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Variety and Seed Industry Development Project (FAO)

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Variety and Seed Industry Development Project (FAO)

Donor: European Commission

Budget: $ 12,900,000.

Duration: Jan 2007- Dec 2011

Location: All over Afghanistan

Status: Ongoing

Objective: This project is designed to support a private sector seed and planting materials industry that produces and markets seeds and planting materials in Afghanistan to meet the needs of farmers for enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. The project will place systems within the government to regulate a private sector seed industry that meets international standards.

Components
Agriculture production and productivity

Progress/ Achievements
Project successfully progressing towards its end in Dec 2011

  • Seed legislation enacted and national seed policy adopted
  • 95 private seed enterprises established in 28 provinces and national seed association formed
  • 2010 total wheat seed production: 18,081 tons (certified), 1718 tons (registered), 703 tons (foundation) and 104 tons (breeder)
  • Tissue culture facility established for disease-free potato mini tuber production and training materials including hands-on manuals prepared
  • 45 training events conducted for 2,138 participants including 411 government counterparts and 1,039 from private sector
  • Collaborative varietal testing plots established in 11 research stations. New varieties released comprising 11 of wheat including 4 Ug99 stem rust resistant ones, 2 mung bean and 3 maize
  • Seed production and conditioning equipment procured, installed and operated
  • Seed testing/certification system and facilities including 5 labs established and operations
  • Seed marketing channels initiated and promotional activities undertaken

Challenges

  • Effective implementation and enforcement of seed regulatory instruments seed law and policy
  • Enabling farmers to buy certified seed directly at cost recovery and affordable prices
  • Promoting crop diversification and extending standard certification procedures and standards to other major crops besides wheat
  • Using crop value chains to create derived demand for seed

Recommendations

  • Explore and attract diverse donor support to address areas of challenge
  • Sustainability ensured through enhanced national capacity, ownership and commitment