Afro Asian Business Chronicle

Underlining that seed security is a prerequisite for achieving food security, agricultural experts participating in the just-concluded Regional Workshop on Seed Policy in West Africa urged decision-makers to support the sustainable growth and development of the West African seed sector, particularly for food security crops, such as rice, millet, sorghum, cowpeas and maize.

The experts recommended the need to formulate, adopt, and implement coherent strategies and policies at regional and national levels for the rapid development of viable seed enterprises which would help increase the steady supply of quality seed to millions of smallholder farmers in West Africa, according to a release from AfricaRice.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) in Cotonou, Benin. It was inaugurated by His Excellency Michel Sogbossi, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Government of Benin.

"Strong research programs and solid seed systems are crucial to give farmers access to better varieties and quality seeds," said  Marco Wopereis, AfricaRice Deputy Director General & Director for Research at the workshop, which provided an overview of the current status of the West African seed sector as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with it.

Seed entrepreneurs in the sub-region face many challenges because of the absence of coherent seed policies, poor infrastructure and lack of access to improved seed, complementary inputs, production technologies, credits and
training.

Highlighting the importance of developing national seed policies, Robert Guéi, Senior Officer from FAO, remarked that the seed industry was relatively more developed in other regions of Africa than in Central and West Africa.
"Until now only a few countries in West Africa, such as Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Benin, etc., have formulated and passed a coherent seed policy, while a few others are in the process of doing so," Guéi said.                    

Key recommendations
>> Develop improved varieties and ensure their rapid delivery through effective seed systems;
>> Develop national action plans to support the sustainable development of seed industries;
>> Strengthen partnerships between the public and the private sector on seed-related issues, with clear delineation of their respective roles;
>> Develop the capacity of the formal and informal seed sectors;
>> Integrate a value-chain approach in the seed policies;
>> Develop regulatory frameworks for rapid and sustainable growth of the seed industry; and
>> Ensure the participation of the whole range of actors in the formulation of seed policies.

AABC Business Bureau