Opening Up the Markets for Seed Trade in Africa

Despite its vast agriculture potential,
Africa is increasingly dependent on food imports from the
rest of the world to satisfy its consumption needs. Food
output has not kept pace with population growth, and more
than 80 percent of production gains since 1980 have come
from the expansion of cropped areas rather than from greater
productivity of areas already cultivated. This paper looks
at the current requirements for seed trade in Africa, the
obstacles, status of ongoing plans for regional
harmonization, challenges of harmonization, and
opportunities for near-term improvement. With Africa
increasingly dependent on food imports, regional economic
communities have been discussing harmonized seed policies
for many years. While agreement on key regulations
pertaining to variety release, seed certification, and
phytosanitary control is now falling into place, improved
farmer access to quality seeds are many years away due to
capacity limitations and legal obstacles. Without relying on
complex rules, experience elsewhere shows there are many
simple options for improved seed trade that African
governments can implement directly while continuing to work
towards full harmonization.