Proposed changes to seed policy are over-simplified, unworkable
solutions that will ultimately fail – though an elite group of farmers
may enjoy some small short term benefits.
As to seeds, all of the participating states agreed to adopt plant
variety protection laws and rules for marketing seeds that better
support the private sector. Despite the fact that more than 80% of all
seed in Africa is still produced and disseminated through ‘informal’
seed systems (on-farm seed saving and unregulated distribution between
farmers), there is no recognition in the New Alliance programme of the
importance of farmer-based systems of saving, sharing, exchanging and
selling seeds.
African governments are being co-opted into reviewing their seed trade
laws and supporting the implementation of Plant Variety Protection
(PVP) laws. The strategy is to first harmonise seed trade laws such as
border control measures, phytosanitary control, variety release
systems and certification standards at the regional level, and then
move on to harmonising PVP laws. The effect is to create larger
unified seed markets, in which the types of seeds on offer are
restricted to commercially protected varieties. The age old rights of
farmers to replant saved seed are curtailed and the marketing of
traditional varieties of seed is strictly prohibited.
Concerns have been raised about how this agenda privatises seeds and
the potential impacts this could have on small-scale farmers. Farmers
will lose control of seeds regulated by a commercial system. There are
also serious concerns about the loss of biodiversity resulting from a
focus on commercial varieties.
Best Regards
Abdirahman Ismail SHADO
On 2/9/15, Okidi, Joseph (FAOKE) <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> BIG QESTION: One of the main recommendations of the Kenya SSA is that
> Government (THVCs program), FAO and NGOs should limit or completely stop
> Direct Seed Distribution (DSD) in the South Eastern Livelihood Zone of
> Kenya. Do you agree with this recommendation, why?
>
> Regards,
>
> Joseph
>
>
>
> From: The Community of Practice of Seed Security Assessments for the Horn of
> Africa [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Okidi,
> Joseph (FAOKE)
> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2015 11:47 AM
> To:
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: New Year Greetings
>
> I send my sincere gratitude and greetings to all who managed to get to the
> New Year -2015. It has been a while without any discussion in our community
> of practice on seed security issues around the horn of Africa (HoA). I know
> end (2014) and beginning of 2015 had their tolls on our workload, but I
> believe we all got through.
>
> Seed Security Assessment updates:
>
>
> * Kenya: Towards the end of last year, FAO Kenya in collaboration
> with County Government (Agricultural Department) conducted a seed security
> assessment in the South Eastern Livelihood zone. Key findings are as
> summarized in the attached document. Any comment on the findings and
> recommendation is welcome.
>
>
> * Malawi: The recent flood in Malawi has call for humanitarian
> response. For effective and efficient response, FAO in Collaboration with
> CRS is organizing a Rapid Seed Security Assessment from 16th to 28th of this
> month.
>
>
> * Uganda: A seed security assessment will be conducted in West Nile
> by the Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) Programme with technical
> support from FAO . This assessment will commence in the second week of
> March.
>
> Please let us know if you are planning any seed security assessment in your
> country/region, and do not hesitate to contact us for any technical
> support.
>
> Wishing you all a happy New Year!!
>
> Regards,
>
> Joseph Okidi
> Regional Seed Security Officer (HoA)
> FAO Kenya
> +254 (0) 733 997696
> +254 (0) 788 508837
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
> https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
>
> ________________________________
>
> To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
> https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
>
> ########################################################################
>
> To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
> https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
>
########################################################################
To unsubscribe from the CoP-SeedSecurity-L list, click the following link:
https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=CoP-SeedSecurity-L&A=1
|