Theme 5: Institutional Strengthening
Project 5.1:
Strengthening National Seed Systems in Central and West Asia and North Africa

Goal: Increased productivity and sustainable food security through improved seed security and access to quality seed.
Indicator: Improved seed production and distribution.
Accelerated introduction of new varieties from NARS

Purpose: Strengthened capacity of formal and informal seed systems of CWANA countries to supply farming communities with quality seed of adapted varieties in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.
Indicator: Information on how to improve the efficiency, reliability and quality of seed supply to farmers of all types, transferred to national seed programs and organizations.
Improved availability of seed, increased productivity and improved farm incomes in crop production systems.

Output 1: Enhanced knowledge and expertise in national seed programs.
Indicators: Knowledge and skills acquired by trainers during 'train-the-trainer' courses adapted and transferred successfully through follow-up courses organized within countries in the region.
Personnel from various levels in the national seed program participating actively in workshops, seminars and roundtable discussions organized by ICARDA's Seed Unit.
Graduates of collaborative MSc programs active in solving problems in their countries using expertise acquired with the support of ICARDA.
Collaborative links established with academic institutions in the region which are involved in teaching seed technology
Milestones:
2003:
Annual training course on Variety Management, Seed Production and Seed Program Organization, Seed Enterprise Development, Marketing, Preparation of Business Plans.
Specialized training courses based on requests from specific national programs.
  2004: Annual training course on Seed Enterprise Development, Marketing, Preparation of Business Plans.
Specialized training courses based on requests from specific national programs.
 
2005:
Annual training course on Seed Enterprise Development, Marketing, Preparation of Business Plans.
Specialized training courses based on requests from specific national programs.

Output 2: WANA Seed Network providing close linkages between, and implemented by, the national seed programs in the region in collaboration with the ICARDA Seed Unit.
Indicators: Published comparative information on national seed policies, quality control procedures, import/export regulations and quarantine measures used by member countries.
Standardized seed production and control procedures adopted by Seed Network members.
Committees guiding and coordinating privatization efforts in WANA countries.
Countries receiving regular information through Network Newsletter, variety catalogues and other working documents using material compiled by member countries and widely distributed in the region.
Establishment and operation of national Seed Associations with private sector participation.
Integration of seed system in the region based on common certification scheme and regulations
Milestones:
2003:
Draft seed legislation circulated to governments for comment.
4th Network meeting to review progress of activities.
Training provided on the community approach.
 
2004:
One National Seed Association initiated in the region and options for establishing regional associations formulated.
 
2005:
Seed systems in the region integrated on the basis of a common certification scheme and regulations.
WANA Seed Network transformed into a Regional Seed Association.

Output 3: Strategies and methodologies for improving economic efficiency of formal and alternative seed delivery systems. sustainable management of rangeland resources in Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia
  Indicators: Options for increased cost efficiency of seed systems and policy recommendations for improvement of performance of the seed sector prepared and implemented by national seed programs.
National seed programs participating actively in collaborative case studies on financial and economic analysis of national seed systems.
Results and recommendations of country studies used by national programs.
Ideas and experiences from successful cases extended to seed systems in several countries.
Countries recognizing and applying different approaches to seed system development and adopting those that best suit their respective conditions.
Regulatory barriers to new seed providers reduced or removed
  Milestones:
  2003: Articles on forage seed economics study in NE Syria published.
Economic input into Afghanistan seed project provided.
Technical input into other research-development projects in the region provided.
Technical input into annual HQ courses and in-country training courses.
 
2004:
Articles on economics studies prepared and published.
Technical input into other research-development projects in the region provided.
Technical input into annual HQ courses and in-country training courses.
A model seed systems project for forages developed in collaboration with the Syrian General Organization for Seed Multiplication.
Review of recent seed policy changes published.
 
2005:
Articles on economics studies prepared and published.
Experiences from model forage seed system project in NE Syria applied to other countries.
Technical input into other research-development projects in the region provided.
Technical input into annual HQ and in-country training courses.

  Output 4: Informal seed sector concerns reflected in national seed system development as a result of awareness created on this issue.
  Indicators: Published results and recommendations based on informal sector studies widely distributed and utilized by development agencies, NGOs and other interested institutions.
  Milestones:
  2003: Information from informal seed sector studies and initiatives published
Seed systems component of the barley participatory breeding project. monitored
The establishment of model alternative seed delivery systems in specific countries explored on the basis of information and knowledge from various studies and projects.
 
2004:
Information from informal seed sector studies and initiatives published
The establishment of model alternative seed delivery systems in specific countries explored on the basis of information and knowledge from various studies and projects
 
2005:
Information from informal seed sector studies and initiatives published
The establishment of model alternative seed delivery systems in specific countries explored on the basis of information and knowledge from various studies and projects

  Output 5: Coping mechanisms enhanced in disaster prone countries through knowledge disseminated and regional cooperation in seed security
  Indicators: Countries aware of recommendations on (i) the establishment of national seed stocks, regional seed security reserves, community based seed initiatives, or strategic area seed reserves; (ii) appropriate means of reacting to disaster relief; (iii) linking seed relief with disaster preparedness and long-term development.
Organizations using published guidelines as reference or training material.
  Milestones:
  2003: Technical input in the production of foundation seed provided as part of the restoration of seed centers in Afghanistan.
Technical input in seed systems development in Afghanistan.
Support to other disaster affected areas provided where necessary.
Effect of disasters on local seed systems reviewed.
Practical recommendations for seed relief during emergencies prepared.
 
2004:
Support to rebuilding Afghanistan's seed system continued.
Support to other disaster affected areas provided.
Information from seed security studies and initiatives published
 
2005:
Support to rebuilding Afghanistan's seed system continued.
Support to other disaster affected area provided.
Information from seed security studies published.

  Output 6: Relevant new information available through applied research into practical seed-related issues, with particular reference to forage seeds.
  Indicators: Research results accepted for publication in relevant journals and media
Citation and use of research results from similar studies undertaken in national seed programs.
  Milestones:
  2003: Information from research projects published.
Research findings applied in seed systems.
 
2004:
Information from research projects published.
Research findings applied in seed systems.
 
2005:
Information from research projects published.
Research findings applied in seed systems.

  Output 7: Use of adapted germplasm in national programs promoted by transfer of promising lines through seed supplied by ICARDA and maintained by NARS.
  Indicators: Seed of promising lines used as start-up multiplication material in national programs and in trials.
Procedures and facilities for producing high-quality breeder seed established within NARS to support the national seed sector.
  Milestones:
  2003: 40 tons quality seed provided to meet requests by ICARDA programs and NARS.
Technical backstopping in further multiplication of foundation seed supplied during 2002 in Afghanistan provided.
Processing, storage and testing services provided for 200 tons of seed produced by ICARDA.
SeedMan database system made operational.
 
2004:
40 tons quality seed provided to meet requests by ICARDA programs and NARS.
Processing, storage and testing services provided for 200 tons of seed produced by ICARDA.
 
2005:
40 tons quality seed provided to meet requests by ICARDA programs and NARS.
Processing, storage and testing services provided for 200 tons of seed produced by ICARDA.

Duration: 5 years.

  Users and beneficiaries:
In strengthening national seed systems, the immediate target groups are policy makers, managers and staff of formal sector seed organizations, as well as alternative seed producing groups such as NGOs, seed growers, cooperatives, and farmers' organizations. The ultimate beneficiaries are farmers who will benefit from access to, and use of, quality seed, farmers and consumers who use crops for food, livestock feed and other purposes.

  Collaborators:
 

NARS and seed programs of WANA countries through activities of WANA Seed Network and collaborative country studies. International Organizations involved in seeds including FAO; International Seed Testing Association (ISTA); International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). University departments that include seed topics in their teaching curricula and graduate research, e.g., University of Jordan; University of Khartoum; Cukurova University, Turkey.

  Cost:

 
  2003 US$ 5.368 Million
  2004 US$ 1.764 Million
  2005 US$ 1.835 Million

  System Linkages: 

  Output 3 Sustainable Production: 35 %
Output 4 Policy 45%
Output 5 Enhancing NARS: 20%

  Financing Plan:
  Unrestricted core funds. Anticipated continued funding from USAID and IDRC for seed system development in Afghanistan; anticipated funding through the CGIAR Collaborative Research Program for collaboration with Central Asia and the Caucasus; support is currently being sought for the WANA Seed Network and training activities.
     
  Theme 4, Project 4.1