Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network
No. 37,
June 2009
PDF File (1.4
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In this section we invite national seed programs, projects, universities, and regional and international organizations to provide news about their seed-related activities.
Afghanistan Releases New Wheat Varieties for Farmers
With the changing climatic conditions and emergence of new plant diseases, Afghan farmers are in dire need of new high yielding and disease tolerant varieties to replace many older varieties. It is in response to this need that the Variety and Seed Industry Development project, which is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) with funding from the European Union (EU), is paying attention to the development of new varieties that have improved characteristics and performance.
After five consecutive years of screening and testing in nine agro-ecological zones around the country by the FAO in close collaboration with field stations of the Agricultural Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA), two outstanding varieties have been identified and were presented to a special session of the Variety Release Committee at MAIL on 12 August 2008. The Committee approved the two varieties namely Dorokhshan-08 and Shesham Bagh-08 for release on the specific merits of high yield potential, tolerance to diseases and suitability for bread making, adding to the extremely limited number of improved spring wheat varieties available in Afghanistan. They will be particularly useful for farmers in high elevation cool areas who may not be able to plant their wheat crop in the autumn season because of time and water constraints. Until now, farmers in such locations are using mostly traditional varieties and are in extreme need of new improved materials to enhance their food production potential.
Following the release of these varieties, the project and the MAIL extension service will now endeavor in collaboration with seed producers to publicize the new varieties in farming communities and make available sufficient quantities of quality seed within the shortest possible time. This is good news for Afghan farmers, and which will undoubtedly be greeted with joy in farming communities across the country. For more information, please contact: Assadullah Azhari, Information Officer, FAO Kabul Afghanistan; Tel: + 93-700-274 515; E-mail: assadullah.azhari@fao.org
Ethiopia Step-up Off-season Seed Multiplication
Ethiopia's formal sector seed delivery is by far very low. The majority of farmers use their own saved seed or through local exchanges or buy from local markets. The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) was determined to expand the volume of certified seed delivery, but the availability of early generation seed remains a major constraint. Hence, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) embarked on increasing the volume of breeder and pre-basic seed by multiplying seed during the off-season.
A field day held from 8-9 May 2009 demonstrated the success of off-season seed multiplication at Debre Zeit, Melkasa, and Werer agricultural research centers aiming at narrowing the gap between demand and supply of early generation seed and possibilities for expanding to other research centers and sharing experience among EIAR communities. It was urged that all research centers to work diligently on pre-basic and basic seed multiplication along with agricultural research to ensure seed availability to expedite adoption of improved crop varieties.
The off-season seed multiplication was successful, which can be a good example for other research centers, to engage in efficiently multiplying seed on available experimental lands. Debre Zeit, Melkassa and Werer research centers have planted about 150 ha by irrigating from the Awash, Bedecha and Belbela rivers during the off-season, and multiplied seeds of wheat, tef, rice, maize, sorghum, chickpea, lentil, haricot bean, sesame and groundnut. Although the centers lack machinery (tractors, levelers, planters, water pumps, etc.), efficient water sources and adequate labor, the off-season seed multiplication experience was a success and rewarding for the institute and staff demonstrating the possibility of multiplying seed and conducting research all year around in Ethiopia, if available resources are adequately mobilized and used in the country. The field day provided an opportunity for experience sharing, expert opinion and discussion among researchers and partner organizations. An expert opinion on irrigated wheat production in the lowlands was raised as a successful farming in Ethiopian agriculture.
Source: Mirimir Vol 8 No 11, May 2009
Pakistan Constitute National Seed Industry Association
Pakistan seed industry has shown tremendous progress since the announcement of the national seed industry policy in 1994. Several regional or provincial seed associations were formed to represent the interests of the private sector, but remain scattered and less focused. Moreover, past efforts to form a national seed association failed due to lack of true representation of the private seed sector.
In a recent meeting it was agreed that regional seed associations consolidate their position by coming under one national umbrella organization, the Pakistan Seed Industry Association, with the following objectives:
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Promote and encourage high ethical standards in the conduct of the seed industry. |
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Protect and represent the interests and activities of members of the seed industry by initiating and influencing decisions which affect them. |
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Encourage production and use of high quality seeds and discourage the use of inferior seeds, promote export trade on seeds produced in Pakistan. |
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Negotiate and cooperate with appropriate international or regional seed associations in the interest of its members. |
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Assisting the government in matters relating to laws and regulations to settle disputes between members, promote and encourage plant breeding and research in the private sector. |
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To organize seminars, conventions and workshops for its members and the stakeholders of the seed industry. |
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To unite all firms companies, associations, corporations, scientists and persons handling the seed business in Pakistan. |
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Helping members to get national and international training. |
Opportunities for Forage Seed Production in Pakistan
In Pakistan, about 2.5 million ha of fodder crops are sown with an estimated 55.5 million tonnes of green fodder production. Punjab province alone plants 2.03 million ha producing 44.4 million tonnes (80%). Until the 1970s, Pakistan used to export berseem seed to neighboring countries, but following the interception of Cuscuta, the seed export was banned altogether.
To date, the country has become a net fodder seed importer. Despite the release of over 30 varieties, the seed production program is not yet well-organized resulting in high imports of fodder seed. In 2006/07, about 11,478 tonnes of fodder seed was imported at the value of RS 493.9 million to meet domestic demand.
There is great scope for domestic production and supply of fodder seed using the thousands of hectares of land of livestock farms across the country. The PSC has recently demonstrated the capacity to produce berseem seed locally. Moreover, a private seed company (High Sell Seed Company) has released the first hybrid sorghum (Sudum 99). Multi-national companies are also producing hybrid seed from exotic inbreds, although has not yet commercialized them, and the bulk of the seed needs continue to remain on the import list. It requires a political will and commitment to organize domestic fodder seed production.
Source: The Seed News, Vol 10 No 2, July 2008 - March 2009
Turkey Established Umbrella Organization for the Seed Industry
The Turkish Seed Industry Association (T?RK-TED) was established in 1986 following the liberalization of the national seed sector in the country. The association was established to represent the interests of the domestic seed producers and continued its activities as the single representative body of the seed industry. It has served successfully as a forum between the industry and government over a long period of time and widely recognized as a representative professional organization in both domestic and international forum. It has also becomes a member of International Seed Federation and European Seed Association. It has about 90 fully integrated or partially integrated (e.g. marketing) member companies with major operations in variety development, variety adaptation trialing, seed production, seed processing, packaging, marketing, distribution, seed import/export of cereals (winter and warm-season), industrial crops, forage crops, vegetables, amenity grasses and ornamentals.
However, according to Seed Law No. 5553 of 2006, a new umbrella organization known as the Turkish Seed Union (Turk-TOB) was formed in 2008, representing the whole cross section of the seed industry from plant breeding to provision of seed and planting material industries. It is composed of several sub-unions including the Sub-Union of Seed Industrialists and Producers (TS?AB formerly Turk-Ted), Sub-Union of Seed Growers, Sub-Union of Seed Distributors and Dealers, Sub-Union of Plug Plant Producers, Sub-Union of Nurserymen, Sub-Union of Ornamental Plant Growers and Sub-Union of Plant Breeders.
At present, there are institutional constraints which slow the smooth functioning of the privatization process in Turkey. Among these is lack of a functional coordination mechanism and consultation platform between the various public agencies and private sector with regard to the governance of the seed sector in general and preparation of seed regulations in particular. Although this has changed considerably after the reforms, many today believe that better collaboration between public agencies and the private sector will help accelerate the overall performance of the seed industry. In this regard the newly established Turkish Seed Union and its subordinate organs are expected to play a vital role in order to help develop effective interactions between the various stakeholders including the government, farmers, industry and consumers for the development of a truly competitive seed industry in Turkey.
Turkey is also hosting a special committee with the task of facilitating the establishment of a regional seed association, ECOSA. For more details, please contact Turkish Seed Union, Adakale Sokak No 22/12 Kizilay, Ankara, Turkey; Tel: +90 312 433 30 65; +90 312 433 30 66; Fax: +90 312 433 30 06;
Accelerated Seed Multiplication to Counter Threats of Stem Rust (Ug99)
Background
ICARDA and CIMMYT prepared a joint proposal for accelerated seed multiplication of promising lines (or released varieties) in selected target countries vulnerable to risks of stem rust (Ug99): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nepal and Pakistan. USAID has approved the project, from its Famine Fund, with major focus on accelerated seed multiplication for rapid deployment of stem rust resistant varieties. ICARDA is responsible for handling project activities in Egypt, Ethiopia and Pakistan, whereas CIMMYT is responsible for Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
From the outset, the project focuses on four key components, which should run concurrently to ensure success, including:
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Identifying Ug99 and major rust resistant varieties in respective countries. |
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Fast-track release of resistant varieties through dialogue with partners. |
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Popularization and promotion of resistant varieties with farmers. |
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Accelerated seed multiplication of promising lines (pre-release) and released varieties (large-scale) for distribution to farmers through formal and informal sectors. |
Project activities and implementation
During 2008/09, a large number of promising Ug99 resistant lines identified by ICARDA and CIMMYT in partnership with NARS of respective countries, were evaluated for yield and tolerance to local races of three major rusts i.e. stem, yellow and leaf rusts in different agro-ecological regions. Apart from Ug99 resistance, it is becoming increasingly important that the new wheat varieties should have combined resistance to major rusts and other diseases of national importance, and better yielding particularly in the absence of the Ug99 in some countries. Moreover, pre-release seed multiplication of these lines was also initiated to ensure availability and access to seeds upon their final release.
In Egypt, two Ug99-resistant wheat lines (Lines 1 and 10) were identified with a yield of 8.05 and 7.94 t/ha, respectively, giving 150 and 40 kg/ha more yield over the highest yielding standard commercial variety Giza 168 (7.9 t/ha). The two lines were also resistant to major local wheat rusts. During a planning meeting with the Agricultural Research Center, the Central Administration for Seed Production (CASP), the Central Administration for Seed Testing and Certification (CASC) and ICARDA, it was agreed that these promising lines are recommended for release, popularization and large-scale accelerated seed multiplication in Egypt. It was also agreed that 42.23 t of seed multiplied by ARC through project support, is now provided to CASP, which will produce the seed on contract on state farms and contracted seed growers to produce large-quantity of seed in 2009/10. The two lines are now officially considered for reelase as Misr 1 and Misr 2.
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Wheat
promising lines under multiplication in Sakha, Egypt (Line 1: top
and Line 10: bottom)
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In Ethiopia, eight Ug99 resistant lines from ICARDA and CIMMYT will enter multi-location advanced and adaptation trials during the main season in 2009/10, to facilitate fast track release. In the mean time, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) will initiate pre-release seed multiplication of these lines.
In Pakistan, six Ug99 resistant lines identified by the National Agricultural Research Center and the Ayoub Agricultural Research Center were evaluated under federal and provincial yield trails in 2008/09. Furthermore, seed of the resistant lines were multiplied at agricultural research centers and private seed companies. However, all six lines were found to be susceptible to the local race of stem rust, and in a recent meeting held in Pakistan, were withdrawn from further testing and release as well as seed multiplication. However, during the consultation meeting it was agreed to evaluate and pre-release seed multiplication of Ug99 resistant lines which are also found to be resistant to local stem races and other major rusts in the country during 2008/09.
ICARDA will continue providing the technical and financial support required through the existing USAID project.