The Status and Prospects of

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• The Status and Prospects of
• Seed Industry in CWANA Region
• International Seed Trade Conference 2005
• 29 November - 1 December 2005
• Antalya, Turkey
• Zewdie Bishaw A.J.G. van Gastel
• Seed Unit, ICARDA
• P.O. Box 5466,
• Aleppo, Syria

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Outline of the Presentation

• What is ICARDA and CWANA Region?
• geographic coverage, mandate, area, population
• Status and Constraints of Seed Sector in CWANA
• Prospects for Seed Sector in CWANA
• Conclusion

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ICARDA Geographic Coverage and Mandate Crops
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The ICARDA Seed Unit

• Objectives
• Strengthen national seed programs in CWANA
• Main Activities
• Training human resource for seed sector
• Networking information sharing linkages
• Applied research seed technology supply
• Present Emphasis
• Partnership with private sector
• Support to informal seed sector

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Agricultural Area and Population in CWANA Region
Source FAOSTAT 2005
Projected Population Growth 1.5 billion (2030)
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Production and Productivity of Major Crops in
CWANA Region
Source FAOSTAT 2005
Projected food deficits 70 million tonnes in 2020
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Status of Seed Programs in CWANA Region

• West Asia and North Africa
• Developing seed industries
• Functioning infrastructure for cereals, some
  legumes forages
• Independent agency for variety release seed
  certification
• Main regulations exist supporting the seed sector
• Increasing private sector participation
• Intermediate seed industries
• Functioning infrastructure for few cereals, none
  for legumes, forages
• Adhoc variety release and quality control
• Existing laws are old or deficient in many
  aspects
• Limited or no private sector participation
• Least developed seed industries
• No formally organized seed sector exists, limited
  infrastructure
• No procedures or regulations for variety release
  quality control
• Adhoc seed production coordinated by agricultural
  research/DOA
• Limited or lack of trained manpower in the seed
  sector

• Central Asia Caucasus
• Historically
• Centrally-planned and fully controlled system
  with few varieties, BUT production of large seed
  quantities
• Dominated by large public seed production units
  with no commercial or market influences (seed
  allocation)
• Currently
• After independence, evolving to market-economy,
  but not yet fully functional
• Diversification of agriculture (new crops) and
  emergence of diverse clients (private farms,
  small farmers)

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Status of Seed Industry-Availability of Varieties
Number of varieties released in selected
countries of CWANA region
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Status of Seed Industry-Availability of Seeds
Amount of seed (Mt) produced/distributed in
selected countries of CWANA region
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Performance of Formal Sector in Seed Supply
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Performance of Formal Sector in Seed Supply
Average of previous five years Based on
2003 data (alfalfa, sanfoin and vetch)
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Estimated domestic seed market and international
seed trade in selected countries of CWANA region
Export Agricultural crops gt Horticultural cops
(26 vs 3 eg. Turkey) Import Agricultural crops
Horticultural crops ( 113 vs 113)
Source ISF website
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Factors Affecting Seed Sector Development
These factors have many interactions and are
limited by agro-ecology which defines the
production system
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Prospects for Seed Sector-Creating Diversified
Seed Market
Foreign and domestic seed companies
Established seed traders and merchants who
contract seed production
Industrial companies with rural interests
DIVERSIFIED SEED MARKET
Input suppliers (agricultural merchants)
Small rural industries (eg processors/traders)
Cooperatives and farmers groups producing/selling
seed
Seed growers associations marketing their
production collectively
Large farmers producing and marketing seed
Source Turner Bishaw, 2000
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Creating favorable policy environment - Policy
advocacy (sensitize policy makers)- Resource
allocation (formal vs informal)- Diversification
of seed sector (private sector)- Representation
(seed trade associations)- Political will and
commitment by governmentGovernment policies
in developing world created a situation where
inefficient public seed sector dominates, local
private companies are struggling entities, and
international seed companies operate at
sub-optimal levels. McMullen (1987)
Prospects for National Seed Sector
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2. Regulatory reforms and harmonization -
Variety testing and release Compulsory
Voluntary common variety lists - Seed
quality assurance Mandatory
Truth in-labeling/QDS - Promoting regional
initiatives National Regional
(harmonization )
(trade association)
Regional (Common) Seed Market
Prospects for National Seed Sector..2
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3. Strengthening formal sector operations a.
Public agricultural research - Investment in
plant breeding research (PVP) - Public-private
sector partnership (contract research) -
Licensing varieties for seed production b.
Multinational companies - Creation of
regional seed market - Partnership in strategic
research (biotech)
Prospects for National Seed Sector..3
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c. Domestic private seed companies -
Liberalization to create competition (Pakistan
gt500) - Transparent investment and trade laws -
Access to capital and credits - Access to
public germplasm and varieties d. Public seed
sector - Re-orient public sector as commercial
units Autonomous units (Egypt) -
Re-focus support to informal sector FBSM
(Ethiopia)
Prospects for National Seed Sector..4
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4. Strengthening informal seed sector Promote
innovative local enterprises to ensure
sustainable seed production and
marketing - Mobilize farmers/communities as
seed producers - Link participatory
approaches to seed systems - Link informal
sector activities with formal sector At
present, ..... an increased emphasis on
developing numerous seed growers, enterprises
and sellers who cater to local needs... some
extremely small seed producing/selling units
operating in several countries Douglas
(1989) 
Prospects for National Seed Sector..5
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Concept for SSE Development-bottom-up Approach
SSE
Policy and business development services
Effective demand for new varieties and seeds
Availability of acceptable and adaptable new
varieties
Farming community (indigenous knowledge, skills,
resources)
Source Kugbei Bishaw, 2002
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Conclusions
A stable national policy environment consistent
with regulatory framework is the basis for the
development of competitive seed sector by
attracting private sector investment
(foreign/domestic) Regional initiatives may help
to strengthen national seed programs by sharing
information and experience to exploit the synergy
and comparative advantages Harmonization
provides greater opportunity to create regional
seed market and more choice and access to better
varieties and seeds There are no blue-prints but
ample experience within CWANA and elsewhere to
adapt to conditions at national or regional levels
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TESEKKÜRLER
SHUKRAN
KERESHO
THANK YOU