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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
FARMERS have applauded Government for appending its signature to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Seed Charter for plant variety protection, saying it paved the way for regional trade harmonisation.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe said seed was not just a mere cog in agriculture or farming but a vital input for crop production.
“One cannot talk of improving agricultural productivity, ensuring food security and evolving livelihoods of farmers without mentioning seeds. Therefore, access to high-quality, improved seed is an enabler in food diversification,” Dr Makombe said.
This regional seed policy harmonisation facilitates the integration of smaller, more isolated markets into one larger market bringing advantages of legal and organised regulated critical mass markets for good seed and produce thereof, he added.
The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) board chair, Mr Ivan Craig concurred saying the signing was long-overdue as other countries had already done so.
“This is very good and welcome development for the growth of the seed industry and would like to thank the Government for signing it, as other countries have already done so. It has a positive impact on seed houses/producers and most importantly, seed breeders because the signing and ratification of the charter will protect germplasm,” the ARDA board chair said.
Mr Craig said it protected business interests and intellectual investments for breeders, as no one would be able to replicate one’s work. Interested parties will instead ask for permission to use the germplasm making business sense to the breeder.
Seed harmonisation will allow smooth movement of seed from one country to another, a process that in the past was costly and lengthy, as it involved acquiring permits from different departments.
“With harmonisation, if one seed company comes with a new variety, the trials of that variety are done in all SADC countries. The company will then be able to tell where the particular variety performed best and targets the export of this variety to that country for enhanced foreign currency generation,” he added.
SADC is a regional economic community comprising 16 member states – Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka signed the SADC Seed Charter in Harare last week on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Dr Masuka said: “Most countries in the SADC region are agro-based, making it crucial for their agricultural sectors to collaborate and speak to each other at various levels. This charter facilitates the free movement of seed among countries, enhancing regional trade and food security.”
Harmonisation of regulations allows for standardisation, exchange and trade, so this is a mechanism to enable the exchange and acceleration of agricultural development in the face of climate change, added the Minister.
The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) ensures standardisation and harmonisation of trade at the international level but more importantly it ensures that plant breeders’ rights are protected for a defined period.
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