Project goal: to contribute to improved food security of smallholder farmers in the SADC region through increased availability of and access to improved seeds.
A major constraint to agricultural productivity and food security in SADC is an inadequate supply of high quality seed due to climatic, economic and social factors.
In years of seed shortage member states need to import seeds from neighboring countries. However, this process can be complicated because laws and regulations are disjointed.
The implementation of the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory System will make a significant difference
Project objectives:
Seed variety release policies in the target countries aligned with SADC Protocols
Phytosanitary policies in the target countries aligned with SADC Protocols
Seed certification policies in the target countries aligned with SADC Proto-cols
Measures to operationalize the re-aligned policies introduced and related capacity of government, civil service and other key stakeholders strength-ened
Seed certification facilities strengthened and successfully functioning in the four focal countries
This project contributes to CAADP:
Pillar 2 – rural infrastructure and trade related capacities for market access;
Pillar 3 – food and nutrition security; and
Pillar 4– agricultural research, technolo-gy dissemination and adoption
FANRPAN’s pilot project (2010-13) in four SADC member states aims to pro-vide enabling support to domesticate the regional seed protocol.
The four pilot countries are: Malawi; Swaziland; Zambia and Zimbabwe
FANRPAN makes use of the following instruments:
Policy dialogue platforms
Policy research and advocacy
Review of national policy and legislation
Training of farmers
Monitoring, evaluation, learning and knowledge sharing mine compliance with the SADC Seed Certification System