National Seed Policy and Seed Bill
STAK has been in the forefront in consultations and support to the Ministry of Agriculture with developing a National Seed Policy and revision of the Seed Bill. These were ready in 2006 and are with the Minister for Agriculture for final action. The policy provides for, among other things, liberalization of the seed industry, streamlining of the seed operations in the country and provides for authorization by the National Designated Authority, of private entities to undertake some aspects of seed certification services. It also provides for establishment of a National Biodiversity Centre to manage gene-banks in Kenya. The Bill enhances penalties, establishes KEPHIS as the Designated Authority for seeds and incorporates private sector players in its regulatory committees among other things.
Stewarding development of variety testing regulations and alternative seed packaging
STAK is working alongside the Agricultural Sector Coordination Unit (ASCU) in the spirit of private/public sector partnership, to steward development of National Variety Performance Trials to govern variety testing, release and registration in Kenya. A Technical Committee is working on these Draft Regulations with ASCU funding and a draft is expected to be presented to the Minister for Agriculture, for gazettement after the necessary stakeholder consultations.
ASCU is also supporting STAK to work with Moi University’s Seed Science and Technology Department, on appropriate seed packaging to replace the plastic paper packaging outlawed in Kenya and the EAC region recently.
Coordinating harmonization of seed policies in ASARECA region
STAK serves (since 2003) as Secretariat of the Eastern Africa Seed Committee, under ASARECA’s Policy Analysis and Advocacy Programme (PAAP), which is charged with implementation of agreements arrived at under harmonization of seed policies and regulations in the 10 ASARECA Member countries of the Eastern and Central Africa region. The process of harmonization is meant to speed up seed movement in the region and improve access of improved cultivars to farmers.
Several regional technical agreements have been adopted and incorporated in national laws and regulations of several countries, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya (Draft Bill). Such agreements touched on variety testing and release, seed certification standards, phytosanitary measures, plant variety protection and import/export issues.
Other STAK collaborators
STAK works very closely and is represented at the Boards of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and of the International Seed Federation (ISF). These international organizations serve as a vital source of seed information to STAK members
STAK is also in the process of developing partnership agreements with CIMMYT/ASTA on market segmentation studies, Business Advocacy Fund on regulatory issues, AGRA on farmer access to improved seed and Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture on capacity building for seed companies on processing and post-storage handling.
Seed companies may contact the breeders for trade agreements and seed increase plans.
|
