The Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ug andan Cropping systems (PASIC) project has jointly facilitated the validation process of Ug anda’s National Seed Policy. The process was jointly facilitated by PASIC, the Integrated Seed Sector Development Program, and USAID’s Feed-the-Future Enabling Environment in Agriculture Activity under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The review of the National Seed Policy was brought up at a PASIC Stakeholders’ Meeting held on 28 May that gathered public and private sector actors to discuss the status of national policies related to agricultural intensification. The formal validation process of the National Seed Policy began on 29 July with a request for its recall from MAAIF to widen the consultation process. The policy was then subjected to a technical review by international and national experts, followed by a stakeholder technical review by research organizations including the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), the Plant Genetic Resources Board, private sector, civil society organizations, academia and farmers’ organizations engaged in local seed business in Ug anda’s informal seed sector.
In Ug anda, the formal and regulated seed sector comprises only 20% of the country’s seed industry, producing primarily certified hybrid seeds. This sector is made up by private seed merchants and seed companies. The quality assurance process for the formal sector is managed through internal regulatory mechanisms and externally by the National Seed Certification Service of Ug anda. The rest (80%) of the sector is informal composed of self-quality declared seed and farmer-saved seed classes which are generally unregulated.
Following the technical review process that took place in Jinja, Ug anda on 25-26 August, a validation of the revised policy was held on the 15 September involving members of parliament, ministry officials, civil service society, research organizations including IFPRI and IITA, local seed businesses, private seed companies, district agricultural officials, and other development partners.
The draft of the National Seed policy was generally accepted; however, recommendations were made to further strengthen its legal and institutional framework. The policy is vital because, once finalized, it will serve as the basis for the regulation of the entire seed industry of Ug anda and ensure wider access and use of improved seed by farmers. The draft policy will soon be resubmitted to MAAIF for further discussion by the ministry’s top management.
For more details, please contact: Jeffrey T. Oliver, j.oliver@cgiar.org
About IITA www.iita.org
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Its award-winning research for development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries. IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
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