Arusha, Tanzania
10 July 2009
Source:
AVRDC - The World Vegetable
Center - Newsletter
Nadine Kwazi,
Regional Center for Africa
The
Tanzania Seed Trade Association (TASTA) organized a one-day
workshop on Seed Industry Development in Tanzania at the Golden
Rose Conference Center. It was attended by stakeholders involved
in the seed industry from the private and public sector. The
Regional Center for Africa was represented by Mr. Jan Helsen,
vBSS Project Manager and Ms. Ronia Tanyongana, vBSS Seed Health
Specialist.
The objective of the workshop was to sensitize stakeholders—
especially the private sector in the region—on the importance of
affordable good quality seeds to the overall government food
security objective, and to expose
stakeholders to the different seed schemes, regulation in the
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), the
Organization for Economic C0-operation and Development (OECD),
and the government plant health services.
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Presentations were made by the
Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) on the
OECD Seed Schemes, ISTA, and progress the Institute has made
toward becoming accredited to these two organizations.
Accreditation success has been of concern to both government and
the seed industry as it facilitates all trade in seed
originating from Tanzania.
The Plant Services department presented an update on the
regulations governing the import and export of seed with
emphasis on seed bean, a big export in Tanzania.
One important constraint identified as hampering the growth of
the seed industry in Tanzania was the lack of basic or
foundation seed for many varieties needed by seed companies and
other producers to multiply commercially.
Through the vBSS project, the Regional Center for Africa will
hold an Innovation Platform meeting to chart a way forward for
sharing foundation seed with the private sector. |
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