Online Reporter
Elita Chikwati-Agriculture News Editor
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), of which Zimbabwe is a member, has launched a regional labelling and certification system to enhance the competitiveness of the seed industry across the Southern and Eastern African (ESA) region.
This initiative is expected to improve reliability and promote traceability, both crucial elements for agribusiness products.
The launch is the culmination of years of collaboration among key stakeholders, including member states’ national seed authority (NSAs), national plant protection organisations (NPPOs), the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), national seed trade associations (NSTAs) and the Comesa seed committee.
During the launch in Zambia on Thursday, Comesa chief executive Dr John Mukuka said only 20 percent of the 90 million smallholder farmers in the COMESA region had access to quality and improved seeds.
“This situation affects approximately 130 million people out of a total COMESA population of 610 million, leaving many food insecure and experiencing chronic poverty and hunger.”
Dr Mukuka said while the potential seed market in the Comesa region could reach 2 million tonnes of quality and improved seed, current production and access were limited to less than 50 000 tonnes, quoting to just 2 percent of global seed production and value.
He attributed this shortfall to the regional seed market, which was still fragmented into small national markets, with each country operating its seed policies and regulations differently from other COMESA member states.
“Seed companies, therefore, enter each of the national seed markets separately and individually. This is not only costly for the seed companies but also results in prolonged delays before seeds of good quality can find their way to the small-scale farmers.
“Comesa, through its specialised agency, the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), developed the Comesa Seed Harmonisation Implementation Plan (COMSHIP) in 2014.
“The plan provided the initial steps of an ongoing and constantly evolving and improving process to domesticate the seed regulations, enable seed trade between Comesa member states, and facilitate seed industry and local company support, including market activities with small-scale farmers,” he said.
The COMSHIP plan has four strategic objectives: to prepare and support phased domestication of seed regulations, raise awareness of the Comesa seed trade harmonisation regulations, and monitor and improve implementation of the strategy.
To date, the Comesa Seed Trade Harmonisation Regulations have been officially gazetted in 11 member states, including Zimbabwe, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia
Between 2016 and 2017, at least 200 seed inspectors, analysts, and plant quarantine inspectors were trained across 13 Comesa member states, including Zimbabwe, Burundi, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Eswatini, Uganda and Zambia.
The Comesa Seed Information System (COMSIS) manual was developed in May to provide comprehensive information on variety testing, registration, seed production, certification systems, quarantine and phytosanitary measures.
African Seed Trade Association secretary general, Dr Yacouba Diallo, said the organisation was supporting the implementation of the harmonised seed regulations.
“We will continue to engage the industry for their buy-in and implementation of the certification label to ensure that quality seed moves smoothly across borders to reach farmers,” he said.
European Union representative, Ms Christiane Haziyo, said access to quality and improved seeds was fundamental to agricultural productivity.
“Agriculture is a major contributor to GDP and employment in the Comesa region and across the African continent. This initiative addresses critical issues of food security and quality control,” she said.
Ms Haziyo said fragmented national laws, inconsistent certification standards, and varying phytosanitary requirements had posed significant barriers to seed movement across borders.
“The launch of the regional Seed Certification and Labelling System is not just a technical achievement. It is a strategic step toward unlocking regional seed trade, reducing costs for producers, supporting seed companies, and most importantly ensuring that the millions of smallholder farmers across Comesa have access to the high-quality seed they deserve,” she said.
