Granted projects of the Seed Laws Toolbox
On this page you can find the summaries of the completed different SLT projects of 2022 and 2023.
Seed laws toolbox in 2023
Enhancing the Seed Regulatory System in Benin through Public-Private Dialogue
In Benin, agricultural value chains face a significant challenge due to farmers’ limited access to high-quality seeds. Despite decades of efforts to strengthen the seed sector, including the establishment of regulatory frameworks, the National Committee for Plant Seeds, and the National Strategy for Plant Seeds, persistent challenges hinder progress. This six-month project, developed by ACED and Resilience BV, aimed to enhance Benin’s seed regulatory system, making it capable of providing high-quality services to seed companies and producers. Specific objectives included establishing a public-private dialogue mechanism, proposing a self-financing mechanism, suggesting guidelines to simplify variety registration and seed certification procedures, and learning from seed regulatory frameworks in other African countries.
Seed tracking and tracing system rollout in Uganda
Uganda continues to battle with fake seed in the market despite increased number of quality seed producers. Seed production and marketing is expensive but lucrative business, forcing some individuals to make shortcuts at the expense of users. Therefore, ISSD Uganda, in collaboration with MAAIF, NARO and USTA initiated the development of a digital tracking and tracing system with funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands under ISSD projects.
The development of a regulatory system for the registration and release of farmer varieties in Uganda
Farmer varieties in Uganda are ineligible for formal registration, because the varieties don’t meet the required standards of uniformity and/or stability. By not being able to register these varieties, farmers cannot produce and market certified seed. An alternative registration framework for farmer varieties draft has been developed by National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO-PGRC). This project aims to support the development of a regulatory system for the registration and release of farmer varieties in Uganda through testing and reviewing the draft registration schedule on the basis of 3 farmer varieties.
This project was implemented by African Center for Equitable Development (ACED) & Resilience BV
Find here the concise presentation of the results.
This project was implemented by ISSD Uganda and Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation.
Find here the concise presentation of the results.
This project was implemented by ESAFF Uganda, PELUM and Oxfam Uganda.
Find here the concise presentation of the results.
Seed laws toolbox in 2022
Improving the Regulatory Environment to Improve Local Potato Production in Mozambique
Solidaridad’s project titled, “Improving the Regulatory Environment to Improve Local Potato Production in Mozambique” aims to ensure that smallholder farmers in Tete and Zambezia Province in Mozambique have access to affordable certification services for new potato varieties in order to promote the local development of hybrid seed varieties. To achieve this, they will (i) raise awareness on the social and economic implications of unaffordable certification costs, and (ii) strengthen the capacity of local certification experts.
Find here the concise presentation of the results, as well as the final report.
Seed Law Framework in Iraq
Over the past years the vegetable seed/seed potato export to Iraq has grown exponentially. However, experiences in recent years show a regulatory system that is sometimes unclear and unsuited for current conditions. The question and opportunity are therefore how to improve the seed/potato seed system so that all involved benefit, from farmers to distributers, to government, and the local economy. The project will start with a survey of the current and desired seed trade system and bottlenecks through a consultation with Dutch and Iraqi seed sector, private and public stakeholders. Also, a reflection will be made on successful approaches in Iraq. To conclude the project, a workshop will be organized that disseminates the results among stakeholders in a neutral way, and turns to identifying solution models and forward actions.
Find here the concise presentation of the results, as well as the final report.
Assessing the capacity imperatives to improve the vegetables seeds regulatory system in Benin
The vegetables sector in Benin given rapid population growth, is witnessing a growing demand for vegetables, especially in urban areas. So far, this growing demand is only partially satisfied by the existing production systems, a key constraint being the low penetration of improved/certified seeds among farmers. A recent policy dialogue organized with the ministry of agriculture indicated, among others, that capacity gaps amongst ministry personnel working on seeds regulation (registration, certification, etc.) may explain this low penetration of vegetables seeds and identified it as a key priority issue for resolution.
To respond to this policy request, this project aims to identify key staff capacity gaps and provide an action-plan for appropriate capacity strengthening. Concretely, the project conducts a capacity needs assessment of key public institutions implicated in the vegetables seeds regulatory system and formulates the capacity imperatives to improve the vegetables seeds regulatory system in Benin. To achieve this, the project adopts an interactive and transdisciplinary approach that combines a review of policy documents with stakeholders’ consultations and perspectives. By generating and implementing this evidence informed capacity imperatives roadmap, the project expects to contribute to an improved enabling environment in Benin.
Please find here a concise presentation of the results and the link to the full report in English or French.
Awareness creation on the regulatory bottleneck to the horticultural OPV seeds for export and development of the Tanzania-Netherlands Seed Partnership platform
On 20th September, Naktuinbouw and a representative from the Dutch Embassy in Tanzania met with Tanzanian Horticultural Association (TAHA), Tanzanian Seed Association (TASTA), the Tanzanian Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) and the Plant Variety Protection Office in two consequently meetings to kick start the discussion on this project.
TAHA and TASTA are both private-sector member-based organizations spearheading the transformation, sustainability and competitiveness of the horticulture and seed industries, respectively. During this meeting, both organizations very clearly exposed the challenges and consequences companies have when importing, producing, and exporting seeds from open-pollinated crops in Tanzania.
TOSCI is responsible for the certification and promotion of quality agricultural seeds produced o imported into the country for sale as for the registration of varieties in the national catalogue for commercialization. During the meeting, TOSCI Representative explained how the seed Law is interpreted and implemented in these cases (when importing, producing, and exporting seeds from open-pollinated crops in Tanzania).
The discussions were in an open and trusted environment. The regulatory bottleneck of the horticultural OPV seeds for export became very clear and will be the basis of the following activities. The second part of the project will focus on starting a partnership between Netherlands and Tanzania to create an enabling environment for the seed sector. This partnership is in the early stages, and the Terms of Reference (ToR) are being drafted.
Find here the concise presentation of the results, as well as the final report and the ToR of the Tanzania Netherlands Seed Partnership.