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

NATIONAL SEED POLICIES IN THE WASNET REGION

THE GAMBIA

There is increasing awareness of the importance of a national seed policy in many countries, and particularly of the importance of private sector involvement. A uniform policy on research, germplasm conservation, plant breeders' rights, seed production, quality control (legislation), seed import/export, quarantine, and the role of the private sector is required to resolve restrictions within and among member countries

A national seed policy is the first step that a national government must take in order to focus attention and efforts on ensuring supply and use of improved seed, and attracting development effort and investment into seed supply.

This is a critically important Network Information activity and is the first step toward ensuring that

(1) each West African country has a national seed policy,
(2) that the policy meets needs,
(3) that the policy is long-term and has the effect of law, and
(4) that the policy is in accordance with others in the region so that seed supply will be emphasized adequately and that seed from each country can move freely in the to-be-developed regional market.

The long-term objective of this activity is to develop a uniform seed policy for West African countries. The short-term objective is to collect information on the different policies that are operating in the West African sub-region.

WASNET will study the different seed policies in the region and prepare a draft policy that could be considered for implementation in member countries.

SUGGESTED APPROACHES:

Step 1:

Collect all possible information from all participating (and other countries) in the region, concerning the national seed policy. Provide brief description of (attach copy);

• brief description, including special provisions;
• legal force of the policy;
• does it follow regional/international standard approaches?
• is an agency responsible for implementing the policy?
• what is the agency’s funding source (government budget, fees, sales income, etc.);
• staffing, facilities and operating funds and their condition/adequacy;
• how are changes made in the policy?
• is there an advisory board or committee to assist the policy implementation agency? who is on it; what sectors/agencies are represented?
• how is it implemented?

Finally, include the opinion of the different actors on the policy. It the policy seen as encouraging the seed industry? Does the private sector consider the policy as inductive for the growth of the seed industry? (Note that these questions are optional)

Step 2:

Compile this information per country, as well as per topic.

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:

With the assistance of the Secretariat, Prepare a draft for a uniform national seed policy.