) Regulatory choices to support seed sector development; (iv) Public-private sector partnership in seed sector development; (v) Plant variety protection and its impact in seed sector development; (vi) The status and prospects of vegetable seed market in the NENA region; (vii) The role of Asia Pacific Seed Association in promoting seed trade; and (viii) The need for a regional seed association. Panel discussions were also held on policy, regulatory issues, quarantine, biotechnology and regional seed trade association. The presentations included examples from the region or elsewhere, and generated interesting discussions and exchange of views about the seed industry at national, regional and international levels.
Potential of seed market in CWANA region
The CWANA region covers an area of over 2 billion ha with an estimated population of 717 million which is expected to increase to 1.7 billion by 2030. Most countries are dependent on agriculture and have many similarities in their agroecology, farming systems, crop varieties and seeds, forming which provides a strong basis for a viable regional seed market. However, the national seed industries are largely fragmented and nationally focused with little or no seed trade among countries of the region. Moreover, there are several policy, regulatory and technical constraints which are used as tariff and non-tariff barriers for seed trade.
Recent seed trade statistics show that the WANA region alone imports over USD 250 million worth of seeds (and exports only USD 36 million worth) indicating a huge potential for regional market. The availability of a suitable environment, expertise in seed production and low production costs provide a comparative advantage for the private sector to capture the potential and opportunity of commercial seed market available within the region.
Since the mid-1980s, liberalization of national economy brought many policy and regulatory reforms in the seed sector and created an enabling environment for the development of diverse and competitive seed industry by allowing private sector participation. Such reforms led to the emergence of vibrant private seed sector in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey, and the establishment of national seed trade associations representing the private sector as a 'collective voice' influencing government policies. The Turkish Seed Industry Association is one of the strongest associations in the region that represent the private sector in Turkey. The association has shown great interest and staunch support for the development of a regional seed market.
Achievements and future implications
From the outset, the WANA Seed Network aimed at integrating the national seed systems in member countries through harmonization of policy, regulatory, technical and institutional issues to promote freer movement of varieties and seeds across the countries to eventually create a regional seed market. Since 1999, the national seed trade associations in Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey have become formal contact points with the private sector to make a joint effort to encourage the establishment of more national associations with ultimate objective of forming a regional seed trade association.
During the ISTC2005 conference consultations were held with stakeholders regarding the future of the WANA Seed Network and to explore opportunities for transforming it into a regional seed association. Leaders of the private and public sectors and policy makers from the CWANA region have endorsed the initiative. The proposal will be carefully analyzed and consolidated further through consultations among stakeholders to avoid duplication and unnecessary competition among regional associations. We anticipate that the idea of a regional seed association may become a reality with the support of all stakeholders in the seed industry. The presence of an effective voice and collective action is expected to play a greater role in influencing policy and liberalizing the seed sector and unleash the potential of the private sector for the benefit of the region.
The First International Seed Trade Conference for CWANA Region is already bearing fruit as it is already generating interest among seed trade associations in the region. Initial contacts have already been made to start a planning phase for the Second International Seed Trade Conference in 2006/7. Zewdie Bishaw and A.J. G. van Gastel, Seed Unit, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo Syria; Fax: ++963-21-2213490; E-mail: z.bishaw@cgiar.org or a.vangastel@cgiar.org and Ayhan Elci, Turkish Seed Industry Association, Mithatpasa Caddesi Fazilet Apt. No: 50/4, Yenisehir, Ankara, Turkey; Fax: ++90-312-4320050; E-mail: ayhane@turkted.org.tr
New Network Publication
Economic liberalization and policy and regulatory reforms have brought many changes in the agricultural sector in general and the seed sector in particular. Consequently, the national seed industries in many developing countries including the CWANA region are in a state of transition. There is a growing trend in private sector participation in the national seed industry. Hence, private seed companies are being organized into seed trade associations to represent the interest of their members at national and international levels. These seed companies trade seed at domestic levels as well as regional and international levels. It is important for members of the association to establish guidelines and code of conduct in seed trade to build confidence and to create a favorable environment for the growth of the industry.
The Secretariat of the WANA Seed Network produced a new publication entitled Code of Conduct for Seed Associations (WANA Seed Network Publication No. 29/05). The document was translated and adapted from the Egyptian Seed Association and tailored for use by member countries of the WANA Seed Network. The code of conduct will not, however, replace the rules of the International Seed Federation to which national seed associations are affiliated. The editors will be pleased to accept comments or any modifications for incorporation in revising this publication.
If you would like to have a copy please write to: WANA Seed Network Secretariat, Seed Unit, ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria; Fax: ++963-21-2213490; E-mail: z.bishaw@cgair.org
Change of Telephone Numbers in Ethiopia
From 15 September 2005, the telephone lines in Ethiopia have changed from one-digit code to two-digit codes, and the telephone numbers from six to seven digits. Accordingly, the telephone line for the Country Representative of the WANA Seed Network and other agricultural research institutes and the national seed program have been changed as follows:
Agricultural Inputs Quality Control and Inspections Department, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, P.O. Box 9197, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tel: ++ 251-11-5520635; Fax: ++ 251-11-251-11-5519051
Ethiopian Seed Enterprise, P.O. Box 2453, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: ++251-11-6612266-73; Fax: ++251-11-6613388; E-mail: ese@ethionet.et
Ethiopian Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds Inc., P.O. Box 1134, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: ++251-11-5525130; Fax: ++251-11-5510155; E-mail: pioneer@ethionet.et
Horticultural Development Enterprise, P.O. Box 60061, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: ++251-11-519544
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa; Tel: ++251-11-6612572; Fax: ++251-11-6611222; E-mail: earo@dg.org.et; Website: http://www.earo.org.et
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International Seed Trade Conference in Pictures
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| Opening Ceremony | |
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| Trade Exhibitions | |
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| Technical Sessions | |
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| Field Visits | |
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| Regional Consultation Meeting | |
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