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Sifelani Tsiko-Innovations Editor

Zimbabwe and most other African countries only allow seed of registered varieties to be legally produced and sold in the market while farmers’ own varieties mostly indigenous are only confined to the informal sector.

Stringent requirements covering characteristics such as distinctness, uniformity, stability and performance for varieties to be released has been a major barrier for the recognition of farmers’ varieties.

Up to now, farmers’ seed varieties production, use, exchange and trade remain unregulated, largely unsupported and their importance underestimated, agricultural experts said at a regional workshop on farmer seed systems that was held recently in Harare to explore ways to promote policies and legislation that support local species.

The workshop which ran from November 25 – 27 was convened by the Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO), International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and RETE SEMI RURALLY – Rural Seeds Network of Italy.

About 70 delegates drawn from nine African countries and the European Union representing NGOs, researchers, academics as well as Government and development partners attended the workshop.

“The workshop aims to collectively review and recommend development of appropriate seed policy and legislation that are more transformative and open to diversified farmer seed systems to achieve food and nutrition security,” said Mr Andrew Mushita executive director of CTDO.

“The workshop is principally designed to enhance the development of the smallholder farmer’s agricultural sector to facilitate access to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture to realise food and nutrition security and address the challenges of climate change.”

The regional workshop was held under the theme: “From breeding for diversity to seed regulations/laws. How to promote an enabling environment for farmers’ seed systems.”

Zimbabwe is a signatory to the ITPGRFA, called the Treaty.

The nine participating countries included Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Niger and Zimbabwe.

“As the Government of Zimbabwe, we are aware that for many years, there has been a growing debate on the need to incorporate farmer managed seed systems in national legal frameworks,” said Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos.

“The Government acknowledges the complementarity of the formal and informal seed systems in creating a resilient agricultural sector in the country.”

The country, he said, has made strides towards the recognition of farmers’ rights as articulated in the IPGRFA which advocates for sustainable use and conservation of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out their use.

The Government has spearheaded the crafting of the National Strategy and Action Plan on PGRFA – 2022 – 2032 whose main objective is to establish a legal and institutional framework for the management of plant genetic resources in line with the provisions of international Treaty.

“Furthermore Zimbabwe is at an advanced stage with the development of a legal regulatory framework for the registration of farmers’ varieties,” Dep Min Haritatos said.

“To this endeavour Government will continue to engage with farmers, private sector and development partners in improving the country’s seed systems.

“I therefore implore farmers, industry, researchers and CSOs to continue working with their Government to develop and strengthen farmer seed systems through inclusive robust legislation and regulatory frameworks that allow for the recognition of farmer varieties.”

Smallholder farmers play a huge role in the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic materials through managing seed, multiplying breeding and selection, saving and retention and utilisation of indigenous seed varieties.

Experts noted that enabling farmers to maintain and develop crop diversity along with their rich knowledge of traditional practices and agro ecology was vital in ensuring food security and sovereignty for the present and future generation.

These practices at the centre of fostering resilience and sustainability in agriculture among the smallholder farmers are articulated in the Zimbabwe National Agricultural Policy Framework.

Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) deputy sub-regional co-ordinator for Southern Africa Berhanu Bedane said: “The alignment of the Benefit Sharing Fund to farmers’ seed systems is important.

“Creating a more enabling environment for registration and distribution of farmer-led seeds is critical and I would like to applaud the organisers for this important milestone.”

In Zimbabwe, through the funding from the ADB, FAO is providing technical support in the development of the Agriculture Seed Development Plan that will provide an enabling policy and regulatory environment which directly supports development and growth of seed systems.

“The process of developing a seed policy will enable the review of the legal provisions and policies governing production, marketing and seed trading in the country, and formulate strategies for participation of smallholder farmers in seed production,” Bedane said.

“Partnerships are at the heart of FAO’s mission to help build consensus for a world without hunger. As FAO we commit to continue complementing Government efforts to enhance capacities of local communities to adapt to climate change.”

FAO, he said, was also committed to strengthening the promotion of an enabling environment for farmers’ seed systems, the promotion of an enabling environment for farmers’ seed systems, the conservation of climate resilient PGRFA and sustainable use and management of selected climate resilient PGRFA.

“Sharing experiences between Europe and Africa on this important component of agriculture, seed breeding and regulations is important,” Bedane said.

“Building effective seed systems is essential to successful agricultural transformation, diversification and intensification, food security and inclusive market growth.”

Experts said the registration and diffusion of farmers’ varieties will contribute to an increase of on-farm agro-biodiversity that can enhance farmers’ resilience and livelihoods, while contributing to the implementation of Farmers’ Rights as defined in the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

They urged African governments to regularise informal farmer seed exchange systems through the establishment of appropriate laws to curb the monopolistic tendencies of large seed companies and enhance the utilisation of indigenous seed varieties.

Zimbabwe and most other African countries have formal channels of seed exchanges where registered seed companies manage the production, processing, packaging and distribution of seeds.

The second seed distribution channel is informal and involves the production and exchange of seeds among small-scale farmers under conditions that critics say are characterised by a lack of seed testing, formal registration or quality control.

Recommendations from this workshop will be submitted to the African Union Commission, which will hold a conference on the development of a policy framework for farmer-managed seed systems.

The AU conference will be held next month in Nairobi, Kenya.