Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network
No. 34, January 2008
PDF File (1.25
MB)
----------------------
Subscribe
----------------------
E-mail & Address
----------------------
Back Issues
----------------------
Seed Home
----------------------
ICARDA Home
----------------------
Subscribe
----------------------
E-mail & Address
----------------------
Back Issues
----------------------
Seed Home
----------------------
ICARDA Home
In this section we invite national seed programs, projects, universities, and regional and international organizations to provide news about their seed-related activities.
First National Seed Fair Held in Afghanistan
Farmers, seed companies, NGOs, seed and agrochemical dealers, research institutes, donors, senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) and other stakeholders participated in the first seed fair held from 31 August to 1 September 2007 in Herat, Afghanistan under the theme 'Diversity and knowledge for seed security'.
The fair was organized by the EU-funded FAO project on Variety and Seed Industry Development in collaboration with MAIL. It attracted a huge number of visitors from Herat and other parts of the country to its 141 stalls, many of which exhibited seeds and varieties of a range of crops that reflected Afghanistan's rich plant genetic diversity.
The active participation of small-scale private enterprises at the fair was an outcome of privatization/commercialization policies being pursued in the country, which aim to make the seed industry profitable, and to improve incomes and livelihoods in the rural areas.
 |
| Diversity of crops and seeds displayed at the seed fair. |
The exhibits were visited by high level dignitaries from FAO, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, and European Commission.
Mohammad Jawad, EU Seed Project, Kabul, Afghanistan; E-mail: mohammad.awad@fao.org
Village-based Seed Enterprises Win Prize for Innovation
ICARDA, with financial support through the USAID's Alternative Livelihood Program, has established 17 Village-based Seed Enterprises (VBSEs) in three provinces in Eastern Afghanistan: Kunar, Laghman and Nangarhar. In addition to providing equipment (tractors, seed cleaners) and inputs, ICARDA has trained VBSE members in production, processing and marketing seeds of staple crops like wheat, rice, mung bean and potato. During the 2006/07 season, the VBSEs produced over 900 tons of wheat seed and are multiplying seed of rice and mung bean.
 |
| H.E. Obaidullah Ramin, Minister of Agriculture (center), visits the stall of Nangarhar Seed Company |
The ALP organized the Jalalabad Ag-Fair 2007 on 4-5 September 2007. The Nangarhar Seed Company, an umbrella organization representing VBSEs in Nangarhar province, and established with ICARDA support, participated. It exhibited its high-quality seed and the seed cleaner and treater provided by ALP/ICARDA. The company's stall won a 'Special Prize for Innovation' at the Ag-Fair. ICARDA's work in organizing, supporting, and transforming VBSEs into sustainable enterprises has been acclaimed by visiting dignitaries. ICARDA also exhibited its achievements in adaptive research and technology transfer through demonstrations; and in a stall set up by ICARDA-organized Mint Producers Associations.
Javed Rizvi, ICARDA, P.O. Box 1355, Central Post Office, Kabul, Afghanistan; E-mail: j.rizvi@cgiar.org
International Training Program on Plant Genetic Resources and Seeds
Wageningen International, ICARDA and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), with financial support from the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a joint 'International Training Program on Plant Genetic Resources and Seeds' (PGR and Seeds).
The training program consisted of two 2-week modules. The first module was conducted on 'Market and chain development for genetic resources and seeds', from 17-28 September. at the South Agricultural Research Institute, Awassa The second module on 'Conservation strategies and plant genetic resource policies' was held on 1-12 October 2007 at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit.
The objective was to enhance participants' capacity to manage genetic resources and seeds; and their knowledge of policies and participatory and market-oriented approaches. The program sought to help participants and facilitators exchange experience and work together to explore practical applications for conservation and sustainable use of crop genetic resources.
The market and chain development module began with analysis of the supply chain. It created awareness of the economic value of agrobiodiversity, promoted the use of agrobiodiversity through market-oriented approaches, and ways of establishing small-scale seed enterprises involving farmers and farming communities. Other topics addressed were: economic perspectives of agrobiodiversity use; market trends and sector analysis; supply chain concepts and chain integration; small-scale seed enterprise development; and marketing under-utilized crops and locally produced seeds.
The courses also aimed to provide participants with the tools to manage germplasm collections more effectively. Special attention was given to PGR policies, intellectual property rights, and mechanisms for access and benefit sharing. Other topics addressed included: national PGR programs, genebank management procedures, international PGR policies, farmers' rights etc.
Twenty participants representing different organizations (NARS, universities, development organizations, NGOs) from nine countries (Ethiopia, Egypt, India, Italy, Malawi, Nigeria, Yemen, Uganda and Zimbabwe) attended the two modules at Awassa and Debre Zeit.
 |
| Participants of the International Training Program on Plant Genetic Resources and Seeds, Ethiopia |
A multidisciplinary team of international and national resource persons and facilitators from Wageningen International, the Center for Genetic Resources (Netherlands) and ICARDA conducted the workshops.
Tailor Made Training Program Concludes with Eastern Africa Regional Workshop
In the last two issues of 'Seed Info' we reported the launching and progress of the one-year Tailor-Made Training Program (TMTP) entitled 'The improvement of farmer based seed production scheme and revitalizing informal seed supply of local crops and varieties in Ethiopia' by the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise, Wageningen International and ICARDA. The TMTP program concluded with an experience-sharing workshop held from15-19 October 2007 in Adama, Ethiopia.
The TMTP consisted of six training components. The first two components were implemented in October 2006 (with 27 participants from federal and regional state institutions). This was followed by development of action plans for each region, for implementing participatory seed system analysis for diagnosis and problem assessment; and designing options for small-scale seed enterprise development and support to informal seed supply. The final plan of action was developed in a planning workshop in February 2007 (third component); and elaborated at a series of four regional workshops in March and April 2007 (fourth component).
A seed policy and PGR workshop was organized in July 2007 in Addis Ababa (fifth component). The workshop addressed specific policy and regulatory frameworks important to genetic diversity and informal seed supply. Policy options were formulated to decentralize strategies for supporting informal seed supply, contributing to farmers' practices in seed supply, supporting the establishment of community based and small-scale seed enterprises. Plans covered both improved and local varieties.
The training program concluded with the Eastern Africa Regional Workshop held during 15-19 October 2007 in Adama (sixth component). The workshop was also attended by representatives from other countries in East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda), West Africa (Nigeria), Middle East (Yemen), CGIAR centers, NGOs (SG 2000) and other agencies with experience in informal seed supply, and by representatives of donor agencies. There was considerable discussion and sharing of experiences from different countries.
 |
 |
 |
| Workshop participants (above) during classroom discussion (middle) and field visits (bottom) |
During the workshop, the five regional teams (Amhara, South, Tigray and two teams from Oromia) shared the progress made in integrating the previous training components into the core programs of government agencies and NGOs. Technical, institutional and policy constraints were discussed at length. Opportunities for new regional, national and/or international projects were discussed with representatives of donor organizations. The workshop also included two field visits to locations where farmers started producing seed through the training program and the support of BoARD.
 |
| Certificate award ceremony of TMTP |
The TMTP was tailored to the needs of organizations participated in the training. The knowledge gained through the training was practically implemented in the field where tangible outputs are being seen. Follow up and up-scaling activities need to be supported by both national and international stakeholders. In this regard, the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture is interested in supporting part of the follow up activities. As an important output of this program a seed book is being prepared jointly by ESE, Wageningen and ICARDA, to be published and distributed internationally in 2008. The book will describe the experiences of the Ethiopian training and other relevant topics relating to informal seed supply in the African context.
A total of 155 participants and 25 resource persons from national and international organizations were involved in various components of the year round program. The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) supported TMTP with funding.
Abdurahman Beshir, ESE, P. O. Box 2453, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, E-mail: abdurahmanb@gmail.com
Rehabilitation and Development of National Seed Industry in Iraq
FAO has been implementing a project on 'Rehabilitation and Development of the National Seed Industry in Iraq'. The objective of the project is to improve food security and nutrition through rehabilitation and improvement of the national seed program; which will promote the availability and use of quality seed and lay the foundations for a sustainable seed industry. One objective is to improve the technical capacity of national seed program staff through training. FAO and the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) have formally signed an agreement to organize three six-week training programs on 'Seed Production and Marketing', 'Seed Quality Control' and 'Variety Development and Evaluation' for 25 Iraqi staff from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Baghdad. The training was conducted at IARI, New Delhi, India. It aimed to develop participants' ability to subsequently impart in-house training to Iraqi nationals involved in the seed sector.
The first training program on Seed Production and Marketing was organized for six MoA staff from 13 September to 24 October 2007. The course include various topics among others including: (i) Morphology of wheat, barley, rice and maize; (ii) Principles of cereal seed production; (iii) Causes of varietal impurities; (iv) Maintenance of varietal purity; (v) Principles and practices of hybrid seed production;, (vi) Seed processing and storage; (vii) Seed market analysis; and (viii) economics of seed production.
Field trips were arranged to different parts in India and research stations of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. The participants also visited ICRISAT, and showed interest in forage pearl millet, which is suitable for rainfed conditions in Iraq. ICRISAT has agreed to supply suitable germplasm and lines on an experimental basis. Visits were also arranged to private seed companies and manufacturers of equipment for seed processing and seed testing.
The second training program on Seed Quality Control was conducted from 15 November to 26 December 2007 for nine participants. The objective is to develop participants' skill on: (i) Concept of seed quality control; (ii) Principles and procedure of seed certification; (iii) Seed testing; (iv) Seed sampling; (v) Seed purity; (vi) Seed moisture; (vii) Seed germination; (viii) Seed health; (ix) Other special tests; (x) Seed processing and storage; and (xi) Requirements for establishing and managing seed testing laboratory.
 |
| Participants with faculty members of IARI, India |
 |
| A practical training session in the laboratory |
The participants visited the University of Agricultural Science at Dharwad in Karnataka, which has the biggest seed production and quality control system in India. They also visited ISTA accredited laboratories at Bangalore and ICRISAT.
Sushil Pandey, Division of Seed Science & Technology, IARI, New Delhi, India; E-mail: sushilpandey_iari@yahoo.com and Rai Ajambar, FAO-Iraq, Amman, Jordan; E-mail: ajambar.rai@undp.org
Performance of Public and Private Seed Sectors in Pakistan
According to the latest reports of the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSCRD), a total of 247,906 tons of major agricultural and horticultural crops were distributed by the public and private sectors in Pakistan (see table below). The amount of seed supplied on average met only 16% of the national seed requirement in 2006, varying from nearly 50% for cotton to below 1% for some crops such as chickpea and groundnut.
| Amount of seed distributed and demand met in Pakistan in 2006 | ||||
| Crop |
Potential demand (t)
|
Quantity supplied (t)
|
% demand met
|
|
|
Public
sector |
Private
sector |
|||
| Wheat |
1,008,840
|
51,773
|
120,010
|
17
|
| Rice |
39,645
|
2,629
|
9,889
|
32
|
| Maize |
30,888
|
262
|
8801
|
29
|
| Chickpea |
41,520
|
76
|
148
|
0.5
|
| Pulses |
7,595
|
97
|
323
|
5.5
|
| Groundnut |
10,580
|
1
|
0
|
-
|
| Oilseeds |
4,636
|
108
|
1,684
|
39
|
| Potato |
276,250
|
556
|
7,105
|
3
|
| Vegetables |
5,500
|
135
|
5,365
|
100
|
| Fodders |
58,129
|
95
|
9,751
|
17
|
| Cotton |
62,000
|
3,307
|
25,791
|
50
|
| Total |
1,545,583
|
59,039
|
188,867
|
16
|
Simultaneously, large volume of hybrid seed - 13,495 tons of various crops valued at Rs 2017 million (USD 1 @ 61.2 Pak Rupees) - was imported by multinational and domestic seed companies during the year 2005/06 for local distribution to farmers (see table below).
| Amount of seed imported (t) and value (Rs) in 2006 | ||
| Crop |
Imports (t)
|
Value , Rs million
|
| Maize |
7443.61
|
1338.24
|
| Oilseeds Canola Sunflower |
18.0 1636.02 |
4.4 358.18 |
| Vegetables |
112.01
|
164.93
|
| Fodders Sorghum Millets |
3925.09 18.01 |
110.84 1.06 |
| Total |
13,495.23
|
2017.34
|
| Source: The Seed News, January-June 2007 | ||