1. THE SADC SEED REGULATORY SYSTEM

2. Background In an effort to emulate success of the green revolution in Asian countries, the FAO had a program of supporting the development of the Seed Sector in the developing world to improve food production. Denmark was one of the countries funding the program through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Through the DANIDA funding, the SADC Secretariat was able to commission a baseline study of the SADC Regional Seed Industry culminating in the compilation of the 1988 DANAGRO Report.

3. Findings of the Report Seed industries in the respective SADC countries were at different stages of development and some countries depended solely on imports. Some countries had seed legislation and others had non and those with legislation had different seed certification requirements and seed quality standards. Duplication of effort in variety testing and release in that a variety which has been released will be subjected to the same routine in the next country whereas the agro-ecological conditions are similar. Retesting of seed by importing country which had already been tested by the exporting country. Tertiary institutions in the SADC were not offering courses on Seed Technology.

4. Findings of the Report Inadequacy of qualified seed sector personnel in some countries. All the above shortcomings delayed the farmers access to new technology and good quality seed.

5. Recommendations Establishment of a Regional Seed Centre for training the seed sector personnel. Harmonization of the seed legislation/regulations in the Region which commenced in the early nineties.

6. Status After elaborate consultations with seed stakeholders in the Region, the MoU on seed variety release, seed certification and quality assurance, and quarantine and phytosanitary measures for seed was finalized in 2008. The MoU was subsequently signed by a majority of the Ministers of Agriculture in the Region in 2010. Individual countries are at different stages of aligning their legislation to the MoU.

7. Are we on track to realize the vision? The light at the end of the tunnel is now visible. Other spin offs of the process include the enhancement of networking of stakeholders within the Regional Seed Sector.

8. THANK YOU.