Quality Declared Seed System


Book Description

The quality declared seed system, as set out in the FAO Plant Production and Production Paper No. 117 (1993, ISBN 9251032785) has been widely used, particularly by those working in the field of emergency seed supply and as a source of practical information on seed standards for a range of crop species. The system provided an alternative for seed quality assurance, which was less demanding than full seed quality control systems. This publication sets out a revised version, prepared by an expert consultation, which offers a more explicit recognition of the role of national policies and the impact of some recent international obligations on seed provision and a clearer explanation on how quality declared seeds can accommodate local varieties. The list of crops now includes 92 species, of which 21 include open pollinated and hybrids and one includes also a synthetic variety. In making this update, FAO sought to improve seed supplies to farmers and thus to contribute to food security.







Quality Declared Seeds


Book Description

Quality Declared Seed system would make use of resources already available in seed production organization in those countries where human and physical resources for quality control were otherwise limited. The book is designed to provide quality control during seed production which would be less demanding on government resources than seed certification, but that it could be sufficiently adequate to provide good quality seed both within countries and in international trade. However, the Quality Declared Seed system places greater reliance on the conscientiousness of seed producing farmers and seed traders. The book has not been designed as replacement for a fully developed seed certification scheme but rather to make the best use of limited technical resources. The system is designed to develop technical expertise within the seed industry so that seed production and distribution become more efficient and with the responsibility placed on producers and traders a climate will be created in which the conscientious traders a climate will be created in which the conscientious trader can prosper. Contents Part I: Guidelines Applicable to All Crop Species; Chapter 1: General; Chapter 2: Definitions; Chapter 3: Eligibility of varieties; Chapter 4: Register of Seed Producers; Chapter 5: Production of seeds; Chapter 6: Labeling; Chapter 7: Supervision by Governments; Chapter 8: Penalties; Chapter 9: Organizational framework; Chapter 10: Quality Declared Seed Declaration; Part II: Guidelines Applicable to Individual Crop Species; Cereals; Maize: Hybrid, Maize: open-pollinated, Pearl millet: Hybrid, Pearl millet: Synthetics and open-pollinated, Rice, Sorghum: Hybrid; Sorghum: Open-pollinated, Wheat; Food Legumes; Beans, Broad beans, Chickpeas, Cowpeas, Dry peas, Groundnuts, Lentils, Mungbeans, Soya bean; Oil Crops; Sesame, Sunflower: Hybrid, Sunflower: Open-pollinated; Forage Crops; Forage grasses, Andropogon gayanus, Bothriochloa insculpta, Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria humidicola, Buffelgrass, Dallis grass, Eragrostis curvula, Panicum coloratum, Panicum maximum, Pennisetum clandestinum, Rhodes grass, Setaria spacelata, Setaria porphyrantha, Forage legumes, Calopogonium muconoides, Centrosema pubescens, Desmodium, Lablab purpureus, Lotononis, Pueraria phaseoloides, Stylosanthes, Trifolium semipilosum; Industrial Crops; CottonL Open-pollinated, Castor bean; Vegetable Crops; Amaranthus, Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese cabbage, Cucumber: Hybrid, Cucumber: Open-pollinated, Eggplant, Leek, Lettuce, Melon: Hybrid, Melon: Open-pollinated, New Zealand spinach, Okra, Onion: Hybrid, Onion: Open-pollinated, Parsley, Radish, Spinach: Hybrid, Spinach: Open-pollinated, Squash: Hybrid, Squash: Open-pollinated, Sweet pepper and chili: open-pollinated, Swiss chard, Tomato: Hybrid, Tomato: Open-pollinated, Turnip, Watermelon: Hybrid, Watermelon: Open-pollinated.




Mapping the design and implementation of seed sector regulation: The case of Uganda


Book Description

An enabling environment with clear, inclusive, and transparent seed laws, policies, regulations, and guidelines is the foundation for an efficient and effective seed sector. If well designed and implemented, the legal and regulatory framework can facilitate market diversification, supervision and quality control of seed and other forms of planting material, promotion of private sector participation, farmer access to improved seed varieties, reduced barriers for the movement of seeds across borders, and food security. This study uses Regulatory Systems Maps (RSMs), a mapping tool for legal and regulatory processes and procedures, as a primary comparative method to assess the progress and dynamics in Uganda’s seed system along four key dimensions of the seed systems regulatory value chain: (i) early generation seed (EGS) production and distribution, (ii) varietal registration and release processes, (iii) seed quality assurance systems, and (iv) seed trade. The RSMs document and illustrate the processes and procedures contained in Uganda’s seed legal and regulatory systems, analytically isolating intervention points, proposed legal and regulatory changes, good practices and legal innovations, and systemic shifts over time, while also integrating important dimensions such as gender, inclusion, and flexibility that can address farmers’ needs, reduce costs, and increase participation in seed systems. The data and information used to compile the Uganda RSMs were developed and validated through a series of consultations with an array of stakeholders spanning both the public and private sectors. The findings of the RSMs showed that, despite the comprehensive nature of Uganda’s seed rules and regulations and some notable innovations, implementation is a persistent challenge, and regulatory gaps and inconsistencies continue to exist. The RSMs indicate the need to take various measures to improve the enabling environment for seed trade in Uganda, including reviewing the current seed law, which is largely outdated; updating the existing seed regulations; adopting plant variety protection (PVP) regulations to implement the PVP Act; developing guidelines on agricultural research; and building capacity in both the public and private sectors.




The Potato Crop


Book Description

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This book provides a fresh, updated and science-based perspective on the current status and prospects of the diverse array of topics related to the potato, and was written by distinguished scientists with hands-on global experience in research aspects related to potato. The potato is the third most important global food crop in terms of consumption. Being the only vegetatively propagated species among the world’s main five staple crops creates both issues and opportunities for the potato: on the one hand, this constrains the speed of its geographic expansion and its options for international commercialization and distribution when compared with commodity crops such as maize, wheat or rice. On the other, it provides an effective insulation against speculation and unforeseen spikes in commodity prices, since the potato does not represent a good traded on global markets. These two factors highlight the underappreciated and underrated role of the potato as a dependable nutrition security crop, one that can mitigate turmoil in world food supply and demand and political instability in some developing countries. Increasingly, the global role of the potato has expanded from a profitable crop in developing countries to a crop providing income and nutrition security in developing ones. This book will appeal to academics and students of crop sciences, but also policy makers and other stakeholders involved in the potato and its contribution to humankind’s food security.




Enhancing Smallholder Farmers' Access to Seed of Improved Legume Varieties Through Multi-stakeholder Platforms


Book Description

This open access book shares the experiences of Tropical Legumes III (TLIII) project in facilitating access to seed of improved legume varieties to smallholder farmers through innovation platforms. It highlights practices and guiding principles implemented in eight developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This book details key processes that respective teams employed to create an innovation space that delivers seed, other inputs, knowledge and financial services to agricultural communities and most importantly, the underserved farmers in remote areas of the drylands. It offers valuable insights into the pathway to establishing, promoting and operating innovation platforms to enhance the performance and competitiveness of legume crops' value chains, and addresses critical issues that must be considered to make innovation platforms more sustainable and attractive to beneficiaries. The book offers a wealth of practical insights for development workers, technical staff, and project managers. This publication is all about TLIII community of practice. It will definitely inspire other development workers and scientists to share their own experiences for others to learn from.




Quality Declared Seed


Book Description




Quality Declared Planting Material


Book Description

This publication includes a set of protocols and standards for the production of quality planting material of the most important vegetatively reproduced crops, namely: banana, plantain and other Musaceae, cassava, cocoyam, garlic, hausa potato, konjac, mashua, oca, potato, sweet potato, taro, ulluco and yam. Prepared by FAO, in collaboration with the International Potato Centre and a team of international experts, it follows the principles and approach of FAO's Quality Declared Seed System. Vegetatively propagated crop species contribute significantly to the agriculture and food production sectors of many developing countries and regions and to their food security. The current availability and dissemination of advanced reproduction technologies, in particular for micropropagation, have increased the scope for improvement and development of disease-free planting materials for these crops. However, in spite of their potential, they have received little attention in formal seed quality regulatory systems. Thus, these protocols and standards were developed to serve as practical and useful tools for seed producers and technicians at the community level as well as for national seed services and the agricultural research community in developing countries. Improved quality of planting materials will contribute significantly to improved agricultural production and productivity and to global food security. Book jacket.




Quality Declared Seed


Book Description




Community Seed Banks


Book Description

Community seed banks first appeared towards the end of the 1980s, established with the support of international and national non-governmental organizations. This book is the first to provide a global review of their development and includes a wide range of case studies. Countries that pioneered various types of community seed banks include Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. In the North, a particular type of community seed bank emerged known as a seed-savers network. Such networks were first established in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA before spreading to other countries. Over time, the number and diversity of seed banks has grown. In Nepal, for example, there are now more than 100 self-described community seed banks whose functions range from pure conservation to commercial seed production. In Brazil, community seed banks operate in various regions of the country. Surprisingly, despite 25 years of history and the rapid growth in number, organizational diversity and geographical coverage of community seed banks, recognition of their roles and contributions has remained scanty. The book reviews their history, evolution, experiences, successes and failures (and reasons why), challenges and prospects. It fills a significant gap in the literature on agricultural biodiversity and conservation, and their contribution to food sovereignty and security.