Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
INNOVATION in seed development and plant breeding has emerged as cornerstones of Zimbabwe’s strategy to boost food security, drive agricultural transformation and ensure the nation’s farmers remain competitive in the face of climate change and rising production costs, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri has said.
Speaking while officially opening the three-day Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Amendment Draft Bill validation workshop in Mazowe yesterday, Prof Jiri said the Bill is more than protecting intellectual property.
“It is about safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods, enhancing food sovereignty, and positioning Zimbabwe as a leader in agricultural innovation,” Prof Jiri said.
The draft amendment seeks to modernise the present legal framework by aligning it with the 1991 Act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), thereby promoting access to global plant varieties while protecting local breeders.
Key provisions in the draft include extended protection for plant varieties, recognition of farmers’ privilege and mechanisms to boost investment in research and development.
Prof Jiri urged participants to scrutinise the bill with honesty and evidence.
“The seeds we sow today through this legislation will determine Zimbabwe’s agricultural future for decades to come,” he said.
He described the draft Bill as “a strategic necessity” that will modernise Zimbabwe’s 1972 PBR (Plant Breeders’ Rights) Act and align it with the 1991 Convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, bringing stronger protection to plant breeders and expanded access to elite seed varieties.
“This Bill is about more than intellectual property. It is about protecting our farmers’ livelihoods, our food sovereignty, and our ability to innovate in the face of adversity,” said Prof Jiri.
Zimbabwe Seed Association chairperson, Dr Joseph Makoni, represented by chief agronomist Mr Ivan Craig, strongly supported the Bill, comparing breeders to musicians fighting piracy.
“Why invest years in research if your variety can be stolen? This law ensures breeders are rewarded and encourages continued innovation,” he said.
Mr Craig said that effective protection would also regulate seed movement across borders, ensure quality control, and allow Zimbabwean varieties to gain international recognition and royalties.
Zimbabwe Plant Breeders Association (PBA) president, Dr Casper Kamutando, said the organisation represents breeders, agronomists, crop specialists and farmers.
It was formed in 2016.
He invited stakeholders to the upcoming African Plant Breeders Association (APBA) conference to be held in Victoria Falls in October.
“This is a vital opportunity for Zimbabwe to shine globally in plant breeding and biotechnology,” he said.
Horticulture Development Council leader Mrs Linda Nielson said the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants would unlock access to improved crop varieties, boost rural economies and strengthen food security.
“Think of UPOV (Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants) as a key that unlocks opportunities for our farmers, exporters, and innovators,” she said.
Blueberry grower, Mr Chris Maggs, gave a vivid example of the challenges faced by Zimbabwean farmers in accessing foreign seed varieties.
“It took us three years of negotiations and a personal connection in Australia just to bring in blueberry cultivars. Without UPOV, doors remain shut,” he said.
A Zimbabwe Farmers Union official Ms Nyasha Taderera said without improved varieties, “we risk losing our farmers and becoming a market for neighbouring countries”.
“This Bill helps keep Zimbabwean farmers in business,” she said.
The draft Bill includes provisions to expand the scope of protection to all plant species, extend the duration of protection to up to 25 years and explicitly define breeders’ rights—including production, sale, import/export and stocking.
The Bill proposes clearer guidelines for registration, robust enforcement mechanisms and aligns with biodiversity frameworks like the Nagoya Protocol.
Stakeholders agreed that the Bill, once enacted, would improve food security, boost export potential, protect local innovation and make Zimbabwe a regional seed technology hub.
