National Seed Policy and Action Plan 

2016- 2025

The agricultural sector is important to the Jamaican economy, contributing approximately 6.6 percent to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is the second largest employer of labour, accounting for 18 percent of the total labour force in 2014. Agricultural production has a multiplier effect on the economy given its linkages with other activities such as manufacturing, tourism, transportation and local commerce and is important to rural development, as the main economic activity. Crops of importance for exports are sugar, yams, coffee, ackees, citrus, cocoa, pimento, pumpkins, ginger, dasheen, sweet potato, papayas and bananas. The sector is also critical to local food and nutrition security as it generally supplies vegetables, legumes, fruits, roots, tubers and condiments for domestic consumption and agro-processing.

Importance of Seed

Seed is the basic input to crop production which has the greatest potential for increasing on farm productivity and food security. It sets the limits to the effectiveness of all other inputs such as fertilizer, agro-chemicals, water and even management. Seed quality is often considered to be one of the most important factors contributing to crop yields and the productivity of other agricultural inputs and cultural practices within the farming system. The use of improved seed has been one of the factors for modern agricultural development and the advancement of many developed and emerging economies. The Agriculture Sector Plan and Food and Nutrition Security Policy have underscored the need for improved seeds to meet the country‟s production, productivity and food security goals.

The Seed System

Jamaica‟s seed1 system is a mixture of imported seeds (mainly vegetables), a few locally produced seeds (scotch bonnet pepper, sorrel, callaloo, coconut) and those obtained from existing plants (e.g. cocoa). The rest of plants are vegetatively propagated (e.g. banana, yam, ginger, turmeric, etc.). There is no commercial production of genetically engineered crops. Seeds are produced and distributed locally by several key players, namely, Government (including commodity organizations), research institutions, private nursery operators, commercial and subsistence producers and farmers organizations.

The primary actors in Jamaica‟s formal seed sector are Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries‟ Research & Development Division, Commodity Boards (Sugar Industry Research Institute, Cocoa Industry Board, Coffee Industry Board, Banana Board, Coconut Industry Board and Export Division), Scientific Research Council, Caribbean Agriculture

Research and Development Institute and the Forestry Agency. Farmers‟ organizations also play an integral role in the supply of planting material for their members.

The informal seed supply system consists of farmer-managed seed production activities and is based on indigenous knowledge and local diffusion mechanisms. It includes methods such as retaining seed on-farm from previous harvests to plant the following crop and farmer-to-farmer seed exchange networks.

Challenges

Jamaica‟s domestic seed industry is not well developed as most planting material is from farmer saved seeds or imported. Private sector involvement in certified seed production is limited for most crops, so the public sector is expected to meet the demand for locally produced planting material for key crops. The public sector seed programme is constrained by inadequate human resources for key skills (e.g. plant breeders, budders, seed technologists), lack of funding for production and distribution activities, limited production capacity and stealing of the crops used for seed production.

There is legislation impacting on the seed industry, plant genetic resources and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. However, there is no comprehensive legislation that addresses key components of the seed sector, such as varietal development/improvement, release, multiplication, production, processing, storage, certification, marketing and distribution of seeds. There is currently no protection for plant breeders‟ rights for the development of new plant varieties, which serves as a disincentive for the private sector and other interested individuals investing heavily in plant breeding activities.

In order to meet the objectives of national agricultural and food security policies, the seed system needs to be improved to provide adequate, quality planting material to farmers on a timely basis. Significant investments in crop research and plant breeding will also be necessary to support current and future production expansion programmes. A national seed policy can be seen as a vehicle that justifies investment in crop research, since it makes it possible for producers to benefit from plant breeding initiatives.

Scope of the Policy

The policy focuses on the development of a seed system that ensures the availability of high quality seed which is accessible to end users. Seed within the context of this policy means parts of agricultural, forestry and horticultural plants intended for sowing or planting purposes. Both conventional and organic production systems fall under the scope of this policy. The areas of research, plant breeding, varietal evaluation, seed multiplication, processing, storage, quality control, marketing, promotion and protection of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are addressed by the policy. Provision is made for the implementation of an appropriate institutional framework, building of technical and institutional capacity, promulgation of seed legislation, financing strategy and a communications programme.

Goal and Objectives

The goal of the policy is to establish a sustainable seed system that ensures a consistent and reliable supply of clean, affordable and accessible seed in support of agricultural production, productivity, food security and biodiversity.

The objectives of the policy are to:

  1. Facilitate development, evaluation and maintenance of pest resistant/ tolerant, high yielding varieties that are adaptive to given local agro-ecological zones and challenges posed by climate change.

  2. Increase availability and access to clean seed to meet production requirements.

  3. Improve regulation and monitoring of the seed industry to ensure adherence to quality standards.

  4. Improve the sustainable marketing and distribution of seeds.

  5. Protect national plant genetic resources.

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Elements of the Policy 

1) Research, Variety Improvement, Evaluation and Release

Support for basic and adaptive research aimed at crop improvement will be emphasized and resources made available to the national research system to undertake these activities. The national research strategy for seed will be based on collaborative efforts with relevant international, regional and private sector research initiatives and will develop, adopt and adapt research techniques to achieve the desired goals. In that regard, plant breeding, evaluation trials, on-farm trials and validations will be very important components of research activities, as well as efforts to obtain for such trials, the most promising varietal lines from cooperating research institutions outside of Jamaica. Emphasis will be placed on the development of seed for varieties with desirable traits (such as yield, quality, disease resistance, etc.) for both conventional and organic production systems. Research will be aimed at ensuring the identification of varieties which will perform optimally in the areas where they are to be used. The seed industry requires specialized expertise to propel the national research and supporting programmes. Government shall therefore seek to recruit appropriate personnel and build capacity within existing staff to acquire the necessary skills for its seed research programmes. The private sector will also be encouraged to make investments in capacity building activities of its personnel. An effective plant variety protection system is vital to encourage creativity and investment in private and public breeding. Therefore, plant variety protection legislation will be promulgated to grant and protect breeders‟ rights in development of new varieties.

ii. Seed Multiplication, Processing and Storage

In order to ensure increased production of commercial seed for agriculture and related sectors, Government will concentrate its efforts on the production of breeder and foundation seeds, while encouraging the private sector to produce commercial seeds for selected varieties in its seed programmes. Government shall create the framework for the establishment of seed multiplication programmes by the private sector using Certified Outgrower Schemes. Private seed producers will be assisted to develop the required infrastructure and expertise which will form an important basis for selection of qualified and organized producers and producer groups. In the interest of national food and nutrition security, Government will continue to have responsibility for maintaining breeder, foundation and commercial seeds for multiplication, processing and storage for strategic and priority crops which are not taken up by the private sector. Government will ensure seed security in the event of disasters and crisis, which may disrupt normal seed production and supplies through appropriate preparedness and response methods. In this regard, seed system security assessments will be conducted to provide critical information to prepare for, and respond to disasters. Seed standards and protocols for gifts of seeds that meet minimum local and international standards to be followed by all donor agencies will be established to guide post-disaster relief efforts. With respect to preparedness measures, Government will make arrangements for strategic seed stocks and nurseries, where appropriate, and give support to local level interventions such as onfarm seed conservation and community seed banks. Germplasm of important varieties will continue to be stored in regional and international gene banks. The importation and evaluation of adaptable varieties from other countries for multiplication will be explored in the event of a loss of local germplasm for varieties that are critical to food and nutrition security.

iii. Seed Quality Control

Given the sensitivity of seed as a key input to production, it is necessary to maintain high-quality standards to fully derive the benefits of the use of certified seed. As such, Government shall:

- Promulgate national seed legislation to ensure reliable standards of seed quality, protect seed suppliers and users, and develop a quality-oriented seed industry;

- Develop a Seed Certification Scheme as part of the enabling regulations of the seed legislation; and

- Develop seed standards that conform to regional and international best practices, including gifts of seeds to the country.

Implementation Framework

The Seed Policy and Plan was developed within the wider context of the Agriculture Sector Plan, National Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan and other relevant policies and plans. In order to operationalize the Plan, there needs to be an emphasis on the coordination of actions, accountability of all stakeholders and efficient allocation of resources. Given that the Seed Plan will be implemented over a ten year period, from 2016-2025, actions will be streamlined in the Corporate, Operational Planning and budgetary processes of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved in its implementation.

The main implementing bodies will be:

i. A National Seed Committee (NSC), which will serve as an advisory body responsible for oversight and coordination of the Seed Policy and Plan.

ii. A Varietal Release Committee (VRC), which will be a sub-committee of the NSC to develop and implement a mechanism for orderly release of new varieties of crops, whether imported or locally developed.

iii. A Seed Certification Agency, which shall be established under the auspices of the National Plant Protection Organization and charged with the responsibility of conducting the necessary field inspections and laboratory tests aimed at providing the necessary quality checks and assistance to all facets of the seed industry.

iv. A Management Authority which is mandated to provide guidance on policy and legal measures that provide for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources and the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use. The implementation of the Seed Policy and Plan will require input from Government, private sector and civil society for the sustainability of the industry.

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Financing of the Seed Policy and Plan

The National Seed Policy and Plan will require significant resources over the ten year period of its implementation. The methodology for deriving the funding requirements for the Seed Policy and Plan takes into consideration that there are already existing resources committed by Government through its national budget for implementing activities under its regular programmes. The implementation of activities in the Seed Plan, for the most part, will rely upon existing resources of implementing partners in the public sector and also mobilize resources from international development partners, private sector and civil society to minimize the impact of the policy and plan on the national budget. However, there are some areas, namely, research, protection of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, seed certification and seed security, which require additional investment to support Government‟s thrust towards food and nutrition security and agricultural development. Total funding requirements for the Policy and Plan is J$214.4 million over the 10 year period.

 

BACKGROUND

The agricultural sector is important to the Jamaican economy, contributing approximately 6.6 percent to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is the second largest employer of labour, accounting for 18 percent of the total labour force in 2014. Agricultural production has a multiplier effect on the economy given its linkages with other activities such as manufacturing, tourism, transportation and local commerce and is important to rural development as the main economic activity. Food exports accounted for 16.5 percent of total merchandise trade in 2014. Jamaica‟s agricultural activity is characterized by a small number of large-scale producers of export crops and a large number of very small farmers producing mainly for the domestic market. Crops of importance for exports are sugar, yams, coffee, ackees, citrus, cocoa, pimento, pumpkins, ginger, dasheen, sweet potato, papayas and bananas. The sector also is critical to local food and nutrition security, as it generally supplies vegetables, legumes, fruits, roots & tubers and condiments for domestic consumption and agro-processing. However, cereals and cereal preparations used in agro processing are normally imported for local consumption and feed. Seed supply systems are a mixture of imported seeds, a few locally produced seeds (scotch bonnet pepper, sorrel, callaloo, coconut) and those obtained from existing plants (e.g. cocoa). The rest of plants are vegetatively propagated (e.g. banana, yam, ginger and turmeric). The Agricultural Census (2007) reported that there were 325,810 hectares of land in farms in 2007. Most of the land (45.6 percent) is dedicated to the production of export crops, while other crops accounted for 26.52 percent of land use. The data shows that there has been a 46 percent decline in the hectarage of land under agricultural production between 1968 and 2007. This has been attributed to several factors, mainly, population growth leading to increased demand of lands for housing, coupled with industrial and commercial expansion; declining investment in agriculture overtime; and a declining interest in agriculture as a business venture.

 

INTRODUCTION

Seed is the basic input to crop production which has the greatest potential for increasing on farm productivity and food security. It sets the limits to the effectiveness of all other inputs such as fertilizer, agro-chemicals, water and even management. Seed quality is often considered to be one of the most important factors contributing to crop yields and the productivity of other agricultural inputs and cultural practices within the farming system. The use of improved seed has been one of the factors for modern agricultural development and the advancement of many developed and emerging economies. Key national policies have underscored the need for improved seeds to meet the country‟s production, productivity and food security goals. Under Vision 2030 Jamaica, the Agriculture Sector Plan lays out a clear roadmap to address the main factors that have limited the sector‟s progress and to increase its contribution to economic and social development and environmental sustainability. The Vision 2030 Jamaica Agriculture Sector Plan expresses the long term vision of the agriculture sector to be competitive, driven by private sector investment, knowledge-driven based on widespread use of appropriate technology and supported by relevant research and development, including improving the quality of planting material to the sector.

 

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

Jamaica‟s seed system is a mixture of imported seeds (mainly vegetables), a few locally produced seeds (scotch bonnet pepper, sorrel, callaloo, coconut) and those obtained from existing plants (e.g. cocoa). The rest of plants are vegetatively propagated (e.g. banana, yam, ginger, turmeric, etc.). There is no commercial production of genetically engineered crops. Seeds are produced and distributed locally by several key players, namely, Government (including commodity organizations), research institutions, private nursery operators, commercial and subsistence producers and farmers organizations.

 

3.1 Imported Seed

Certified vegetable seeds are mainly imported by major input supplies companies based on local demand and sold through distribution outlets throughout the country. These companies are very cognizant of the major diseases affecting plants in Jamaica and provide the latest bacteriocides, fungicides and other products to prevent disease and the plant varieties that produce a crop that Jamaicans will consume. There is no local certification process for imported seeds, but a phytosanitary certificate is obtained for the import of seeds from the Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Division of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries (MICAF).

3.2 Domestic Seed Production and Distribution

3.2.1 Formal Seed Sector

Formal seed production involves all the stages or classes of seed multiplication, from small quantities of early generation (breeder, foundation and registered) seeds to larger quantities of seed that is eventually sold to farmers (FAO, 2013). The objective of formal seed production is to deliver appropriate crop varieties to farmers through a systematic process of seed multiplication, in which the roles of various agencies (public, private, contract growers or civil society) at different stages are clearly defined and guidelines are provided on how the seed production activities should be carried out (FAO, 2013). The primary actors in Jamaica‟s formal seed sector are MICAF‟s R&D Division, Commodity Boards (Sugar Industry Research Institute, Cocoa Industry Board, Coffee Industry Board, Banana Board and Coconut Industry Board and Export Division), Scientific Research Council (SRC), Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and Forestry Agency. These institutions utilize internal quality assurance systems in the production of seeds. However, most of breeding work for traditional crops is done outside the country by specialized research institutions in the Caribbean, Latin America or other locations in the world. It should be noted that with the exception of citrus, there is no certification system required by legislation for seed produced in, or imported to the country.

3.2.1.1 Domestic Crops

Formal production of indigenous seeds is being undertaken by MICAF‟s R&D Division for pumpkin, sorrel, scotch bonnet pepper and corn using better seed production techniques and improved varieties in some cases. There has been continuous work on the breeding and evaluation of resistant varieties of scotch bonnet pepper to viruses of economic importance such as tobacco etch virus and potato virus Y. Marker-assisted breeding has been introduced to reduce the breeding time and cost. Field 7 evaluations are done at the Bodles Research Station and on farmers‟ holdings. Seeds are also multiplied commercially by the R&D Division and contract growers. Marketing and distribution of seeds are done through the Division‟s field stations and farm stores across the country.

3.2.1.2 Fruit Trees

MICAF partnered with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in the 2000s to implement a commercial fruit tree crop programme through the production and distribution of seedlings and the provision of extension support to interested farmers. Main crops included ackee, avocado, annonance, june plum, mango, guava, breadfruit, tamarind, West Indies cherry, the annonas sweetsop, soursop, custard apple, etc. Propagation was mainly done by using seeds and grafting. For the latter, budwood was obtained from mother plants which had desirable characteristics and were used to propagate new plants. Farmers were also asked to provide bud wood for further expansion when their crops were established. Evaluation activities were carried out for adaptability in various ecological zones, namely, Montpelier, Orange River, Bodles and on various farms which participated in the project. Propagation activities are still being undertaken by the Fruit Tree Crop Unit.

3.2.1.3 Sugar Cane

The West Indies Central Sugar Cane Breeding Station (WICSCBS) located in Barbados is one of the oldest cane breeding stations in the world and responsible for sugar cane breeding for its Caribbean member countries. Jamaica‟s sugar industry collaborates with the WICSCBS for the development of new varieties. Cultivars can be developed through either an ongoing testing and selection programme conducted in Jamaica, or accessed from other cane-growing jurisdictions worldwide through the WICSCBS. Testing and selection are conducted to promote or discard varieties as necessary. These tests are conducted annually. Each set of accessions (called a Series) is tested over a 12 to 15 year period, which at the end-point, a new variety may be released. Feedback is provided to the WICSCBS based on the results of the tests. The data are used to incorporate the best parents in a breeding programme for Jamaica.

3.2.1.4 Banana

The Banana Breeding Research Scheme began in Trinidad in 1922 and in Jamaica in 1924. Work in both programmes became linked in the 1930‟s with shared responsibilities. Trinidad was responsible for fundamental botanical studies and Jamaica for the development of new varieties. This arrangement led to the creation of the Breeding Research Scheme in 1947 and the establishment of the Bodles Banana Breeding Station to promote the development of new varieties of bananas. The Station was the foremost institution in conventional breeding of Musa for over 50 years.

3.2.1.5 Coffee

Coffee seedlings from the Coffea arabica species, variety Typica, were imported to Jamaica as early as 1728. By 1958, there were at least two varieties being cultivated, that is, Bourbon and Typica. In 1978, hybrids varieties (T 2722 Geisha, T 2308 Caturra, T 4387 Hibrido de Timor, T 5159, T 5175 and Catuai) were introduced from CATIE in Costa Rica, to evaluate results pertaining to yield, quality, rust resistance and response to copper fungicide application. Some of these varieties were already being cultivated in the country and this formed the basis for the importation of their hybrids.

3.2.1.6 Cocoa

The Cocoa Research Centre at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad & Tobago undertakes cocoa research and development and is the custodian of the International Cocoa Genebank, thereby possessing the most important cocoa varieties in the world. The Cocoa 11 Industry Board collaborates with the Cocoa Research Centre for varietal development and improvement, characterization and evaluation activities. Jamaica benefits from the research and development work done by the Cocoa Research Centre through the introduction of improved varieties of Trinitaro, which produces fine or flavor cocoa beans. These were mainly the I.C.S (Imperial College Selections) and the TSH varieties (Trinidad Select Hybrid). Most of the seedlings produced by the Cocoa Industry Board are propagated from seed selected for their performance and disease resistance, which are mainly of the ICS clonal varieties (ICS, 1,3,95, 60).

3.2.1.7 Citrus

In response to the threat of the Tristeza virus to the citrus industry, the Government established the Jamaica Citrus Protection Agency (JCPA) in 1999, which is responsible for implementation of a mandatory citrus certification programme. It involves the registration of nurseries, certification of seed source trees, scion trees, parent trees, testing of parent and certified scion trees for viruses and diseases. Budwood and certified seeds must be witnessed and certified by the JCPA before they can be distributed to farmers or growers. Only registered nurserymen can purchase both seed and budwood. Distribution of both seed and budwood is conducted by the JCPA.

3.2.1.8 Coconut

For the coconut industry in Jamaica, plant breeding has its main objective of development of varieties/ hybrids with optimum resistance/tolerance to lethal yellowing and other important diseases, having high, stable yields and generally well performing under local conditions. Breeding has mostly involved „dwarf x tall‟ hybridization by the mass controlled pollination (MASCOPOL) method, in which the entire seed garden is isolated (planted in an area without significant coconut populations). Production of dwarf breeder seed is carried out by self-pollination and planting material by open pollination in homogenous fields followed by seednut selection.

3.2.1.9 Transgenic Crops

There is no commercial production of transgenic crops in Jamaica. Legislation only permits importation of plants for experimental purposes. However, the Biotechnology Center at the University of the West Indies (UWI) continues to work on developing a transgenic variety of papaya that is resistant to the Papaya Ringspot Virus. Work is also being conducted to develop virus-resistant transgenic hot pepper and tomato cultivars (McGlashan, et al, 2008).

3.2.2 Informal Seed Sector

The informal seed supply system consists of farmer-managed seed production activities and is based on indigenous knowledge and local diffusion mechanisms. It includes methods such as retaining seed on-farm from previous harvests to plant the following crop and farmer-to-farmer seed exchange networks. Farmers normally save seeds from crops such as sorrel, okra, gungo peas, callaloo, pumpkin, peanut (informal multiplication of seeds). Vegetative propagation is also high among farmers for root crops, bananas, fruit trees, etc. Nursery operators play an important role in supplying planting material to producers and householders. Some nurseries specialize in ornamental plants, fruit trees, vegetable seedlings, etc.

3.3 Plant Genetic Resources

Most of Jamaica‟s major crops for food and agriculture come from imported genetic resources. However, a number of native and endemic plants are cultivated. The in situ state of diversity of crop varieties is unknown; where they are present they would be escapees. Many of the wild relatives of our agricultural crops are escapees, as most of Jamaica‟s agricultural crops are introduced and these wild relatives are much fewer than those of the country‟s indigenous biodiversity.

3.3.1 Challenges

Seed System

Jamaica‟s domestic seed industry is not well developed as most planting material is farmer saved seeds or imported. The attempt of a commercial seed programme at the Thetford Seed Farm was terminated in 1984 and no other national seed programme has attempted to replicate this model. Anecdotal reports suggest that production of seed from public sector providers is not sufficient to meet the demand of farmers on a timely basis. For example, the Banana Board notes that although tissue cultured plants can be obtained readily from suppliers abroad, Jamaica needs to be able to produce: (a) the local Robusta variety (not available abroad) which is a hardy Cavendish variety and more suited to local rain-fed production systems; (b) the new high yielding FHIA varieties for domestic use (also not produced commercially abroad); (c) other high yielding varieties for irrigated production systems; and (d) all of the above in adequate quantities, on a timely basis and rigorously screened for diseases of quarantine importance. All of these are needed to meet the requirements of the farmers. Presently the country does not have a local supplier which can supply required commercial quantities on a timely basis.

Legal Framework

There is legislation impacting on plant genetic resources and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. However, there is no comprehensive legislation that addresses key components of the seed sector, such as varietal development/improvement, release, multiplication, production, processing, storage, certification, marking and distribution of seeds. There is currently no protection for plant breeders‟ rights in the development of new varieties or improvement of existing ones. With the exception of importing plants for experimental purposes, Jamaica‟s legislation also does not address the procedures or conditions for the deregulation and commercialization of genetically modified seeds/planting material. However, biosafety legislation is being developed and drafting instructions state that the Biosafety Act is intended to bring the Jamaican legal system into closer alignment with international standards.

Policy Context

The Vision 2030 Agriculture Sector Plan and the National Food & Nutrition Security Policy recognize the need for increased production and productivity to meet the country‟s food security needs, import substitution and exports to generate foreign exchange and reduce the trade deficit. The Agriculture Sector Plan expresses the long term vision of the agriculture sector to be competitive, driven by private sector investment, knowledge-driven based on widespread use of appropriate technology and supported by relevant research and development, including improving the quality of planting material to the sector. The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy recognizes the importance of high quality planting material to productivity. Emphasis is placed on ensuring the production, conservation, importation, evaluation and distribution of high quality planting and genetic material, development of a seed and genetic material plan and an appropriate implementation mechanism for these activities. In line with these policies, Government‟s agricultural and food security programmes and projects are also targeted towards improving production of critical crops, for which the availability of locally produced planting material are inadequate and have negatively impacted on the rapid expansion of these programmes. This situation has hampered the efforts of Government to adequately tackle the high food import bill, increase export earnings from the agricultural sector and increase the income of producers and other stakeholders along the value chain. In order to meet the objectives of national agricultural and food security policies, the seed system needs to be significantly improved to provide adequate, quality planting material to farmers on a timely basis.

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Scope of the Policy

The policy focuses on the development of a seed system that ensures the availability of high quality seed which is accessible to end users. Seed within the context of this policy means parts of agricultural, forestry and horticultural plants intended for sowing or planting purposes. Both conventional and organic production systems fall under the scope of this policy. The areas of research, plant breeding, varietal evaluation, seed multiplication, processing, storage, quality control, marketing, promotion and protection of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are addressed by the policy. Provision is made for the implementation of an appropriate institutional framework, building of technical and institutional capacity, promulgation of seed legislation, financing strategy and a communications programme.

Goal

The goal of the policy is to establish a sustainable seed system that ensures a consistent and reliable supply of clean, affordable and accessible seed in support of agricultural production, productivity, food security and biodiversity.

Objectives

The objectives of the policy are to: i. Facilitate development, evaluation and maintenance of pest resistant/ tolerant, high yielding varieties that are adaptive to given local agro-ecological zones and challenges posed by climate change. ii. Increase availability and access to clean seed to meet production requirements. iii. Improve regulation and monitoring of the seed industry to ensure adherence to quality standards. iv. Improve the sustainable marketing and distribution of seeds. v. Protect national plant genetic resources.

Seed Quality Control

Given the sensitivity of seed as a key input to production, it is necessary to maintain high quality standards to fully derive the benefits of the use of certified seed. As such, Government shall:  Promulgate national seed legislation to ensure reliable standards of seed quality, protect seed suppliers and users, and develop a quality-oriented seed industry; 33  Develop a Seed Certification Scheme as part of the enabling regulations of the seed legislation; and  Develop seed standards that conform to regional and international best practices, including gifts of seeds to the country. Government shall mandate the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) as the Relevant Authority for maintaining the integrity of the Seed Certification Scheme, that is, field inspection, laboratory testing and licensing of private sector seed inspectors and seed analysts to carry out certification work as deemed necessary. Such participation by private seed inspectors and seed analysts shall be subject to general monitoring and periodic checks by the seed certification body.

Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources

Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are indispensable for crop genetic improvement, whether by means of farmers‟ selection, classical plant breeding or modern biotechnologies and are essential in adapting to unpredictable environmental changes and future human needs. In accordance with the national legislation for the Protection of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2013) and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Government shall promote an integrated approach to the conservation, exploration, collection, characterization, evaluation and documentation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. In particular, Government shall:

 Survey and inventory plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, taking into account the status and degree of variation in existing populations, including those that are of potential use and, as feasible, assess any threats to them;

 Promote the collection of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and relevant associated information on those plant genetic resources that are under threat, or are of potential use for food and agriculture;

 Promote and support, as appropriate, producers and local communities efforts to manage and conserve on-farm, their plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; Promote in situ conservation of wild crop relatives and wild plants for food production, including in protected areas, by supporting, inter alia, the efforts of local communities;

 Promote the development of an efficient and sustainable system of ex situ conservation, giving due attention to the need for adequate documentation, characterization, regeneration and evaluation, and the development and transfer of appropriate technologies for this purpose, with a view to improving the sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; and

 Monitor the maintenance of the viability, degree of variation, and the genetic integrity of collections of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

SEED PLAN

The National Seed Plan outlines the framework of activities that will be critical in implementing the National Seed Policy and will cover a ten year period, from 2016 to 2025. It is underpinned by an Activity Matrix elaborated in Appendix I. The Activity Matrix is comprised of the strategies and actions that are linked to each policy objective. Additionally, the matrix ascribes timelines and indicators and details stakeholders responsible for each action. This chapter outlines the objectives, strategies and actions which are aligned to each element of the policy

Seed Quality Control

Objective: Improve regulation and monitoring of the seed industry to ensure adherence to quality standards.

 Strategies and Actions

 Create legislative framework for development of a seed industry.

 Conduct stakeholder consultations towards national seed legislation.

 Prepare drafting instructions for national seed legislation.  Promulgate national seed legislation.

 Develop a Seed Certification Scheme to ensure quality assurance of seeds produced and marketed.

 Establish seed certification entity to administer Seed Certification Scheme.

 Build capacity of seed certification entity to implement the Seed Certification Scheme.

 Establish formal arrangements with certified laboratories to test efficacy of seeds.

 Develop programme to train and certify private seed inspectors and seed analysts.

 Establish seed standards that conform to regional and international best practices.

 Establish seed standards and protocols for gifts of seeds that meet minimum local and international standards, including a pre-test phase.

 Enforce labelling according to standards specification for agricultural seed packages.

 Implement public education programme.

IMPLEMENTATION

The Seed Policy and Plan was developed within the wider context of the Agriculture Sector Plan, National Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Action Plan, and other relevant policies and plans impacting areas such as plant health, organic production, forestry, biodiversity, biosafety and climate change (see Chapter 9 - Linkages to Other Policies). In order to operationalize the Plan, there needs to be an emphasis on the coordination of actions, accountability of all stakeholders and efficient allocation of resources. Given that the Seed Plan will be implemented over a ten year period, from 2016-2025, actions will be streamlined in the Corporate, Operational Planning and budgetary processes of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved in its implementation. Specifically, steps will be taken to ensure:

 Alignment of the 3-year corporate/strategic business plans and 1-year Operational Plans of relevant MDAs with the relevant actions of the Seed Plan, taking into consideration the timelines;

 Alignment of programmes and projects of relevant MDAs with actions of the Seed Plan; and

 Development, strengthening and utilization of effective resource allocation mechanisms by relevant MDAs and non-state actors. In order to achieve this level of integration within the regular planning processes in MDAs, sensitization and enhanced coordination among corporate planners, policy analysts, project managers and budget and finance officers across MDAs will be required. In addition, relevant private sector entities and producer organizations will also be encouraged to include relevant elements of the Seed Plan into their annual plans or work programmes.

 

MONITORING & EVALUATION FRAMEWORK

The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the National Seed Policy and Plan are important to facilitate effective management and oversight of its implementation. The Planning and Policy Division of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries will be responsible for implementing and managing a M&E system for the Seed Policy and Plan in collaboration with the National Seed Committee. The outcome of this process will be used to provide updates, recommendations and guidance for revision of policies and strategies to improve the seed system and management of PGRFA.

9.1 Monitoring Process

The monitoring framework consists of impact and output indicators that are SMART11. At a higher level, the impact indicators are aligned to the goal and objectives of the Action Plan. The output indicators are found in the activity matrix and are linked to actions, which are each aligned to a strategy. Performance monitoring will be closely tied to the activity matrix. By continuous monitoring of the implementation process, information will be generated on the progress of implementation and remedial actions to be taken, if necessary. In implementing the monitoring framework, an incremental approach will be used, that is, in the first phase, a minimum set of core indicators will be defined, guided by the assessment of information availability. The set of indicators can be adjusted, if it is deemed necessary, as it becomes clear where to invest to fill information gaps and enhance monitoring capacities. An Annual Progress Report will be compiled each year by the Planning and Policy Division with support from the National Seed Committee. The Annual Progress Report will be submitted to Cabinet and tabled in Parliament. Thereafter, it will be posted on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries to ensure transparency and accountability.

9.2 Indicator Framework

The Seed Policy and Plan is underpinned by a results based activity matrix which establishes lower level output indicators for activities undertaken at the institutional level. The higher level indicators have been established to track overall progress at the national level, which are linked to the goals and objectives of the Policy and Plan. These indicators are a subset of a broader framework of indicators for monitoring the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources within the context of the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. These indicators are described below.

 

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