[BENIN][BURKINA FASO][GAMBIA][GHANA][COTE D'IVOIRE][MALI][NIGER][NIGERIA][SENEGAL][TOGO]

WASNET REGIONAL CATALOGUE OF SEED AND FIELD STANDARDS

BURKINA FASO

This is an important Network Information activity, as it is the basic effort toward establishing uniform seed quality throughout the West Africa region, and thus moves toward developing a regional market for seed, and ensuring that seed in the regional market is of known identified quality. Uniform, recognized and assured seed quality, in turn, is the first step toward being able to market seed in all countries of the region.

The ultimate objective of this activity is to have uniform seed testing and field inspection standards in all West African countries. This would greatly facilitate seed movement between different countries in the region. It would stimulate seed trade. The short-term objective is to publish a regional catalogue of standards, which are used for seed testing and field inspection in the different countries of the region. This will give an overview of seed production standards and problems in each member country as guidelines for import or export of seed within the region.

The Catalogue will show the generation system and standards for all quality factors (field and seed standards) followed in each member country.

SUGGESTED APPROACHES:

Step 1:

Collect all possible information from all participating (and other countries) in the region, concerning (a) Seed Testing Standards, and (b) Field Inspection Standards. Also include a brief description how each test is carried out. Standards are required for:

Seed Testing

Moisture content, physical purity, weed seeds, seeds of noxious weeds, other crop seeds, infected seeds (different diseases), infested seeds (different insects), germination and varietal purity.

Field Inspection

Rotation, isolation, other varieties, other species, noxious weeds, infected plants, infested plants. Furthermore, describe any quality attribute a field inspector would be looking at while inspecting a field (or visiting the farmer).

At this stage it is suggested to collect this information for the most important cereal and legume crops, as well as for root and tuber crops.

Step 2:

Compile this information per country, as well as per crop and per quality attribute.

Step 3:

Summarize the situation in the region. Point out the differences and the similarities.

Step 4:

Prepare the information summarized in Steps 2 and 3 as a regional WASNET Information Publication.

Step 5:

With the assistance of the Secretariat, make the information available to all participating countries and others.

Step 6:

Prepare a draft for uniform standards for seed testing and field inspection.