1^st Meeting of National Focal Points on FAO-ECO TCP on Strengthening Seed Supply in the ECO Region

ECO Secretariat, Tehran, 30 May 2006

Press Release

          The First Meeting of National Focal Points on FAO-ECO TCP on strengthening seed supply in the ECO region was held at the Seed and Plant Certification & Registration Institute (SPCRI) of Islamic Republic of Iran, Karaj-Iran on 22-24 May 2006. The objective of the meeting was to introduce the project to focal points and plan the activities for the FAO-ECO Technical Cooperation Programme on strengthening seed supply in the ECO region with specific emphasis on Central Asia. The National Focal Points\officials from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Uzbekistan participated in the Meeting. The representatives from FAO, ICARDA and ECO Secretariat also participated in the Meeting.

          In the inauguration session, Dr. Shoaee, General Director of the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran made a statement where he highlighted the policies of his country in seed sector, and underlined the need for legal harmonization. ECO Secretary General H.E. Askhat Orazbay, in his statement, mentioned various problems in agriculture sector i.e. non-availability of improved varieties and lack of good quality seed, weak farm management etc. and said that an efficient formal seed sector may contribute to the realization of tremendous potential offered by the region for agriculture growth and development.

          The participants from the member states presented country reports highlighting seed situation in the countries, national seed policies, seed supply and demand, role of agriculture sector in the national economies, seed regulations\policies and status of seed production. They touched upon the problems in seed sector such as non-availability of certified seed, absence of information about the origin and quality of seed, lack of accredited seed testing labs in the private sector, insufficient use of certified seed, lack of equipment and machinery, lack of legislative framework for certifying informal seed.

          The Meeting proposed strengthening the private sector for more involvement in research activities, incentives to seed stakeholders especially farmers to improve production capacity, marketing assistance to seed growing farmers in selling high quality seed, establishment of seed producing farmers’ associations, establishment of gene banks, provision of technology for hybrid seed development and generation of resources.

          The FAO-ECO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) for strengthening seed supply addresses the particular problems in the sector and serves as a preparatory work leading to larger development projects in the sector. The objective of the TCP is to develop more efficient seed production, distribution and marketing system in ECO countries. The immediate objectives of the TCP are to (i) analyze organizational structure, capacity and current development of seed system; (ii) train seed entrepreneurs as trainers in seed marketing; (iii) introduce public and private stakeholders to international technology, standards and regulations and initiation of process of regional consultation to harmonize trade-impeding seed regulations; (iv) analyze potential for a recurrent regional seed conference which will stimulate exchange of genetic resources, seed, technology etc.

          The Meeting also reviewed and revised the Work Plan for the Project. According to the work plan:

a) Within the framework of FAO-ECO TCP, there will not be more than an event in any country.
b) First Workshop on Regional Regulations Harmonization would be organized in October 2006 in the I.R. of Pakistan.
c) 2nd Meeting of the National Focal Points on FAO-ECO TCP on Seed Supply in the ECO Secretariat in the end of February 2007 for endorsing the programme etc. of the ECO Regional Seed Conference.
d) Training course for trainers on seed and Seed Marketing and Promotion would be organized in March 2007 in Izmir-Turkey.
e) 2nd Workshop on Regional Regulations Harmonization would be held in April 2007 in the Republic of Azerbaijan
f) ECO Regional Seed Conference in November, 2007 in Almaty-Kazakhstan. 3rd Workshop on Regional Regulations Harmonization in January 2008 in the Republic of Uzbekistan

           First ECO Regional Seed Conference to be organized in November 2007 in Almaty-Kazakhstan will provide a forum for consultations and seed trade, offer opportunities to exploit results of national seed projects and activities, attract outside seed and equipment suppliers to the region. On the sideline of the conference a Seed Trade Fair will also be organized. An international Organizing Committee comprising representatives of the member states, FAO, ECO and CGIAR and development agencies concerned with seed will be established to make arrangements for organizing the conference. A Conference Secretariat will be established at the ECO Secretariat.
 

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