ESAFF Uganda together with other actors bemoaned the outright exclusion from the seed development sector, emphasizing the adverse effects on food sovereignty and agricultural sustainability. This issue was at the forefront of a three-day workshop held from November 24th to 27th, 2024, at the Cresta Oasis Hotel in Zimbabwe.
Organized by multiple initiatives, including Seeds for the Future (SEFF) and the
Community Technology Development Organization (CTDO), in collaboration with
the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), the event brought together over 40 representatives from 12 African and European countries. Participants included government officials, private sector representatives, farmer organizations, academia, and research institutions from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Niger, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, Italy, the Netherlands, and Mozambique.
The workshop, titled “From Breeding for Diversity to Seed Regulations/Laws: How to Promote an Enabling Environment for Farmer Seed Systems,” served as a critical platform to exchange experiences, evaluate existing policies, and propose reforms to seed legislation impacting Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS). Stakeholders discussed the findings of an African Union (AU) study, focusing on policy and legal frameworks that could formally recognize and support FMSS. This recognition is vital to ensuring food sovereignty and protecting the rights of small-scale farmers to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds—practices that underpin traditional agricultural systems.
CTDO Executive Director Andrew Mushita highlighted the inequities in current seed regulatory frameworks, noting that they disproportionately favor the formal seed sector while neglecting the contributions and needs of smallholder farmers. Many African seed companies have been acquired by multinational corporations, creating a monopolized landscape where smallholder farmers struggle to compete. Regulations requiring formal registration and strict licensing for seed production have further marginalized small-scale farmers, particularly for traditional and indigenous crops that lack adequate legal protection.
The workshop emphasized the necessity of balancing seed laws to support both
formal and informal systems. Key recommendations included integrating small-
scale farmers into the seed development process, strengthening community seed
banks to conserve plant genetic resources, and enhancing legislative support for
FMSS under Articles 5, 6, and 9 of the ITPGRFA. These provisions address the
sustainable use of plant genetic resources, conservation, and farmers' rights, alongside resolutions from the treaty's Governing Body (GB).
In his opening remarks, Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Mr. Vangelis Haritatos, reiterated the importance of farmer access to quality seed in enhancing agricultural productivity and food security. He called for expedited implementation of AU-endorsed instruments to advance seed sector development, including the ten-year Action Plan under the African Seed and Biotechnology Partnership Platform (ASBP).
The ASBP Action Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to enhance seed system
efficiency across ten components, including policy reform, genetic resource
conservation, variety improvement, quality assurance, marketing systems, and
biotechnology uptake. Importantly, it includes cross-cutting themes such as gender equity, youth engagement, and environmental sustainability, reflecting the diverse needs of stakeholders in the seed sector.
One notable contribution to the workshop was a presentation by Mr. Opiyo Charles from Oxfam Uganda, who introduced Schedule X, a tool under development by ESAFF Uganda and Oxfam partners in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) to advance FMSS. Schedule X aligns with the Guidelines on Harmonization of Seed Policies and Regulatory Frameworks and aims to facilitate the registration and cataloging of farmer-developed seed varieties.
Participants acknowledged its potential and provided feedback for further
refinement. A major outcome of the workshop was the unanimous agreement to establish a Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) Community of Practitioners (CoP) and draft a policy brief to inform upcoming African Union processes and the next ITPGRFA Governing Body meeting (GB11). This CoP will serve as a collaborative platform for stakeholders to promote FMSS, share knowledge, and influence policy development.
By fostering inclusive policies and equitable regulatory frameworks, these efforts aim to empower small-scale farmers, safeguard traditional agricultural practices, and ensure the sustainable use of plant genetic resources, ultimately strengthening food sovereignty across Africa and beyond.
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