THE PRACTICE OF REGULATING SEED SYSTEMS IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Issue № 8, 2025, article № 18, pages 189-203

Section:

Language: Russian

Original language title: ПРАКТИКА РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЯ СИСТЕМ СЕМЕНОВОДСТВА В СТРАНАХ АФРИКИ

Keywords: FORMAL AND INFORMAL SEED SYSTEMS, COMMUNITY SEED BANKS, SYSTEM OF QUALITY DECLARED SEED (QDS), INSTRUMENTS OF REGULATION, HARMONIZATION, AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Abstract: The analysis of the seed systems has been managed by using the example of African countries that are members of regional economic unions such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The role of seeds in ensuring food security and agricultural productivity on the African continent is highlighted. A multi-level structure of the seed system includes many elements: plant genetic resources, breeding programs, production, marketing and distribution, a regulatory framework, and quality control of products. Thus, this paper presents a comprehensive review of the specific features of seed systems as mechanisms through which farmers gain access to seed varieties and hybrids of agricultural crops. A modern classification of seed systems in the studied region is explored. It consists of three categories such as formal, informal and intermediate (“Quality Declared Seed” or the QDS system). The trajectories of interaction between formal and informal seed systems are identified along with options for farmers’ access to seeds. The key problems of the seed market faced by smallholder farmers in Africa are described. The issues concerning the state of genetic banks in African countries have been studied, which allowed for the identification of a concept for preserving biodiversity and genetic resources through the creation of community seed banks. These gene banks are considered as key participants in the integrated development of the seed sector. The uniqueness of the phenomenon of “community seed banks” lies in their function of preserving local biodiversity. Special attention is paid to regulation and harmonization of rules on production, storage and marketing of seeds. The interest in understanding African practices of regulating the seed industry, especially agricultural crops, is a cornerstone for building long-term Russian-African relations in agricultural science and promoting achievements of Russian plant breeding in partner African countries.

Authors: Lukomets Viacheslav Mikhailovich, Lukomets Artem Viacheslavovich, Tsatsenko Natalia Andreevna