Transcript CERTIFICATION OF VEGETATIVELY PROPAGATED PLANTING

SEED STATUS REPORT FOR MALAWI
F.W. Maideni (PhD), G. Kaudzu, G.A. Timeyo Phiri
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Department of Agriculture and Food Security
Chitedze Research Station
P.O. Box 158
Lilongwe
Malawi
Outline Provided by FANRPAN
Overview of seed policy, seed laws and plant breeders
rights legislation.
Crop variety testing, registration and release process
Seed certification
Quarantine and phytosanitory measures for seed
Changes necessary to align with harmonized seed
legislation protocols
Implementing institution/s’ capacity and challenges
faced.
1.0 Introduction
Availability of high quality seed is crucial to
achieving food security and social and economic
growth in Malawi.
The benefits from the distribution and use of good
quality seed are enormous.
Increased and sustained crop productivity
Increased household incomes
Reduced risks from pest and disease pressure
Production patterns would become more
predictable and sustainable.
1.1 Seed Certification Institution
The Seed Certification and Quality Control Unit in
Malawi was established in 1976 and is the official
seed certification institution in Malawi.
Its activities are coordinated at Chitedze Research
Station where the Seed Testing Laboratory is
accredited by the International Seed Testing
Association (ISTA).
1.2 Seed Certification Institution
Objective
To ensure that farmers in Malawi are planting high
quality seed and planting materials of all crops.
To conduct research in seed science and
technology.
To develop appropriate seed certification,
processing and testing procedures and standards.
To conduct field inspections and laboratory tests.
To train stakeholders in the seed industry in seed
production, certification and quality control
activities.
1.2 Seed Certification Institution Cont’
Mandate;
To ensure that good quality seeds of improved
varieties are produced and made available to the
farming communities in Malawi.
Achieved through;
Comprehensive seed crop registration
Field inspections
Laboratory tests
Monitoring
1.3 Seed Production Programs
Formal seed programs, ARET, commercial seed
companies.
Seed Associations
Individual farmers (Medium scale)
Informal seed programs (smallholder farmers)
•2.0 Overview of Seed laws of the Republic of
Malawi,
2.1 The National Seed Policy of the Republic of Malawi, 1993
General
The Government of Malawi recognizes the fundamental importance
of a sustainable seed industry in contributing to increased
agricultural production.
The Government will therefore establish, through appropriate
policies and programmes, an environment conducive to the
development of the seed industry.
Direct Government investments will include research, training seed
certification and testing.
2.1.1 Quality control
Quality control is recognized as being fundamental
to seed production and marketing.
Seed Certification and Quality Control Unit and
internal quality control systems of the commercial
seed companies will undertake the necessary
measures to ensure that only high quality seed is
marketed.
Seed Certification and Quality Control Unit will
provide seed certification services to the commercial
seed companies, individuals and associations in
accordance with the Seed Act.
Seed Certification and Quality Control Unit has
responsibility for the enforcement of the Seed Act
and Seed regulations.
2.1.2 KEY INSTITUTIONALS AND OPERATIONAL
LINKAGE
The Seed Certification and Quality Control Unit of DARS will continue to
play a key role in the organized seed sector. It will perform all the
necessary tasks in the seed certification programme, including crop
inspection in the field and operation of the seed testing laboratories. The
Section will also be responsible for the enforcement of the Malawi Seed
Act.
Official variety testing will continue to be undertaken and coordinated by
DAR in order to ensure the impartiality of the procedures carried out. The
NSC, through the Seed Certification and Quality Control Unit, will make
sure that all promising varieties undergo DUS testing to provide a
comprehensive description on which their identity can be based.
The existing Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (ATCC)
will continue to operate under the Technology Clearing House.
The ATCC will protect the interests of farmers but will not unduly
constrain the entrance of new varieties on the market. Exhaustive
testing under research conditions without assessing farmers’
preferences will be avoided.
2.2.3 Breeders, Basic and Certified Seed Production
The production of all breeders, basic and certified seed will be
under the supervision of the Seed Certification and Quality
Control Unit.
In the commercial seed sector, Government is concerned to
promote the development of competition for the benefit of the
smallholder farmer. Any organization or individual will therefore be
permitted to produce and sell seed provided such seed meets the
minimum quality standards and procedures stipulated in the Seed
Act and Regulations.
2.2 Malawi Seed Legislation (Seed Act and
Regulations, 1996)
The Seed act was enacted in Malawi to provide for the
minimum standards to regulate and control (of )
production, processing, sale, importation, exportation
and testing and further to provide for the certification of
seed.
In the laws of Malawi “Seed” is defined as any part of
plant, customarily referred to as seed, intended for
planting and includes other propagating materials. The
word "seed" or" seeds” is designated for all propagating
material (Seed regulations, 1996).
2.2.1 IMPORT AND EXPORT OF SEED
The Malawi Government may allow importation of certified
seed in case of unavailability of sufficient quantities.
Any seed imported into Malawi should be approved seed and
not restricted seed.
The seed should conform to seed standards and other
requirements prescribed by the importing country.
If the seed is packed in a container, the container should be
clearly labeled stating the genus, species, variety and the
country of origin. Upon importation into Malawi, the seed
importer should inform the Seed Certification and Quality
Control Unit, within seven days of its delivery, requesting a
sample to be taken for test at a seed testing laboratory.
No person should sell or otherwise dispose of imported
prescribed seed prior to the receipt of a report of the test from
the seed testing laboratory.
The report confirms that the imported prescribed seed
conforms to the prescribed seed standards.
3.0 Plant Breeders Rights in Malawi
Drafted without farmers’ rights
Presented to stakeholders who suggested that farmers’
rights be included.
Submitted to Ministry of justice
Suggested that farmers’ rights be removed because was
already included in the access and benefit sharing act of
the Environmental Affairs Department.
Farmers’ rights were removed
Planning for a stakeholders meeting and then
submission to Ministry of Justice.
4.0 Crop Variety testing, Registration and Release
process
Done by breeders
Done in three years on station and two years on farm in
different agro ecological zones.
Varieties preferred by farmers are selected
Proposal is written and submitted to ATCC for release.
After release, Seed Certification and Quality Control
Unit verifies quality of the variety.
Varieties released are documented (listed) by Secretariat
of ATCC (Department of Research).
5.0 Quarantine and Phytosanitory measures for seed
5.1 Import permit
Imported seed must be accompanied by a valid plant import
permit that authorizes entry in accordance with Malawi
Phytosanitory Regulations
5.2 Phytosanitory certificate
This certifies that the imported agricultural commodities are
free from insect pests, diseases, weeds and must be of good
quality.
5.3 Orange Certificates
Orange Certificate attests the viability, purity and quality of
seed being imported.
5.4 Certificate of origin
This ascertains the source or the origin of the seed being
imported.
5.5 Fumigation Certificate
Fumigation certificate attests treatment if the seed needs to
be treated.
5.6 MRA and Loading documents may also be required.
6.0 Changes necessary to align with harmonized
seed legislation protocols
Need to enact the Plant breeders rights so that varieties
can be registered in Malawi and consequently easily be
registered in the SADC variety catalogue.
Variety testing should be done by both the breeder and
the seed regulatory authority. In view of this a section
within the seed certification and quality control unit will
need to be established to concentrate on issues of
variety testing.
Indicate that varieties from the SADC member states will
not be tested again as same standards will be used
within the region.
Currently, Malawi recognises only three classes of seed
and this need to be changed to reflect all the five classes
of seed as indicated in the SADC harmonised seed
regulations.
Seed evaluated and released in at least two SADC
countries allowed for seed multiplication.
7.0 Implementing Institution’s capacity and Challenges
faced
The institution to implement the harmonised seed
regulations will be all stakeholders in the seed
industry coordinated DARS (Seed services unit and
Plant protection services).
There will be need to develop capacity for both
human resource and infrastructure to ensure that
implementation is successful.
Expansion of the seed industry in Malawi is a
challenge to the regulators but processes are
underway to effectively tackle this challenge.