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Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project
2021 Annual Report
January 1 to December 31, 2021
Cover Photos: Cover photos are courtesy of the Seed Trade Project.
This report was made possible by the support of the American People through the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility
of DAI Global, LLC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
PROGRAM
TITLE
Feed the Future Southern Africa
Seed Trade Project
CONTRACT
NUMBER:
AID-674-C-16-00003
CONTRACTOR
DAI GLOBAL, LLC
REPORTING PERIOD
January 1 – December
31, 2021
DATE OF
SUBMISSION
January 28, 2022
CONTRACTING
OFFICER’S
REPRESENTATIVE
CHIEF OF PARTY
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | i
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AGRA Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
APROSE Association for the Promotion of the Seed Sector, Mozambique
CBO Community Based Organization
COP Chief of Party
COR Contracting Officer’s Representative
COVID Coronavirus Disease
DARS Department of Agricultural Research Services, Malawi
DNSA Mozambique National Directorate of Agrarian Services
DQA Data Quality Assessment
DUS Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability
FANR Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Directorate
GMO Genetically Modified Organisms
HSR Harmonized Seed Regulations
HSRS Harmonized Seed Regulatory System
FtF INOVA Feed the Future Mozambique Agricultural Innovations Activity
IIAM Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research
ISTA International Seed Testing Association
LOP Life of Project
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MEL Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
MoU Memorandum of Understanding
MT Metric Tons
MUSECO Multi Seed Company
PMELP Performance Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan
NPPO National Plant Protection Organization
NSA National Seed Authority
OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
OPV Open Pollinated Varieties
OSD Other Seed Determination
SADC Southern African Development Community
SCCI Seed Control and Certification Institute, Zambia
SI Statutory Instrument
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
SPGRC SADC Plant Genetic Resource Centre
SSI Seed Services Institute, Zimbabwe
SSU Seed Services Unit, Malawi
STAM Seed Trade Association of Malawi
UPOV International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USG United States Government
WEAI Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index
ZARI Zambia Agriculture Research Institute
ZASTA Zambia Seed Trade Association
ZRA Zambia Revenue Authority
ZSPCA Zimbabwe Seed Potato Companies Association
ZSA Zimbabwe Seed Association (formerly ZSTA)
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................... i
PROJECT OVERVIEW .................................................................................................... 1
SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND SALIENT RESULTS ................................................................. 2
1. Private Seed Companies’ Triple Scale-up Seed Production ..................................................................... 2
2. SADC Seed Producers are Registering Improved Seed Varieties to the SADC Seed
Variety Catalogue ................................................................................................................................................... 4
3. Technology Transfers Expand National Capacity for Safe International Seed Trade ........................ 5
PROGRESS BY INDICATOR: AT-A-GLANCE .............................................................................................................. 7
PROGRESS BY ACTIVITY: 2021 ANNUAL WORKPLAN AT-A-GLANCE ......................................................... 8
SECTION 2.0. PROGRESS BY INDICATOR .................................................................................................... 11
2.1 Indicator Progress .......................................................................................................................................... 11
GOAL: Increased Seed Trade Across the SADC Region ........................................................................... 11
2.2.1 OBJECTIVE 1: Increased Availability of Improved Seeds in the Region ....................................................... 11
2.2.2 OBJECTIVE 2: Increased Availability of Technologies, Management Practices, and Innovation ............ 21
2.2.3 OBJECTIVE 3: Improved Regional Policies to Support Agricultural Growth ............................................. 25
2.2.4 CROSS-CUTTING INDICATORS ........................................................................................................................ 27
SECTION 3.0. CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................... 31
3.1. Program Management .................................................................................................................................. 31
3.1.1 Adaptive Management Under COVID-19 ..................................................................................... 31
3.1.2 Operations and Procurements ......................................................................................................... 31
3.1.4 Close-down Process .............................................................................................................................. 32
3.2 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan and Implementation Update ............................... 33
3.3 Integration of Cross-cutting Issues and USAID Forward Priorities .................................................. 34
3.4 Stakeholder Participation and Involvement ............................................................................................. 38
3.4.1 Seed Trade Project Engagement with Stakeholders ............................................................ 38
3.5 Tasks/Interventions for the Next Reporting Period ............................................................................. 44
ANNEX A: SUMMARY OF RESULTS ....................................................................... 45
ANNEX B: SUMMARY OF TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS ................................. 51
ANNEX C: OUTREACH & PROMOTION ............................................................. 56
ARTICLES .................................................................................................................... 56
SOCIAL MEDIA ......................................................................................................... 56
VIDEOS ......................................................................................................................... 57
ANNEX D: INSTITUTIONS RECEIVING U.S. GOVERNMENT
TECHNICAL SUPPORT .............................................................................................. 69
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 1
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed
Trade Project (Seed Trade Project) is a five-
year project with a 15-month extension
(December 10, 2015 – March 10, 2022). It is
funded through the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID)/Southern
Africa Regional Mission, and implemented by
DAI Global, LLC (DAI). The primary goal of
the Project is to improve the availability of and
access to high-quality seed in the Southern
African Development Community (SADC)
Member States.
The Project is designed to support SADC and Member States’ leadership and provide the
necessary technical assistance to harmonize policies and regulations governing seed trade in
the region. The work facilitates seed trade across the region, integrating small and isolated
national markets into one larger SADC-wide market for seeds.
Traditionally, small national variations among regulations related to variety release, seed
certification and quality control, as well as quarantine and phytosanitary regulations lead to
increased transactional costs and duplicative procedures across countries. These collectively
not only raise the cost, but also increase the time required to get seeds to farmers. In response
to these significant and interconnected set of issues, the Seed Trade Project works to facilitate
the harmonization of seed laws across the SADC region, in turn increasing agricultural
productivity and profitability, resiliency, and subsequent food and nutrition security.
The Seed Trade Project’s focus countries are Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
However, its work with the SADC Secretariat, including the SADC Seed Centre as well as in
these targeted Project countries has spill-over effects in the remaining 12 SADC Member
States.
Tapping into leading public and private sectors, universities, international research
organizations, and other institutions, the Seed Trade Project shares technologies, innovations,
and management practices with target countries to improve seed value chains and promote a
more efficient seed system and subsequent farming systems.
Cross-cutting issues including private-public partnerships, gender and disadvantaged groups
mainstreaming, civil society and partner institution engagement, and adherence to the Feed
the Future principles are all integral to the success of the Seed Trade Project.
Major Project Partners
Southern African Development Community Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Directorate (SADC/FANR), SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC), SADC Seed Centre (SSC), Malawian Seed Services Unit (SSU), Mozambique National Directorate of Agrarian Services (DNSA), Zambian Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI), Zimbabwe Seed Services Institute (SSI), National Plant Protection Organizations, Seed Trade Association of Malawi (STAM), Association for the Promotion of the Seed Sector in Mozambique (APROSE), Zimbabwe Seed Association (ZSA), Zambia Seed Trade Association (ZASTA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Office for Southern Africa, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), seed producers, and private sector.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 2
SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND
SALIENT RESULTS
In 2021, the Seed Trade Project continued
to work toward the full operationalization of
the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory
System (HSRS). From January 1 –
December 31, 2021, the Seed Trade
Project continued to make progress to
ensure the sustainability of the SADC
HSRS, as it has been the ongoing focus of
the Project through its conclusion. There
have been several achievements over the
past year, which are highlighted below.
1. Private Seed Companies’ Triple Scale-up Seed Production
From 2019-2020, the Seed Trade Project partnered with four seed companies to pressure-test
the SADC HSRS Seed Certification and Quality Assurance System – Seed Co Zambia Ltd.,
Lake Agriculture in Zambia, Zimbabwe Super Seeds Cooperative Company (Zimbabwe Super
Seeds) and Peacock Seeds of Malawi. Collectively, they successfully produced 701 MT of
improved seed, of which 542 MT were exported to the Democratic Republic of Congo and
Mozambique, both hard hit by climate-related shocks. The rest remained on the local markets
for trade. The success of these pilots along with other significant benefits, including access to
all 16 SADC markets and ease of trade across borders, led to three of the four seed companies
committing to scale-up production and trade of high-quality seed under the SADC HSRS during
the 2020/21 planting season. Peacock Seeds in Malawi could not scale up as it is awaiting the
gazetting of the Seed Bill, which is imminent, for the Seed Services Unit (SSU) to fully
implement the SADC HSRS.
Together, the three participating seed companies successfully scaled-up their productions from
701 MT to 2,109 MT of improved, high-quality seed varieties during the 2020/2021 season.
Seed Co Zambia demonstrated the largest jump from their pilot going from 226 MT in 2019 to
1,050 MT in 2021, marking a 365 percent increase. Further, Seed Co exported the full amount
to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September 2021. Lastly, in both their pilot and
scale-up productions, Seed Co Zambia overshot their targets of 200 MT and 1,000 MT,
respectively.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 3
Seed Co Zambia’s success is followed closely by Lake Agriculture’s accomplishments. Having
planted three fields in Mkushi, Kabwe and Lusaka with their Lake 601 hybrid maize seed
variety, Lake Agriculture met their scale-up target by producing 850 MT and exporting 570 MT
to Mozambique using the SADC seed labels and certificate. The remaining 280 MT is slated
for trade on the local Zambian market. Additionally, Lake Agriculture has expressed interest
in producing publicly bred improved sugar bean variety, NUA 45, currently produced by
Zimbabwe Super Seeds, during the 2021/2022 season with a goal of producing 200 MT for
export to Lesotho and Swaziland. The Project coordinated a meeting between Lake Agriculture
and SCCI in Q4 2021, and SCCI approved the production using the trade name “Mbereshi” on
the Zambian market, and only restricted the company from producing in and trading to
Zimbabwe where Zimbabwe Super Seeds is already present. Further, Lake Agriculture has
agreed to co-share SADC Seed Variety Catalogue registration and maintenance fees of NUA
45 with Zimbabwe Super Seeds.
Zimbabwe Super Seeds also successfully scaled up production of their sugar bean seed,
however, it was to a lesser extent due to COVID lockdowns in-country throughout 2021. By
close of the calendar year, ZSS confirmed production of 209 MT of NUA 45, which is shy of
their 300 MT target, but 5 percent higher than their pilot quantity. Zimbabwe’s Ministry of
Agriculture also restricted ZSS’s export of the seed due to local demand. The Ministry issued
an export permit for 20 MT to Mozambique, despite an original order for 60 MT. The export
will be moved using the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
labels and International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) certificates while the Seed Services
Institute (SSI), Zimbabwe’s National Seed Authority (NSA), simultaneously makes progress on
designing their SADC seed label and certificate following their recent, October 2021, accession
to the SADC HSRS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The remaining 189 MT of the
improved sugar bean seed will remain on Zimbabwe’s local market for trade.
The combined pilot and scale-up productions total 2,810 MT of high-quality seed (624 percent
above LOP target) for a total value of , which surpasses the LOP target by nearly
500 percent. Given the U.S. Government’s initial investment during the pilot phase, this total
also marks a 564 percent of leveraged investment.
Scale-up production targets for 2020/21
Company Crop Variety Country of
Production
Pilot Quantity in
MT (2018 - 2020)
Scale-Up Quantity
(2020/2021)
% Increase from
Pilot Production
Seed Co Zambia Maize: SC 637,
and SC 719 Zambia
226 1,050 365%
Lake Agriculture Maize: Lake 601 Zambia 250 850 240%
Zimbabwe Super Seeds Sugar Bean:
NUA 45 Zimbabwe
200 209 5%
Grand Total 701 2,109
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 4
2. SADC Seed Producers are Registering Improved Seed
Varieties to the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue
As a way of giving farmers across SADC equal access to high-quality seed and seed producers
access to all 16 SADC markets, the Seed Trade Project gave considerable energy to working
with private sector and the SADC Seed Centre to get new and improved seed varieties
registered on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue. The Seed Trade Project has engaged with
four seed companies, one of which is new, and 12 improved seed varieties are in the pipeline
at different stages of approval.
Of the 12 new varieties, five (5) have full and approved application documents, only pending
listing. These include three (3) soybean seeds by Seed Co Zambia (SC Safari, SC Spike and
SC Sentinel); one (1) vitamin-A enriched orange maize public-bred variety, GV637A, by the
new entrant, Advanta Seeds; and one (1) sugar bean variety, Lake 101, by Lake Agriculture.
This increases the number of varieties approved by the SADC Seed Centre from 91 to 96.
Seed Co Zambia has four (4) other maize seed varieties applications, SC555, SC553, SC547
and SC449, on hold by the SADC Seed Centre pending submission of missing information.
The remaining three (3) varieties by Corteva Agriscience Zambia are: PAN 53 and PAN 3M-
05 (maize) and PAN 148 (sugar bean).
To show the interest generated by the production and trade of seed under the HSRS, SADC
Member States and private sector have requested that the application process be fully moved
online via the revamped SADC Seed Centre website, allowing them to fill out the form, upload
documentation and pay fees securely online. While this is all possible, the Project is unable to
see it through due to closing. However, the team has taken steps to provide the SADC Seed
Centre with a scope of work (SoW) for the upgrades and transitioned the web developer so he
can work directly with SADC once the Seed Centre can collect fees. Further, the SoW calls for
the application to be backed into the SADC Seed Variety Database so that SADC Seed Centre
personnel do not have to manually re-enter application information and seed characteristics,
which will significantly cut down on administrative time, costs, and expedite the approval
process.
Additionally, in Q4 2021, the Seed Trade Project co-hosted a Seed Producer Webinar with the
SADC Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Resources (FANR) Directorate, attracting 58 participants
from seed companies across the SADC region. In preparation for this event, the Project
produced three informational videos specifically for seed producers. They include: (i) Benefits
of the Producing and Exporting Improved Seed Under the SADC HSRS; (ii) Business Case for
Seed Producers; and (iii) a Tutorial for Registering New Seed Varieties to the Regional
Catalogue. Links to the videos can be found in Annex C. The videos will live on the SADC
Seed Centre website being finalized by the Project.
While the number of seed varieties listed on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue remains at 91,
the actual approved stands at 96 including the five (5) approved pending listing, this figure
marks a 284 percent increase from the 2016 baseline of 25 varieties. Once the seven (7)
pending varieties are approved and all are added to the regional catalogue, 103 varieties will
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 5
be accessible to SADC farmers and 15 companies will be engaged with seed variety
registration and release.
3. Technology Transfers Expand National Capacity for Safe
International Seed Trade
The Seed Trade Project achieved another notable milestone in 2021 – the procurement and
delivery of modern seed testing laboratory equipment and pest and plant disease testing
equipment to Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. The Project has recognized that effective
and sustainable implementation of the SADC HSRS requires robust institutional capabilities
within SADC Member States. This is in terms of both a critical mass of competences and
availability of modern equipment along the seed value chain. Given considerable supply chain
challenges due to COVID, the Project faced several barriers to ensure delivery before close-
down. However, it has pressed onward and delivered on all but one commitment.
In Malawi, the Seed Trade
Project completed the delivery of
all seed testing equipment to the
Chitedze Seed Testing
Laboratory, outfitted the lab with
an industrial generator to curb
power outages, and provided IT
equipment to ensure full
implementation of the Online
Seed Certification System. In Q4
2021, the Project confirmed the
delivery of the final tranche of
pest and plant disease testing
equipment in-country, and it is
currently awaiting routine clearance by Malawi’s National Plant Protection Organization
(NPPO) under the Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS), after which the
equipment will be delivered to target border post and entry/exit points. To close-down activities
and accommodate COVID restrictions, the Project developed a technology transfer video and
media package in lieu of a formal handover event. Both the video and media package are with
USAID Mission in Malawi for approval.
Similar to Malawi, the Seed Trade Project completed the transfer of seed testing equipment to
the Chimoio Regional Seed Testing Laboratory in Mozambique and provided the lab with an
industrial back-up generator to curb power failures. Additionally, to strengthen the
operationalization of the Online Seed Certification System in Mozambique, the Project
supported the National Directorate of Agrarian Services (DNSA), Mozambique’s NSA, to
conduct a monitoring visit to satellite laboratories and seed companies in Nampula from June
8 – 11 and Chimoio from June 14 – 18, 2021. The purpose of the visits was to evaluate the
implementation of the System, assess any challenges, and identify areas for improvement.
Also, much like Malawi, the Project procured and delivered pest and plant disease testing
equipment to the Departamento de Sanidade Vegetal, Mozambique’s NPPO, in Q4 2021. This
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 6
equipment is in country awaiting clearance before being delivered and installed at target border
posts and points of entry/exit. To formally conclude the Seed Trade Project’s activities in
Mozambique, the Project coordinated a handover event in Maputo in November. During this
event, the USG through Ms. Mary Hobbs, Director of Office of Economic Growth, announced
the transfer of nearly USD $200,000 worth in technology to the Government of the Republic of
Mozambique’s (GRM) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
In Zambia, the Seed Trade Project completed the procurement and delivery of a digital
microscope to the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI), Zambia’s NSA, in Q1 2021.
The digital microscope is already improving SCCI’s ability to conduct purity testing, increasing
its proficiency in Other Seed Determination (OSD) tests and their ability to meet other
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) requirements. As with Malawi and Mozambique,
the Project has procured and delivered pest and plant disease testing equipment to the Zambia
Agriculture Research Institute’s (ZARI) Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service (PQPS),
Zambia’s NPPO – it currently awaits clearance by the NPPO and will move onward to target
border posts.
The only outstanding commitment the Seed Trade Project continues to push on is a state-of-
the-art bacterial wilt testing set for potato seed intended for the Zimbabwe Potato Seed
Companies Association (ZPSCA) laboratory. Due to supply chain problems related to COVID,
delays were experienced in the delivery of the equipment, but the Seed Trade Project is
confident this will be achieved.
With these latest technology transfers in 2021, the Project has exceeded its LOP target by
two for a LOP total of 12, representing a 120 percent achievement of the LOP target. Further,
the conclusion of these grants and final disbursements brings the total value of grants
distributed t surpassing the LOP target by close to Collectively, these
technologies are meant to increase human and institutional capacity to test and trade high-
quality seed within the SADC region, update laboratories with modern equipment, and
establish systems that support the sustainable implementation of the SADC HSRS.
Below is a snapshot of the Seed Trade Project’s progress against all indicators followed
by progress by activity. Additionally, Sections 2 and 3 of this report provide more details
regarding the abovementioned accomplishments and highlights other work by the Seed Trade
Project team, by indicator and cross-cutting activities.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 7
PROGRESS BY INDICATOR: AT-A-GLANCE
Indicator
2021 Life of Project (LOP)
Target Results Percent
Achieved
Target
Cumulative
Results
Percent
Achieved
1 EG.3-507-CUST: Quantity of High-quality Seed Traded Under
HSRS by Crop
300 2,109 703% 450 2,810 624.4%
2 EG.3-1-c: Value of Targeted Agricultural Commodities Exported
with USG Assistance
497.6%
3 EG.3.2: Number of Individuals Participating in USG Food
Security Programs (IM-Level)
100 173 173% 1,669 2,156 129.2%
4 EG.3-501-CUST: Sustainable Business Model for Regional
Seed Release and Certification Operational
1 0 0% 1 1 100%
5 EG.3-502-CUST: Percent of Regional HSR Administrative
System Costs Covered by Revenues Generated
50% 0% 0% 50% 0% 0%
6 EG.3-505-CUST: Number of Seed Companies Engaged in
Regional Seed Varietal Release
2 0 0% 10 15 150%
7 EG.3-506-CUST: Number of Technologies or Management
Practices Made Available as a Result of USG Assistance
3 3 100% 10 12 120%
8 EG.3.1-14: Value of New USG Commitments and Private Sector
Investment Leveraged by the USG to Support Food Security
and Nutrition (IM-Level)
563.8%
9 EG.3.1-12: Number of Agricultural and Nutrition Enabling
Environment Policies Analyzed, Consulted on, Drafted or
Revised, Approved and Implemented with USG Assistance
1 3 300% 3 36 1,200%
10 EG.3-17-CUST: Number of Food Security Private Enterprises
(For Profit), Producers’ Organizations, Water Users’
Associations, Women’s Groups, Trade and Business
Associations, and Community-based Organizations (CBOs)
Receiving USG Assistance
10 52* 520% 120 201 167.5%
11 EG.3-508-CUST: Value of Grants Distributed 102.1%
*=20 new and 32 continuing/repeat organization
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 8
PROGRESS BY ACTIVITY: 2021 ANNUAL WORKPLAN AT-A-GLANCE
In line with the 2021 Seed Trade Project Work Plan, below is the brief status update for each activity, and includes a short review of work already done, progress by an estimated percent completed, and anticipated timeframes for completion, if possible, before official close-down on March 10, 2022.
No. Activity Description Progress
Status Update
MALAWI
4.1.1 Facilitate and technically support the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture to enable them to advocate for the expedited promulgation of the Malawi Seed Bill
100% On October 22, 2021, the Seed Trade Project partnered with the Seed Trade Association of Malawi (STAM) to successfully facilitate a high-level meeting to advance the approval process for the Malawi Seed Bill among Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture. The main objective of the meeting was to prepare Parliamentarians for debate with the hope of passing the Bill and onward movement to the House for approval. The event attracted 66 participants including 20 Members of Parliament (MPs). As a follow-up activity, on December 9, 2021, Malawi’s DARS, through the SSU, met with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MOJCA) to discuss some areas of clarification in the draft Malawi Seed Bill. DARS hopes the Bill will be tabled in Parliament in the February 2022 seating.
4.1.2a Operationalization of the Online Seed Certification System in Malawi
100% SSU and seed company staff have been trained and are proficient in the use of the System. Further, the seed sector stakeholders have received training and are using the System as designed.
4.1.2b Evaluation of the Online Seed Certification System in Malawi
95% The Seed Trade Project engaged the Malawi seed sector stakeholders to review the performance of the Online Seed Certification System. The Project responded to questions raised by stakeholders, as well as issues raised during the evaluation of the System. Further, there should have been a joint technical support visit to SSU and selected seed company sites to experience first-hand the functionality of the System. However, the visit could not be conducted due to COVID-19 restrictions in the country. In a bid to get more detailed feedback, the Project developed and shared electronic questionnaires with the Malawi NSA and STAM and the two institutions are yet to respond.
4.1.3 Facilitate handover event of the Online Seed Certification System and seed testing equipment to the Malawi Government
95% The Online Seed Certification System is operational and the seed testing equipment for the SSU laboratory was procured and delivery confirmed. The Project is also in the process of finalizing the procurement of plant pests and disease testing equipment for the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) under the DARS for selected strategic border posts and seed entry/exit points. The Seed Trade Project was scheduled to facilitate the U.S. Government’s official handover of the both the Online Seed Certification System and the procured equipment to the Government of Malawi. However, rather than host an event in Lilongwe during this fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, the Seed Trade Project and the USAID Mission in Malawi and the regional Mission agreed to develop an electronic package (video and media package) in lieu of the handover event for distribution on both social and traditional media channels. The Package was developed, cleared by USAID Regional Mission for Southern Africa and handed over to the USAID Mission in Malawi where it awaits approval.
MOZAMBIQUE
4.2.1 Support NSA to host the second course for private seed inspectors
100% The NSA conducted the course from August 9 to 20, 2021. This exercise is expected to contribute toward increased seed inspection and certification capacity in the field, thereby improving seed quality in the country.
4.2.2 In partnership with Ministry of Industry and Trade, convene a stakeholder validation workshop for the reviewed plant protection regulations
100% The workshop took place on April 13, 2021. The plant protection regulations have since been reviewed and validated.
4.2.3 Upscaling the Operationalization of the Online Seed Certification System
100% The Project’s Mozambique country advisor and the NSA conducted monitoring visits to Nampula from June 8 - 11 and Chimoio from June 14 – 18, 2021, noting a few technical challenges in the process. The system is 100% paperless in Manica, while it is still partly paper-based in Nampula. Recommendations were
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 9
made to the NSA to fully operationalize the system and those updates have been made.
4.2.4 Support NSA and APROSE to convene a national policy meeting to review the implementation of the recommendations drawn from the assessment report on Mozambique’s Seed Legal and Regulatory System
100% The Seed Specialist and Legal Expert that were recruited by the Seed Trade Project to consolidate recommendations from the legal and regulatory framework of Mozambique’s seed sector completed in 2018 and other related studies, concluded the assignment by drafting the revised regulations per the recommendations the report and subsequent policy briefs and holding a validation workshop with 25 seed stakeholders on November 9, 2021. The Project anticipates that these revised regulations will be gazetted as Ministerial diplomas.
4.2.5 Capacity-building on the use of the installed seed laboratory equipment in Chimoio, Manica
100% The equipment supplier conducted a virtual training with the NSA on the proper use of laboratory equipment in June 2021. The NSA is, therefore, geared for effective and sustainable use and management of the equipment.
4.2.6 Build institutional capacity of the National Plant Protection Organizations through procurement of pests and diseases testing equipment for the border posts’ plant protection inspectors
90% The pest and plant disease testing equipment has been successfully procured and delivered to Maputo via DHL. It is now awaiting routine clearance by the NPPO and from there will be delivered to targeted posts. Once the border posts receive the equipment, the NPPO border staff will be trained/orientated virtually on how to use the equipment on a per need basis.
ZAMBIA
4.3.1 Capacity strengthening of private seed sector stakeholders on the approved SIs on Plant Pests and Diseases (Phytosanitary Procedure)
100% The Zambian NPPO and the NSA jointly conducted the workshop in March 2021. All plant health inspectors and seed companies in Zambia were sensitized/trained on the implementation of the Seed Trade Project supported Statutory Instrument No. 68 of 2020: The Plant and Diseases (Phytosanitary Certification) (General) Regulations of 2020.
4.3.2 Upscaling seed production and export under the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory System
100% Lake Agriculture, Seed Co Zambia, and Zimbabwe Super Seeds have all successfully completed their scale-up productions and/or exports as of the end of 2021. Lake Agriculture produced 850 MT of Lake 601 hybrid maize seed and exported 570 MT to Mozambique in September 2021. Seed Co Zambia produced and exported 1,050 MT of hybrid maize seed to the DRC
4.3.3 Capacity strengthening of the NPPO on rapid and accurate diagnosis of plant pests and diseases at key border posts
90% The pest and plant disease testing equipment has been successfully procured and delivered to Lusaka via DHL. It is now awaiting routine clearance by the NPPO and from there will be delivered to targeted posts. Once the border posts receive the equipment, the NPPO border staff will be trained/orientated virtually on how to use the equipment on a per need basis
4.3.4* Facilitate and technically support the SCCI and Ministry of Justice to review the Zambia Seed Law
100% The meeting took place from September 21-24, 2021 to review and revise the Zambia Seed Law following gaps identified during the pilot and subsequent scale-up of the SADC HSRS. Following the review and revision, the Ministry of Justice finalized the document and resubmitted to the Ministry of Agriculture for final review and onward submission to the Minister of Agriculture for signature. This is the final step before submitting the Bill to Parliament for possible enactment.
* = not initially part of the workplan, but was included later as it was necessary to facilitate the Seed Trade Project’s work
ZIMBABWE
4.4.1 Advocating accession of Zimbabwe to SADC seed harmonization MOU and facilitate the implementation of the procedures into the normal operations of variety release, seed certification and seed health
100%
The President approved Zimbabwe’s accession to the SADC HSRS MoU. The government through its Embassy in Botswana on 10 November 2021 wrote to SADC submitting Zimbabwe’s Instruments of Accession to which receipt on 12 November 2021 and welcomed Zimbabwe. Simultaneously, the Project piloted and scaled up production and export of improved seed under the SADC HSRS in partnership with Zimbabwe Super Seeds, which has been reported extensively in earlier sections of the report.
4.4.2 Facilitate development of the National Seed Policy
50% The Zimbabwe Seed Association (ZSA) drafted a position paper but could not proceed with the activity due to COVID-19 restrictions and subsequent time constraints ahead of the close down of the Seed Trade Project. The activity was therefore discontinued.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 10
4.3.2* Upscaling seed production and export under the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory System
100% Zimbabwe Super Seeds Cooperative Company produced 209 MT of sugar bean seed but was only permitted to export 20 MT to Mozambique, leaving 189 MT to be sold on the local market. In Q2, the Project facilitated a virtual field visit for the SADC Seed Centre Coordinator to four Zimbabwe Super Seeds sugar bean SADC HSRS certified seed production fields in Masvingo West, Zimbabwe. This virtual visit came in the wake of SADC’s indefinite ban on international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic which curtailed the Coordinator’s planned in-person visit. The purpose of the virtual field visit was to give the Seed Centre Coordinator an opportunity to monitor progress of scale-up efforts and transition ownership and oversight to the SADC Seed Centre.
* = not initially part of the workplan, but was included later on as it was necessary to facilitate the Seed Trade Project Work
REGIONAL
4.5.1 Support the convening of the SADC Seed Technical Meeting and the SADC Seed Committee Meeting in 2021
50% The meeting took place virtually from August 23 - 24, 2021 where participants made key decisions about the operationalization of the SADC Seed Centre, chiefly allowing the Centre to charge fees. A second meeting, which SADC FANR wanted to be in person, was planned for November 2021 but did not take place due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Seed Trade Project was prepared to support the meeting.
4.5.2 Operationalize the SADC Seed Centre
80% The August SADC Technical Meeting reaffirmed the recommendation that the SADC Seed Centre begin charging fees as it operates under the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC). SADC is finalizing internal modalities for the Centre to start charging the stipulated fees per the SADC Seed Centre Sustainability Business Model and its Implementation Plan.
4.5.3 Updating and migration of the SADC Seed Centre Website
90% The SADC Technical Meeting reviewed and provided feedback to the draft website during the August 23 – 24 meeting and through a guided questionnaire that was distribute after the meeting. All final edits and quality assurance (QA) processes have been completed. The Project is awaiting approval from the SADC Seed Centre to transfer hosting and out of pocket costs related to the website, at which point, all maintenance of the site will be turned over to the Centre. Further, Centre Coordinator Ms. Tilabilenji Phiri and the SADC SPGRC Technical Officer Documentation and Information Mr. Mike Daka received training on how to administer and update the revamped website. Formal launch will occur once SADC pays the invoice for the domain name and all parties have approved the site’s contents.
4.5.4 Quarterly meetings with the SADC Seed Centre and SPGRC to track progress
100% The Seed Trade Project Technical staff had all four quarterly meetings with the SADC Seed Centre and SPGRC staff during the reporting year. Ad hoc meetings were also held with the SADC Seed Centre Coordinator to discuss and address urgent matters that could not wait for the scheduled quarterly meetings.
4.5.5 Regional training on regional guidelines for Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures for Seed
100% Originally slated for May 2021, this activity moved due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. This training was conducted virtually from December 6 – 8, 2021 with 47 participants using the Zoom platform. The Seed Trade Project fully supported the training which involved nominated participants from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia NPPOs.
4.5.6 Finalize and assist the SADC Seed Centre and Member States to populate the Regional Seed Information Database
90% The Seed Trade Project shared the draft database template during the August 23-24 SADC Seed Technical Committee Meeting. The Project further facilitated a session and distributed a questionnaire to refine the data collection fields as well as frequency of collection. The draft database was reviewed and approved during the Technical Meeting, so the next steps will be for the SADC Secretariat to put out a data request to all SADC Member States to populate the fields and for the database to be migrated and integrated into the revamped SADC Seed Centre website.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 11
SECTION 2.0. PROGRESS BY INDICATOR
2.1 Indicator Progress
The Seed Trade Project focused on
implementation and operationalization of the
SADC HSRS in 2021, ensuring the system
continued to gain momentum among all SADC
Member States and private sector. To achieve
this, the Project continued building the human
and institutional capacities of the SADC Seed
Centre, National Seed Authorities (NSAs),
National Plant Protection Organization
(NPPOs), seed producers and other actors in
the SADC seed value chain. This resulted in
strengthening seed systems for regional variety release, seed certification and quality
assurance, and quarantine and phytosanitary measures for seed; stimulated public-private
engagements to implement the SADC HSRS; triggered private sector investments;
encouraged public-private investment in the transfer of seed technologies to target SADC
countries; and strengthened SADC’s capacity for inclusive and evidence-based policy
planning.
This approach is expected to lead to safer, seamless seed trade among SADC Member
States, increasing access to improved, more resilient, high yielding seed varieties that
possess the desirable characteristics for satisfactory crop yields, both in quantity and quality,
among smallholder farmers. Ultimately, it is envisaged that this will improve incomes, food
and nutritional security, and lower poverty levels. Sustained implementation of the SADC
HSRS will further ensure growth in the region’s agricultural sector to support the continued
rise in both regional and global populations while addressing climate-related pressures.
Further, the Seed Trade Project tracks several indicators that speak to its overall goal of
increasing productivity through the trade of resilient, high-quality seed varieties, enabled
through various activities, ranging from policy reviews through technology transfers to
capacity-building of value chain actors. Therefore, this section describes the progress made
toward achieving this goal, reporting by indicator, and disaggregated by the Project’s central
goal and the three core objectives during the reporting period, January 1 to December 31,
2021. Please see Annex A: Summary of Results for detailed results by year.
GOAL: Increased Seed Trade Across the SADC Region
2.2.1 OBJECTIVE 1: Increased Availability of Improved Seeds in the Region
EG.3-507-CUST: Quantity of High-quality Seed Traded Under HSRS by Crop
The Seed Trade Project successfully pressure-tested the SADC HSRS with private seed
companies, which demonstrated value to both private sector and national governments. The
Project did this by awarding four strategic grants to: one multinational seed company (Seed
Co Zambia in 2018) and three emerging seed companies in 2019 (Lake Agriculture of Zambia,
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 12
Peacock Seeds of Malawi, and Zimbabwe
Super Seeds of Zimbabwe) to pilot the
SADC Seed Certification and Quality
Assurance System by producing and
exporting improved seed to the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) and
Mozambique.
As a result of these pilot productions, the
seed companies collectively produced 701
metric tons (MT) of high-quality seed
following the SADC HSRS, and exported
516 MT seamlessly, using the SADC seed
labels and certificates. The rest of the seed remained on local seed markets for trade.
Through improved yields, increased return on investments, and greater access to all 16 SADC
Member States’ markets, three of the pilot companies (Lake Agriculture, Seed Co Zambia and
Zimbabwe Super Seeds) scaled-up seed production and trade under the SADC HSRS during
the 2020/21 planting season using their own resources. The Seed Trade Project, SADC Seed
Centre, the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) of Zambia, and the Zimbabwe Seed
Services Institute (SSI) continued providing technical support, and worked with the seed
companies throughout production, processing, packaging, and export of the seed
consignments.
In Q1 of 2021, the Seed Trade Project supported the SCCI to train 30 new inspectors for Seed
Co Zambia and new seed growers for Lake Agriculture on the general concepts of the SADC
HSRS and how to comply with its seed certification and quality assurance guidelines. The
Project also supported the SADC Seed Centre Coordinator to conduct physical field visits to
selected Lake Agriculture and Seed Co Zambia maize fields in Mkushi, Serenje, Kabwe, and
Lusaka from April 12 -15, 2021. Similarly, the Seed Trade Project organized a virtual visit for
the Coordinator to selected Zimbabwe Super Seeds smallholder outgrowers’ sugar bean fields
in Masvingo South District in Zimbabwe on June 10, 2021. These field visits allowed the SADC
Seed Centre Coordinator to review the progress of the scale-up efforts and ensure adherence
to SADC HSRS protocols, ascertain the accuracy of data around potential yields, and ensure
compliance with the SADC Seed Certification and Quality Assurance Guidelines.
In Q3 2021, Lake Agriculture processed 850 metric
tons (MT) of hybrid maize seed, Lake 601, under
the SADC HSRS, and exported 570 MT of the
improved seed to Mozambique, while 280 MT
remained on the Zambian market for local trade. All
produced seed bore the SADC seed label and
carried the SADC seed certificates.
In Q4 2021, Seed Co Zambia and Zimbabwe Super
Seeds successfully harvested, processed and
marketed their hybrid maize and sugar bean seed,
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 13
respectively. While falling short of the 300 MT target due to the impact of COVID lockdowns,
Zimbabwe Super Seeds produced 209 MT under the SADC HSRS. Due to local demand, the
Zimbabwean government restricted the company’s export permit to 20 MT to Mozambique
(despite an official order for 60 MT) and opted to use the OECD labels and ISTA Certificates
on which the SADC HSRS is benchmarked. Conversely, Seed Co Zambia exceeded its 1,000
MT goal and produced 1,050 MT of hybrid maize seed, exporting the total amount to the DRC.
As a result, the Seed Trade Project recorded an additional 1,259 MT of high-quality seed
produced and traded during Q4, for a total of 2,109 MT during 2021. This increased the Seed
Trade Project’s LOP achievement for this indicator to 624.4 percent.
Quantity (MT) of high-quality seed traded under the SADC HSRS by crop
2021 Target 300
Q4 2021 Result 1,259
2021 YTD 2,109
LOP Target 450
LOP Results 2,810
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 624.4%
EG.3-1-c: Value of Targeted Agricultural Commodities Exported with USG Assistance
The increased value of high-quality seed traded under the SADC HSRS will translate into a
more competitive market among seed producers, giving farmers access to more diverse, high
quality improved seed and eventually leading to increased agricultural productivity, food and
nutritional security, and incomes. It will further promote the registration and release of more
seed varieties on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue, and in turn, create more revenue for the
SADC Seed Centre to sustain its operation, as detailed in the SADC Seed Centre
Sustainability Business Model and its Implementation Plan.
In Q3 2021, Lake Agriculture processed a total of 850 MT of improved maize seed valued at
Of that 850 MT, the company exported 570 MT valued at to
Mozambique in September 2021, with no clearing issues at the border. The remaining 280 MT
valued at remained on the local Zambian seed market for sale. Compared to Lake
Agriculture’s pilot production in 2019/2020 of 250 MT, the 850 MT scale-up production marked
a 240 percent increase.
On the left, local supply of 5-kilogram (kg) bags of Lake 601 hybrid maize seed with the SADC Seed Labels. On the right, sample of treated
maize seed with a glossy substance added to distinguish it from fake seed. Photo: Seed Trade Project
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 14
In addition to using SADC seed labels and certificates, Lake Agriculture added a security
feature by applying a glossy substance for a shiny appearance and further distinguishing it
from fake seed.
In its bid to continue and diversify seed production using the SADC HSRS Seed Certification
and Quality Assurance System, Lake Agriculture sought guidance from the Seed Trade Project
in Q4 2021 about the possibility of producing the publicly bred sugar bean seed, variety NUA
45, during the 2021/2022 growing season. The company intends to produce a minimum of
200 MT of the sugar bean seed in Zambia for export to Lesotho and Swaziland, where
discussions are ongoing for a 178 MT order. Accordingly, the Seed Trade Project facilitated a
meeting between Lake Agriculture and the SCCI to discuss the issue in detail. Subsequently,
the SCCI and Lake Agriculture met on October 15 and determined that Lake Agriculture could
proceed with the NUA 45 production using the trade name of ‘Mbereshi’ on the Zambian
market. However, SCCI restricted production in and trade to Zimbabwe, where Zimbabwe
Super Seeds is already producing NUA 45 under the SADC HSRS after registering it on the
SADC Seed Variety Catalogue in 2019. These issues will be tabled for discussion at SADC
level to ensure fairness and healthy competitions by seed companies. Further, Lake Agriculture
is required to co-share associated registration, maintenance, and other fees as they relate to
the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue with Zimbabwe Super Seeds.
Also, in Q4 2021, Zimbabwe Super Seeds confirmed production of 209 MT of SADC-certified
sugar bean seed, NUA 45, valued at Sugar bean is normally planted in February in
the SADC region. By the close of the reporting period, ZSS had already received a 60 MT
order from Mozambique value r ton, but the Zimbabwe Ministry of Agriculture
only approved an export permit for 20 MT due to local demand. Therefore, the remaining seed
will be sold in Zimbabwe per ton under the OECD labels.
Finally, Seed Co Zambia exceeded their 1,000 MT production goal by 50 MT. All 1050 MT of
hybrid maize seed was exported to the DRC.
Zimbabwe Super Seeds’ NUA 45 SADC certified sugar bean seed processed and packaged in readiness for export to
Mozambique. Photo Credit: Zimbabwe Super Seeds
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 15
Value (US$) of seed traded (exports and local sales) by crop, country and quantity (MT)
Crop Company Countr
Exports Local Sales Total
Maize Seed Co Zambia
Maize Lake Agri. Zambia
Maize Peacock Malawi
Sugar Bean
ZSS Zimbab
Maize Lake Agri. Zambia
Maize Seed Co Zambia
Sugar Bean
ZSS Zimbab
Grand Total
This brings the Seed Trade Project’s achievement of its LOP target for this indicator to 497.6
percent.
Value (US $) of targeted agricultural commodities exported with USG assistance
2021 Target
Q4 2021 Result
2021 YTD
LOP Target
LOP Results
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 497.6%
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 16
Sub-IR 1.1. Increase Human Capacities
EG.3.2: Number of Individuals Participating in USG Food Security Programs (IM-Level)
Building the human capacities of NSAs, NPPOs, National Seed Trade Associations, seed
companies, and other seed sector actors is essential to the sustainable implementation of the
SADC HSRS. Managers and users of the System need to possess the necessary technical
knowledge to implement all three components of the Technical Agreements on Harmonization
of Seed Regulations in the SADC Region and the field guidelines that operationalize them, so
as to be functional at both the national and regional levels. To this end, the Seed Trade Project
continued engaging various seed sector stakeholders in its focus countries for capacity
building purposes. This is meant to improve the national systems as a way of reinforcing
sustainable implementation of the SADC HSRS beyond the life of the Project.
In 2021, the Seed Trade Project continued strengthening the human and institutional capacities
at national and regional levels. In Malawi, the support included training the SSU staff on the
Online Seed Certification System in Q1; training private sector personnel on the Online Seed
Certification System in Q2; and convening and sensitizing Parliamentarians on the Malawi
Seed Bill in Q4.
Similarly, the Seed Trade Project facilitated several trainings in Mozambique to ensure a
strengthen seed sector. These events included the Plant Protection Regulations Stakeholder
Validation Workshop in Q2; the Second Course for Private Seed Inspectors in Q3, as well as
the Technology Handover Event to Advance Seed Trade in Q4; and the Validation Workshop
for the Proposed Amendments to the Seed Regulations, Decree 12/2013 of April 10 also in
Q4.
Zambia also continued to push for the full legal backing of its SADC HSRS domestication
status. As such, the Seed Trade Project in partnership with SCCI trained seed growers and
inspectors as well as hosting a private sector awareness creation workshop about the revised
Phytosanitary Certification Regulations, the Statutory Instrument No. 68 of 2020: The Plant
and Diseases (Phytosanitary Certification) (General) Regulations of 2020, in Q1; conducted
physical learning and capacity building field visits to the SADC HSRS seed production fields
by the SADC Seed Centre Coordinator in Q2; and facilitated a review meeting to update the
Seed Law based on gaps observed during the piloting and scale up of the SADC HSRS in
Q3.Lastly, several events targeted participants from either the four focus countries or the
regional level. These included the SADC Seed Technical Committee meeting in Q3, and the
Seed Producers’ Webinar, Pest Risk Analysis training and the SADC Seed Centre staff training
on the revamped SADC Seed Centre Website, all in Q4.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 17
The activities listed above allowed close to 700 people from public, private and civil society
institutions to participate in Seed Trade Project activities. However, the majority of these were
not first-time participants; and only 173 (52 females; 121 males) participated in Seed Trade
Project activities for the first time in 2021. This means that the Project achieved 173 percent
of the 2021 target set at 100 for this indicator. To date, 2,156 people (671 females; 1,485
males), cumulatively, have participated in Seed Trade Project food security programs from
Project inception, representing 129.2 percent achievement of the LOP target set at 1,669.
Annex B provides more details.
Number of individuals participating in USG food security programs
2021 Target 100
Q4 2021 Result 58
2021 YTD 173
LOP Target 1,669
LOP Results 2,156
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 129.2%
Sub-IR 1.2. Strengthened Systems for Regional Variety Release, Certification
and Quality Assurance
EG.3-501-CUST: Sustainable Business Model for Regional Seed Release and
Certification Operational
The full operationalization of the
SADC Seed Centre continued to
be the Seed Trade Project’s focus
in 2021. This was one of the main
objectives of the August 23 -24
virtual SADC Seed Technical
Committee Meeting, which
validated and recommended that
the SADC Seed Centre starts
charging fees as it operates under
the SADC Plant Genetic
Resources Centre. The meeting
tasked the SADC Secretariat to
share the SADC Seed Centre
Sustainability Business Model
and its Implementation Plan with all Member States. This document details the chargeable
fees. After this, SADC is putting in place modalities for seed companies using the system to
start paying the necessary user fees to the SADC Seed Centre.
Further, the SADC Seed Technical Committee Meeting reviewed the beta site for the SADC
Seed Centre website and provided initial feedback. Once finalized, the website will enhance
the operations of the SADC Seed Centre, as it will make it easier for System users to receive
and provide information related to variety release, seed certification and quality assurance, and
quarantine and phytosanitary measures for seed. This will contribute to the sustainability of the
SADC HSRS in that improved information sharing will increase the System’s user base and
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 18
contribute to the reduction of costs related to seed trade in the region. This is envisaged to
ultimately reduce the cost of improved seed at farmer level.
Lastly, the SADC Seed Technical Meeting reviewed and validated the Technical Guidelines on
SADC Variety Testing and Release of Public-bred Varieties. These guidelines will allow many
emerging seed companies, who mainly rely on public varieties released by governments and
the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), to register varieties on
the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue and take advantage of the SADC HSRS to expand their
markets by trading regionally. This will further increase the number of varieties on the regional
catalogue, leading to the expansion of a revenue base for the SADC Seed Centre once the
Business Model and its Implementation Plan are fully implemented. Ultimately, this will lead to
a more sustainable way of serving various seed sector players to the greater benefit of the
agricultural sector and the people of the SADC region at-large.
Sustainable Business Model for Regional Seed Release and Certification Operational
2021 Target 1*
Q4 2021 Result 0
2021 YTD 0
LOP Target 1
LOP Results 1
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 100%
*The Seed Trade Project’s goal in 2021 is to ensure effective implementation of the Sustainable Business Model
through collection of fees by the SADC Seed Centre.
EG.3-502-CUST: Percent of Regional HSR Administrative System Costs Covered by
Revenues Generated
This indicator is closely linked to the fees charging component of indicator EG.3-501-CUST.
Therefore, progress toward its achievement largely depends on the SADC Seed Centre’s
ability to collect fees as described in the previous indicator. This is working progress as SADC
is putting in place modalities to have the Centre start collecting fees.
Percent of Regional HSR Administrative System Costs Covered by Revenues Generated
2021 Target 50%
Q4 2021 Result 0%
2021 YTD 0%
LOP Target 50%
LOP Results 0%
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 0%
The operationalization of the SADC Seed Centre Sustainability Business Model will ensure
that the SADC Seed Centre generates revenue from services rendered to Member States.
Some of these revenue streams include (but are not limited to): fees for registering new seed
varieties on the SADC Variety Catalogue; maintenance fees for the varieties on the Catalogue;
accreditation and training of inspectors; accreditation of laboratories; and fees for the use of
SADC seed labels. Revenue generated from these streams will directly support the operational
costs of the Centre as well as the system. It will also support verification of variety data;
communication with variety holders, NSAs, NPPOs, and other stakeholders; development and
maintenance of databases; updating of the SADC Seed Centre website and the convening of
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 19
meetings, among other activities. Therefore, the approval of the business model in June 2019
was a major step toward giving the SADC Seed Centre legal ground to collect revenue for the
services rendered to SADC Member States.
However, no SADC Member State has signed the Charter establishing the SADC Seed Centre,
which seriously curtails the powers of the Centre. From a legal point-of-view, the Centre has
no ground to charge the fees that are key for its long-term sustainability. As a result, the Seed
Trade Project could not deliver on this indicator until the Centre is enabled to collect such fees.
To solve this issue, the Seed Trade Project, in September 2019, proposed to SADC FANR a
solution that might enable the Centre to function pending the finalization of the Charter. The
Project then worked with the SADC Secretariat to have the Seed Centre incorporated within
the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC). This was endorsed by SADC Member
States at the October 2019 SADC Technical Meeting in Johannesburg and effected by SADC
FANR, which gave the Centre a legal standing to operate outside the Charter being signed.
An officer with the SPGRC was seconded to the SADC Seed Centre Coordinator role,
communicated to the Seed Trade Project by SADC FANR on January 31st, 2020. However,
the staff left SPGRC soon after the secondment giving a temporary setback, but a replacement
was hired and seconded to the Coordinator position in November 2020.
With the Coordinator in place, all the functions of the SADC Seed Centre are operational with
pointers to sustainability. However, no movement has been recorded on the critical area of the
Centre charging fees, a move key to the Centre’s sustainability. The Seed Trade Project
discussed the issue with SADC FANR, proposing that the matter be tabled before Member
States during the August 2021 SADC Seed Committee Meeting. The Member States resolved
that the Seed Centre may start charging fees while operating under the SPGRC. They, through
the SADC Seed Committee, tasked SADC to widely distribute the SADC Seed Centre
Sustainability Business Model and its Implementation Plan for stakeholders to familiarize with
the fees and functions of the Seed Centre. The Member States further tasked the SADC
Secretariat to come up with internal modalities for the Centre to collect the relevant fees, chiefly
how and where the funds are to be kept, using which accounts.
However, by November 2021, such modalities had not been put in place. The Seed Trade
Project, in February 2022 initiated a discussion with SADC on the possibility of tabling the
issue before the SADC Council of Ministers Responsible for Agriculture to speed up
implementation.
The Centre is yet to charge the fees and therefore the achievement against this indicator
remains at zero. Given the end of the project, this will require a follow up among stakeholders
and SADC for it to come to fruition.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 20
Sub-IR 1.3. Increased Public-Private Engagement in the Implementation of HSRS
EG.3-505-CUST: Number of Seed Companies Engaged in Regional Seed Varietal Release
During the reporting period, there were no new varieties listed on the SADC Seed Variety
Catalogue. However, five (5) were approved, and only listing is pending. These include three
(3) soybean seeds by Seed Co Zambia (SC Safari, SC Spike and SC Sentinel); one (1) vitamin-
A enriched orange maize public-bred variety, GV637A, by the new entrant, Advanta Seeds;
and one (1) sugar bean variety, Lake 101, by Lake Agriculture. Therefore, although the number
of seed varieties on the Catalogue remains at 91, a total 96 varieties have full approval and
can be traded regionally. Therefore, the number of variety holders (seed companies) moves
to 15, up from 14. The Seed Trade Project also made a recommendation to further streamline
the application and approval process by creating an online application where the application
itself, plus any accompanying documents and fees, can be done securely.
Of the 15 companies with approved varieties for listing on the SADC Seed Variety
Catalogue,14 of which are already listed, only three (Seed Co Zambia, Lake Agriculture, and
Zimbabwe Super Seeds) actively produced seed under the SADC HSRS during the reporting
period.
However, SADC Seed Centre and SCCI staff informed the Seed Trade Project that seven (7)
more applications have been received by 31 December 2021 pending finalization. Of the
seven, Seed Co Zambia has four (4) other maize seed varieties, SC555, SC553, SC547 and
SC449, pending submission of missing information, while Corteva Agriscience Zambia had the
remainder (3), namely PAN 53 and PAN 3M-05 (maize) and PAN 148 (sugar bean).
The SADC HSRS is truly gaining momentum based on the interest from the private sector for
regional release. This is attributed to the success of both the pilot and scale-up productions by
Seed Co Zambia, Lake Agriculture and Zimbabwe Super Seeds, which led to up to 365 percent
increase in the quantity of seed produced under the SADC HSRS and has allowed the three
companies to reap financial benefits from using the SADC seed labels and certificates for
regional seed trade.
Number of Seed Companies Engaged in Regional Seed Varietal Release
2021 Target 2
Q4 2021 Result 1
2021 YTD 1
LOP Target 10
LOP Results 15*
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 150%
*The total LOP results represent each seed company engaged at least one time, and does not assume quarterly or
annual double-counting of seed companies.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 21
2.2.2 OBJECTIVE 2: Increased Availability of Technologies, Management
Practices, and Innovation
EG.3-506-CUST: Number of Technologies or Management Practices Made Available as
a Result of USG Assistance
The Seed Trade Project has recognized that effective and sustainable implementation of the
SADC HSRS requires robust institutional capabilities within SADC Member States. This is in
terms of both a critical mass of competences and availability of modern equipment along the
seed value chain. Working closely with the SADC Seed Centre, the Project continued working
toward building the institutional capacities of the NSAs and NPPOs in focus countries to, at
least, meet the minimum requirements to effectively implement the SADC HSRS Seed Quality
Assurance Standards.
Over the course of 2021, the Seed Trade Project transferred numerous technologies to focus
countries, including:
Malawi: Between Q1 and Q2, the Seed Trade Project completed the transfer of the first and
second consignments of critical seed testing equipment to the Chitedze Seed Testing
Laboratory, which included: germination chambers, analytical balances, humidifiers,
desiccators, water distillers, microscopes, printers, computers, pH meters, sterilizers, and seed
counters, among other items. Further, the Project also outfitted the laboratory with an industrial
backup generator to ensure smooth operation and curb intermittent power outages. With the
scale-up and full operationalization of the Online Seed Certification in Malawi, the Project
transferred IT equipment inclusive of desktop computers and printers to the Chitedze Research
Station during the year, and in Q3, supported Malawi’s NSA to evaluate the performance of
the system. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this exercise happened electronically,
where seed companies and NSA staff submitted questions and proposals aimed at making the
System more user-friendly. The Seed Trade Project addressed the issues raised.
Lastly, the transfer of pest and plant disease testing equipment to Malawi’s NPPO was
advanced with this equipment having been delivered via DHL, is in country and awaiting routine
clearance by the NPPO. These will be installed at targeted border posts and entry/exit points.
From there, the Seed Trade Project will facilitate a training on the proper use and maintenance
of the equipment on per need basis.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 22
To conclude Project activities in Malawi and navigate COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Seed
Trade Project and both the Regional and Malawi USAID Missions agreed to a video and media
outreach in lieu of a formal handover event for the technologies. Both the video and media
package were cleared by the Regional Mission and are with USAID Mission in Malawi for
approval.
Mozambique: Similar to Malawi, the Seed Trade Project completed the transfer of the first
(Q1) and second (Q2) consignments of critical seed testing equipment to the Chimoio Regional
Seed Testing Laboratory in Manica Province of Mozambique. Like in Malawi, this equipment
included: germination chambers, analytical balances, humidifiers, desiccators, water distillers,
microscopes, printers, computers, pH meters, sterilizers, and seed counters, among other
items. The Project also procured and installed an industrial backup generator at the Chimoio
Lab to ensure smooth operation and curb intermittent power failures. Further, to strengthen
the operationalization of the Online Seed Certification System in Mozambique, the Project
supported the NSA to conduct a monitoring visit to satellite laboratories and seed companies
in Nampula from June 8 - 11 and Chimoio from June 14 – 18, 2021. The purpose of the visits
was to evaluate the implementation of the System and to assess any areas for improvement.
Finally, the Project has also procured and delivered (via DHL) pest and plant disease testing
equipment to Mozambique’s NPPO, the Departamento de Sanidade Vegetal. Much like
Malawi, this equipment is in-country awaiting routine clearance by the NPPO, and will be
installed at targeted border posts and entry/exit points. From there, the Seed Trade Project will
facilitate a training on the proper use and maintenance of the equipment.
To formally conclude the Seed Trade Project’s activities in Mozambique, the Project
coordinated a handover event in Maputo during Q4 2021. During this event, and through Ms
Mary Hobbs, Director of Office of Economic Growth at USAID Mission in Mozambique, the
USG announced the transfer of nearly USD worth in technology to the Government
of the Republic of Mozambique’s (GRM) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Zambia: In Zambia, the Seed Trade Project
completed the procurement and delivery of a
digital microscope to the NSA in Q1 2021. The
digital microscope is already improving SCCI’s
ability to conduct seed purity tests, increasing the
NSA’s proficiency in Other Seed Determination
(OSD) tests, a requirement by the International
Seed Testing Association (ISTA). The Project
further facilitated the virtual training of SCCI staff
on the operation of the new equipment. This
transfer has not only addressed the technology
gap at the Institute but has also strengthened the
NSA’s human and institutional capacity to meet
the requirements of the ISTA. It has also
strengthened the NSA’s position as a go-to
partner for the SADC Seed Centre, SADC
Member States and beyond, on seed testing
capacity-building matters.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 23
As with Malawi and Mozambique, the Seed Trade Project has also procured and delivered
pest and plant disease testing equipment to Zambia’s NPPO, the Plant Quarantine and
Phytosanitary Service (PQPS) of the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute’s (ZARI). The
equipment has been delivered in-country and awaits routine clearance by the PQPS, and
onward delivered to selected border posts and entry/exit points. From there, the Seed Trade
Project will facilitate a training on the proper use and maintenance of the equipment.
Zimbabwe: The Seed Trade Project has one final piece of equipment - a state-of-the-art
bacterial wilt testing set for potato seed - moving through the procurement process and
intended for the Zimbabwe Potato Seed Companies Association (ZPSCA) laboratory.
Unfortunately, there have been some challenges and delays in delivery from the selected
vendor, who is based in South Africa, due to COVID-19 restrictions impacting the supply chain.
However, the Project is confident that the equipment will be delivered in Q1 2022.
Collectively, these technologies are meant to increase human and institutional capacity to test
and trade high-quality seed within the SADC region and establish systems that support the
sustainable implementation of the SADC HSRS. Further, by updating laboratories with modern,
sophisticated equipment, digitizing systems, and training staff, the Project’s focus countries
are now enabled to meet both regional and international seed testing and general quality
assurance requirements and conduct their work more efficiently and at a lower cost.
Number of technologies or management practices made available as a result of USG assistance
2021 Target 3
Q4 2021 Result 0
2021 YTD 3
LOP Target 10
LOP Results 12
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 120%
Sub-IR 2.1. Increased Public-Private Investment in the Transfer of Technologies
EG.3.1-14: Value of New USG Commitments and Private Sector Investment Leveraged
by the USG to Support Food Security and Nutrition (IM-Level)
The Seed Trade Projec initial investments of U.S. Government resources into the
three seed companies that moved from the pilot phase to the scale-up phase— Seed Co
Zambia (2018), Lake Agriculture (2019) and Zimbabwe Super Seeds (2019) — continue to see
a return on investment, as private sector investments are leveraged.
The three seed companies followed through their initial investment by scaling-up production of
hybrid maize and improved sugar bean seeds under the SADC HSRS during the 2020/2021
planting season.
At the time of seed processing, the Seed Trade Project collected information
from the seed companies regarding the estimates of how much they had invested up to that
point and production forecasts.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 24
Value of USG and private sector investment vs value of seed produced during pilot production
Value of private sector investment vs value of seed produced during scale-up production
This represents a significant increase of Q4 2021 alone, up from
reported in Q2. With additional private sector players making investments, it is demonstrating
confidence that producing and trading improved seed under the SADC HSRS makes good
business sense. It is also an indication to other SADC seed companies that the upfront
investments will result in a favorable return.
Further, the Project expects that private sector engagement will boost the sustainability of the
SADC HSRS, making production and trade under the system commonplace, as more seed
producers realize the benefits firsthand. The engagement of more seed companies is also
expected to create an upward cycle of revenue for the SADC Seed Centre to meet the
System’s operational and administrative costs, thereby reducing and possibly eradicating the
need for external funding.
Value of Private Sector Investment Leveraged by the USG to Support Food Security and
2021 Target
Q4 2021 Result
2021 YTD
LOP Target
LOP Results
Percent of LOP Target Achieved
Company Crop Variety Country Qty.
(MT)
Value of
USG
Investment
Estimated Value
of Private Sector
Investment
Value of
Production
Return on
USG
Investment
Seed Co Maize: SC 637
and SC 719 Zambia 226 17%
Lake
Agriculture Maize: Lake 601 Zambia 250 81%
Zimbabwe
Super
Seeds
Sugar Bean:
NUA 45 Zimbabwe 200 78%
Peacock
Seeds CAP 9001 Malawi 25 1.8%
Grand Total 701
Company Crop Variety Country Qty.
(MT)
% Increase
from Pilot
Production
Estimated Value
of Private Sector
Investment
Value of
Production
Return on
Pvt. Sector
Investment
Seed Co Maize: SC 637
and SC 719 Zambia 1,050 365% 284%
Lake
Agriculture Maize: Lake 601 Zambia 850 240% 179%
Zimbabwe
Super
Seeds
Sugar Bean:
NUA 45 Zimbabwe 209 5% 421%
Grand Total 2,109
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 25
2.2.3 OBJECTIVE 3: Improved Regional Policies to Support Agricultural Growth
EG.3.1-12: Number of Agricultural and Nutrition Enabling Environment Policies
Analyzed, Consulted on, Drafted or Revised, Approved and Implemented with USG
Assistance
Alignment of national seed laws to the
regionally agreed guidelines is an
essential ingredient to guaranteeing
sustainability in the implementation of
the SADC HSRS. The process starts
with acknowledging the Memorandum of
Understanding on the Harmonization of
Seed Regulations in the Region.
Zimbabwe, though already having
regulations that are largely compliant to
the SADC HSRS, advanced toward this
important step in 2021.
During this reporting period, the President approved Zimbabwe’s accession to the SADC
HSRS MoU. The government through its Embassy in Botswana on November 10, 2021 wrote
to SADC submitting Zimbabwe’s Instruments of Accession to which SADC acknowledged
receipt on November 12, 2021 and welcomed Zimbabwe. This makes Zimbabwe the latest
SADC Member State to accede to the SADC HSRS MoU. By acceding to the SADC HSRS
MoU, Zimbabwe, a net seed exporter, will not only contribute to national and regional food
security, but will also be well-positioned to trade high-quality seed internationally. This
development was made possible with the support of the Seed Trade Project through a grant
awarded to the Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association (ZSTA) in 2019, now Zimbabwe Seed
Association (ZSA). Under the award, ZSTA developed a white paper on the benefits of
Zimbabwe’s accession to the MoU and the benefits of the SADC HSRS. The white paper was
presented to the Policy Makers including the Minister of Ministry of Lands, Agriculture,
Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.
In Mozambique, the Seed Trade Project, in collaboration with Mozambique’s NPPO,
conducted a stakeholder validation workshop on April 13. Participants validated the revised
pest list and its phytosanitary inspection and quarantine regulations, and ensured their
adequacy and alignment to the SADC HSRS’ third Technical Agreement, the Quarantine and
Phytosanitary Measures for Seed through the domestication of the SADC Pest List. The Seed
Trade Project has been collaborating with the Mozambique NPPO and the team of experts
from the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure the revised phytosanitary inspection and
quarantine regulations are aligned with the SADC HSRS. From that validation meeting, the
NPPO came up with the final version of the updated regulations that included the updated
SADC Pest List, as dictated by the SADC HSRS.
On June 3, Mozambique’s NPPO presented the updated Quarantine and Phytosanitary
Regulations to the wider Directorate and high-level officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development during the Annual Technical Meeting of the National Directorate of Agri-
Livestock and Biosafety in Maputo. This was a culmination of years of concerted efforts that
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 26
followed the SADC technical meetings of November 2017 and October 2019. During these
meetings, the SADC regional Pest List was updated, and recommendations drawn up for
Member States to proceed with revisions to their respective Pest Lists and related regulatory
instruments.
Still in Mozambique, the Seed Trade Project supported the National Directorate of Agricultural
Health and Biosafety (DNSAB) and Association for the Promotion of the Seed Sector
(APROSE) in Mozambique to convene a stakeholder meeting on November 9, 2021. The
purpose of the meeting was to validate the proposed amendments to the seed regulations,
Decree 12/2013 of April 10. This is a direct result of recommendations from the 2018 Seed
Trade Project-supported Assessment of Mozambique’s Seed Sector Legal and Regulatory
Framework and the resultant Policy Briefs. The validation workshop was part of the
deliverables for the two consultants that the Seed Trade Project and Government of
Mozambique jointly contracted in September 2021 to provide insights on seeds and its
institutional framework, as well as draft the necessary amendments per the assessment report
and policy briefs. The consultants presented their proposals to the stakeholders for review and
concurrence. The Legal Specialist took the participants through the documents, highlighting
the proposed articles, as guided by the Assessment of Mozambique’s Seed Sector Legal and
Regulatory Framework and Policy Briefs.
The work is geared toward improving the
function and efficiency of Mozambique’s
seed regulations, bringing it into full
alignment with the SADC HSRS in
readiness for regional trade.
In Zambia, the Seed Trade Project
supported the SCCI in updating their seed
law, and advocating for their approval. The
meeting took place from September 21-
24, 2021 to review and revise the Law
following gaps identified during the pilot
and subsequent scale-up of the SADC
HSRS. During the meeting, which was
held jointly with the Ministry of Justice
(MoJ), the Plant Variety and Seeds
Regulations were reviewed and cross-
referenced with the provisions of the Act
by legal drafters. This enabled the MoJ
drafters to rephrase sections as needed,
ensuring the document conformed to
current legal language. As the next steps,
the, the MoJ will resubmit the documents
to the Minister of Agriculture for signing.
Once signed and the Cabinet approves,
the MoJ will submit the Bill to the National
Assembly of Zambia for consideration for
possible enactment into law.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 27
Similarly, the Seed Trade Project partnered with the Seed Trade Association of Malawi (STAM)
to convene a sensitization meeting to discuss Malawi’s National Seed Bill with the country’s
Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture on October 22, 2021 in Lilongwe, Malawi. The main
objective of the meeting was to prepare Parliamentarians for the upcoming debate with the
hope of Bill passage and onward movement to the House for approval. Following this
sensitization meeting, the DARS through the SSU of Malawi met with the Ministry of Justice
and Constitutional Affairs to discuss some areas of clarification on December 9, 2021. DARS
hopes the Bill will be tabled in Parliament in the February 2022 seating.
These review means that the Project’s achievement on this indicator has now increased to
1,200 percent of the LOP target. A total of 36 seed-related policies, bills, regulations,
Statutory Instruments (SIs), white papers and other policy related documents have been
drafted, analyzed, reviewed, debated/discussed, approved or implemented with USG
support since the inception of the Project.
Number of Agricultural and Nutrition Enabling Environment Policies Completing the Following Processes/Steps of
Development as a Result of USG Assistance
2021 Target 1
Q4 2021 Result 2
2021 YTD 3
LOP Target 3
LOP Results 36
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 1,200 %
2.2.4 CROSS-CUTTING INDICATORS
EG.3-17-CUST: Number of Food Security Private Enterprises (For Profit), Producers’
Organizations, Water Users’ Associations, Women’s Groups, Trade and Business
Associations, and Community-based Organizations (CBOs) Receiving USG Assistance
Strengthening the capacity of both public and private sector institutions to carry out various
responsibilities outlined in the SADC HSRS guidelines is essential to ensuring sustainable
implementation of the System. Therefore, the Seed Trade Project continued providing various
forms of institutional support during the period under review which ranged from multi-
institutional (i.e., through trainings and information sharing or technical workshops) to
institution-specific tailor-made support packages (i.e., through provision of technical support to
export seed, laboratory equipment for seed testing, IT equipment, field monitoring and capacity
building visits, among others). These activities have been extensively discussed in the
previous sections. Table 1 below shows the names of institutions, specific types of support
rendered and type of institution (whether new or continuing) that received the support.
In total, 52 organizations were supported, which included twenty new (received support for the
first time) and thirty-two continuing/repeat organizations (supported by the Project before
2021). Recording only the new, first time participating institutions, this brings the total number
of organizations supported since the inception of the Project to 192 out of the LOP target of
120. This translates into 160 percent achievement against LOP target for the indicator.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 28
List of Organizations Supported by the Seed Trade Project and Type(s) of Support Provided
# Assistance Provided Number of
Organizations
Type and Name(s) of
Organization(s) 1 Online Seed Certification field capacity building and
evaluation, assorted laboratory equipment, IT
equipment and generators
2 Both continuing (Malawi and
Mozambique NSAs)
2 Training on variety release, seed testing and
certification, quarantine and phytosanitary
measures for seed
7 3 new; 4 continuing (Various seed
companies and institutions)
3 Training on seed production under SADC HSRS 3 2 new, 1 continuing (Farms
engaged by Lake Agriculture)
4 Field capacity building visits to SADC HSRS scale-
up fields in Zambia and Zimbabwe; and training on
the administration and maintenance of the
revamped website
1 Continuing (SADC Seed Centre)
5 Digital microscope for Other Seed Determination
tests as required by the International Seed Testing
Association and adopted by the SADC HSRS.
1 Continuing (Zambia’s NSA)
6 Convening of the stakeholder validation workshop
to review/validate the revised phytosanitary and
quarantine regulations and updated pest list and
grants for seed testing at border posts
1 Continuing (Departamento de Sanidade Vegetal)
7 Seed Certification and Quality Assurance training 14 3 new; 11 continuing (Various
seed companies in Malawi)
8 Convening of the SADC Seed Technical Committee
Meeting and seed producers’ webinar 10 8 new (AFSTA, Zimbabwe Plant
Breeders Association, IITA,
Advanta, Curechem Group,
Tobacco Research Board,
Windmills Development Group); 2
continuing (SADC FANR,
Capstone, and various seed
companies) 9 Training of private seed inspectors 15 All continuing (Various seed
companies) 10 Review of the draft Plant Variety and Seeds Law 2 1 new (Ministry of Justice), 1
continuing (Zambia NSA) 11 Training for farmers engaged in seed production
under SADC HSRS, technical assistance to
successfully export 570 MT of seed to Mozambique
and guidelines on sugar bean production under the
SADC HSRS
1 Continuing (Lake Agriculture)
12 Review of the draft National Seed Bill in Malawi 5 3 new (Parliamentary Committee
on Agriculture, Farmers Union of
Malawi and CISANET); 2
continuing (STAM and Malawi
NSA)
13 Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) training 3 All continuing (NPPOs for Malawi,
Mozambique and Zambia)
14 Seed regulations validation 2 Both continuing (National
Directorate of Agricultural Health
and Biosafety and Association for
the Promotion of the Seed Sector)
Total 52*
*This counts each organization only once irrespective of the number of times it was supported during the reporting
period
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 29
Number of Food Security Private Enterprises (for Profit), Producers’ Organizations, Water Users’ Associations, Women’s Groups, Trade and Business Associations, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) Receiving USG Assistance
2021 Target 10
Q4 2021 Result 10
2021 YTD 52
LOP Target 120
LOP Results 201
Percent of LOP Target
Achieved
167.5%
EG.3-508-CUST: Value of Grants Distributed
In Q2 2021, the Seed Trade
Project awarded one in-kind
grant worth the
Departamento de Sanidade
Vegetal, Mozambique’s
NPPO, for the procurement
of plant pest and disease
testing equipment for
selected border posts and
seed entry/exit points. This
is expected to lead to
quicker and safer trade of
plants and plant products,
including seed, between
Mozambique and other
countries, especially those outside SADC with different seed testing standards. The
procurement of the diagnostic equipment ensures that any pest and disease infestations on
all plant products or materials exported outside the SADC region and those being imported
from outside the region are rapidly and accurately diagnosed. This, in turn, will promote safe
trade of seed while reducing the time and cost of doing business because diagnostics will be
done at the entry/exit point without being sent from the border post to a centralized laboratory
such as Chimoio, Nampula or Maputo.
In Q3 and Q4, the Project continued pushing for the successful completion of this and other
existing grants delayed due to COVID-19 country restriction. Key among these was the
identification of vendors and issuance of purchase orders for the procurement of plant pest
and disease testing equipment for points-of-entry and exit for Malawi, Mozambique, and
Zambia. In Q4, all pest and disease testing equipment were delivered to respective countries
and currently awaiting routine clearance by the NPPOs.
Overall, the Seed Trade Project has awarded 18 grants worth US epresenting 102
percent achievement of the LOP target for this indicator.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 30
List of Grants Awarded Since Inception of the Project
# NAME OF GRANTEE GRANT # APPROVED
GRANT AMOUNT
AMOUNT DISBURSED
PERIOD OF AWARD
CLOSEOUT STATUS
Grants Awarded in 2017
1 Zambia Seed Trade Association (ZASTA)
G-Pre-001 Closed
Subtotal 2017
Grants A
2 Seed Trade Association of Malawi (STAM)
G-LSK-003 Closed
3 APROSE G-LSK-005 Closed
4 Seed Control & Certification Institute (SCCI)
G-Pre-004 Closed
5 Seed Co. Zambia G-Pre-006 Closed
Subtotal 2018
Grants Awarded in 2019
6 Mozambique NSA G-LSK-007 Open
7 Seed Service Unit (SSU) G-LSK-008 Closed
8 Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association (ZSTA)
G-LSK-006 Closed
9 Zimbabwe Super Seeds Cooperative Company
G-LSK-009 Closed
10 Lake Agriculture G-LSK-010 Closed
11 Seed Service Unit (SSU) G-LSK-011 Closed
12 Mozambique NSA G-LSK-012 Closed
Subtotal 2019
Grants Awarded in 2020
13 Peacock Seed Malawi G-LSK-013 Closed
14 Zimbabwe Seed Potato Companies Association
G-LSK-014 Open
15 Seed Control & Certification Institute (SCCI)
G-LSK-015 Closed
16 Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services (PQPS)
G-LSK-016 Open
17 Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS)
G-LSK-017 Open
Subtotal 2020
Grants Awarded in 2021
18 Mozambique NPPO G-LSK-018 Open
Subtotal 2021
GRAND TOTAL
Value of Grants Distributed by the Seed Trade Project
2021 Target
Q4 2021 Result
2021 YTD
LOP Target
LOP Results
Percent of LOP Target Achieved
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 31
SECTION 3.0. CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES
3.1. Program Management
The COVID-19 pandemic continued ravaging the SADC region during 2021 triggering several
restrictions among Member States. During the reporting period, most countries opened in
the second wave during January 2021, then went into a third during June – August, and
fourth wave of the Omicron variant during November 2021 into 2022, with surges in both the
infection and mortality rates.
This affected the roll-out of some Project activities. As a result, the team continued to employ
an adaptive management strategy throughout 2021 utilizing technology and strict COVID-19
prevention measures to press onward, including hybrid formats for trainings and workshops,
social distancing, and mask-wearing, and online staff weekly meeting. Additionally, staff
continued to work remotely from home.
3.1.1 Adaptive Management Under COVID-19
During 2021, Project staff continued, for the most part, to telecommute due to the upward trend
of the positive COVID-19 cases resulting from the new variants (Delta and Omicron) coupled
with limited access to vaccines and vaccine hesitancy. The prevention measures were
reinforced to mitigate workplace risk, including limiting the number of staff that are authorized
to come and have access to some IT resources. All non-essential international travels for non-
vaccinated staff were also cancelled.
3.1.2 Operations and Procurements During this reporting period, the Seed Trade Project implemented activities in alignment with
national directives for each focus country – Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe as
well as SADC. To facilitate in-person meetings, workshops, field visits and other events, and
to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, the Seed Trade Project procured and distributed safety
items, such as hand sanitizer and face masks, and enforced social distancing.
The Seed Trade Project has also concluded the procurement processes for the remaining four
in-kind grants as per the previous table. The only outstanding procurement is the first ever
bacterial wilt testing set for potato seed to be housed under the Zimbabwe Potato Seed
Companies Association’s laboratory in Zimbabwe.
.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 32
3.1.3 Staffing (LTTAs, STTAs and Consultants)
The Seed Trade Project initiated the process to engage two consultants, a Seed Systems
Specialist and a Legal Expert in Mozambique, to conduct an introspective review of the existing
seed regulations, decree 12/2013. The review was done in view of the recommendations of
the Seed Trade Project funded Assessment of Mozambique’s Seed Sector Legal and
Regulatory Framework and the resultant Policy Briefs as well as other existing seed systems
related reports. This was with the objective of updating and aligning the existing seed
regulations to the SADC HSRS. The consultants also look at other regional and international
protocols pertaining to seed system harmonization and identified drafted the amendments. The
revised seed regulations were validated in Q4 2021 towards recommending to the Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Development for gazetting as Ministerial Diplomas.
During the same period, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and Program Assistant left
the Project. Others whose contracts ended include the Mozambique Country Advisor, the
Policy Development Specialist, the Operations and Procurement Assistant and the
Receptionist. For the separated personnel, proactive management insured a smooth transition
and did not negatively affect the activities of the Project.
Seven (7) staff members remain on the project to implement final activities and carry out close
down requirements.
In addition, DAI identified and deployed a Closedown Manager and an IT Specialist to assist in developing and implementing the close down process.
3.1.4 Close-down Process
During Q4 2021, the close down plan was developed and submitted to USAID. Some key
operation priorities were identified and implemented, including the closure of the Lusaka office
on December 10, 2021. Following is a list of other close down activities accomplished in Q4
2021:
Disposition plan submitted to USAID and approved on November 10, 2021 for non-
expendable items to Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service (PQPS), Seed
Control and Certification Institute (SCCI), Southern African Development Community
Plant Genetic Resource Centre (SPGRC), Zambia Seed Trade Association (ZASTA)
in Zambia and Seed Certification and Quality Control Unit/Seed Services Unit -
Department of Agricultural Research Services in Malawi.
Disposition plan submitted and approved on December 06, 2021 for non-expendable
items to SUN TA in Zambia and to Direcção Nacional da Agricultura e Silvicultura of
the Ministerio da Agricultura e Desenvolvimiento Rural in Mozambique.
Staff demobilization.
Verification and shipment of documents to DAI Home Office.
The Seed Trade Project identified the potential recipients of the expendable and non-
expendable equipment based on their needs.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 33
3.2 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan and
Implementation Update
Implementation Update
3.2.1 Project Routine Reporting
During 2021, the Seed Trade
Project continued
implementing the updated
Monitoring, Evaluation and
Learning (MEL) Plan by
tracking progress on Project
activities through routine
data collection and
aggregation for decision-
making and reporting.
The Project also continued to
compile and submit weekly
and quarterly donor reports
to keep USAID informed and
updated on Project activities. These included Feed the Future reporting through the
Development Information System. Further, the Chief of Party held weekly management and
update calls with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
3.2.4 Conduct Internal Data Quality Assessment
The Seed Trade Project continued to conduct internal data quality assessments (DQA) as part
of the process of testing the accuracy, relevancy, validity, timeliness, and consistency of its
data. This was done through verifying that activity records were collected and submitted by
and to the M&E unit with other Project records. These include activity reports and attendance
registers at all Project offices (Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia).
MEL Plans for Q1 2022
The Seed Trade Project will prepare an End of Project Report, detailing all the successes,
challenges and lessons learned during the implementation phase. The Project will ensure that
audited and final results are used in the preparation of the report.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 34
3.3 Integration of Cross-cutting Issues and USAID Forward
Priorities
3.3.1 Gender Equality and Female Empowerment
In pursuit of inclusive agricultural
growth as dictated by the Feed the
Future goals, the Seed Trade Project
continues to ensure it enhances gender
integration and women’s
empowerment. To this end, the Seed
Trade Project continued to implement
Project activities in a manner that
upholds these values despite the
Project being designed and
implemented in a way that it does not
work directly with farmer-beneficiaries
but rather through well-established institutions such as SADC and Government institutions.
Project activities continued to be guided by values contained in the Women’s Empowerment
in Agriculture Index (WEAI). This requires that all projects funded by the USG’s Feed the
Future Initiative continue to track changes in women’s empowerment levels that occur as a
direct or indirect result of interventions.
Guided by this macro-level goal, the Seed Trade Project engaged 173 individuals in its
activities during 2021, of whom 52 (30 percent) were female. Overall, a cumulative 2,156
people have participated in Seed Trade Project activities, of whom 671 are female,
representing an overall female participation of 31.1 percent to date.
3.3.2 Sustainability Mechanisms (including Local Solutions and Partnerships)
The Seed Trade Project implements only through existing private and government institutions,
including seed companies, NSAs, NPPOs, Seed Traders Associations, and the SADC
Secretariat. Structurally, these institutions will sustain the work of both the Seed Trade Project
and their own investments well beyond the life of the project.
The Seed Trade Project remains actively engaged with public-private partners and continues
to re-enforce their institutional capacity. Ongoing collaboration with seed trade associations in
all four focus countries (STAM in Malawi, APROSE in Mozambique, ZASTA in Zambia, and
ZSA in Zimbabwe) emphasizes increased awareness of the SADC HSRS, and provides an
opportunity for the associations to take ownership in driving the policy forward. In addition, the
Project has provided technical and financial support to the NSAs and NPPOs in the focus
countries to make sure that they have the human and institutional capacities to conduct the
activities required of them and as stipulated in the Technical Agreements on Harmonization of
Seed Regulations in the SADC Region.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 35
Further, the Seed Trade Project continues to push for the full functionality of the SADC Seed
Centre and has successfully engaged the SADC Secretariat to co-opt the Centre under the
SPGRC due to delays in Member States signing its Charter. Given the slow progress to make
the Centre operational, moving it under SPGRC has been a necessary step to avoid frustration
from those SADC Member States and stakeholders, especially seed companies, who have
made investments in the SADC HSRS. During the August 23-24 SADC Seed Technical and
Committee meeting, the Seed
Trade Project further worked with
SADSC and Member States to pass
a resolution that allows the SADC
Seed Centre to proceed in charging
fees for its services as stipulated in
the SADC Seed Centre
Sustainability Business Model and
the SADC Seed Centre
Sustainability Business Model
Implementation Plan while
operating under SPGRC.
Lastly, the Project’s investments in
seed companies to pilot the SADC
HSRS is also creating a self-perpetuating dynamic. Not only is the pilot experience having a
positive impact on their bottom lines, but also word is getting out about the benefits and
attracting the attention of other seed companies. As more seed producers begin producing
seed under the SADC HSRS, and NSAs and NPPOs find their feet in terms of providing
guidance to them, the system should become common practice and self-sustaining.
3.3.3 Science, Technology, and Innovation
With the support of the USG, the Seed Trade Project has digitized Seed Certification and
Quality Assurance Systems in Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. With the installation of the
Online Seed Certification System, and following the success of the system in Zambia, seed
traders in Malawi and Mozambique can now seek government online from field registration
to certification for their seed, including printing of the Certificates. This move significantly cuts
processing time while making it easier to ensure the quality of resultant seed. This is because
the Online Seed Certification System replaces manual processes, thus dramatically
improving quality assurance in real time and increasing the capacity of NSAs by creating
efficiencies across the seed certification continuum.
Developed in partnership with the NSAs in each country, the systems are functional in three
focus countries (Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia). The Seed Trade Project has finalized
procurement of IT equipment to support the roll-out of the systems to include all the seed
producers in Malawi and Mozambique.
In Q1 2021, the Project successfully procured a digital microscope for the SCCI and
facilitated training of the staff by the vendor on May 20, 2021. This followed the SCCI’s
request for support from the Seed Trade Project in 2020 after challenges in passing the ISTA
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 36
audits which threatened the Zambia seed industry. Zambia being the seed maize production
hub of the region, the ripple effect from Zambia losing its ISTA accreditation would mean
inability to export, thereby impacting food and nutrition security in SADC and beyond. Given
the foregoing, the Seed Trade Project responded to the request by awarding SCCI a
US$9,000 in-kind grant to procure the digital microscope. The new equipment is not only
addressing a significant technology gap but is also strengthening the SCCI’s human and
institutional capacity to conduct seed purity testing. It is also aiding its proficiency in Other
Seed Determination (OSD) test, which they continually failed during ISTA audits. The OSD
is a requirement by ISTA, and the SADC HSRS uses ISTA seed testing standards as its
benchmark.
Further, on May 6, the Seed Trade Project worked with the Malawi NSA, the SSU, to facilitate
a one-day virtual training for 12 seed companies on the Online Seed Certification System.
The purpose of the training was to scale-up awareness and operationalization of the system
among all seed producers in Malawi. The topics covered included: field registration, import
registration, field inspection, lot number applications, sampling application, seed testing and
certification. Twelve (22) seed producer representatives participated from the following
organizations: Pyxus Agriculture (02), Pannar Malawi (01), Agricultural Research and
Extension Trust (01), Seed Co. Malawi (04), Pantochi Seeds (01), Bayer Crop Science (01),
Nema Farm Seeds (01), Global Seeds (03), Peacock Seeds (02), Multi Seeds Company
(MUSECO) (06), Mgom’mero Seeds (04) and UVGV - Limbe Leaf (01). Because of this
training, participating seed producers can now fully utilize the Online System, in place of the
manual processes, thus dramatically improving efficiencies and quality assurance, thereby
increasing the capacity of the NSA.
Still in Malawi, the Seed Trade Project procured various seed testing laboratory equipment
and a heavy-duty standby electricity generator set (which will help curb the challenge of power
outages).
Toward the end of the reporting period, the Seed Trade Project finalized the procurement
process for the NPPO in-kind grants of pests and disease testing equipment for selected
border posts and other points-of-entry/exit in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Once the
equipment is cleared by the respective NPPOs and on a per need basis, the Seed Trade
Project will facilitate virtual training among the plant health inspectors on rapid and accurate
diagnosis of plant pests and diseases using the procured equipment. This initiative will
contribute toward full implementation of the SADC Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures
for Seed, which will promote safe trade and reduce the time and cost of doing seed business.
Because of this, as an additional benefit, both the SADC Seed Centre and NPPO will realize
additional income to sustain their operations through the issuance of SADC Phytosanitary
Certificates and Fumigation Certificates.
On October 28, 2021, the U.S. Government, through Mary Hobbs, Economic Growth Director
for USAID Mission in Mozambique (pictured), handed over nearly worth in
technology to the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) at the Ministry of
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 37
Agriculture and Rural Developmen
National Director of Plant and Animal Health and
Biosafety represented the GRM. The technology was
procured through the Seed Trade Project, and included
the Online Seed Certification System, laboratory
equipment, ICT equipment and standby generator set
helping to improve local seed quality assurance. It will
also expedite and streamline the import and export of
high-quality seed to the country, while significantly cutting
costs and paperwork associated with seed certification
and trade. The technologies support the ongoing
implementation of the SADC HSRS and advancing seed
trade across the region.
These technologies are key assets to improve the capacity of the seed sector in Mozambique to be able to respond to the growing demand for quality, certified seed, and gives the government more control over the seed circulating throughout the country.
At the regional level, during the latter part of the reporting period, the Seed Trade Project
concluded the revamping of the SADC Seed Centre website which awaits launch. In
preparation for this, the Seed Trade Project supported and facilitated a one-day, hands-on
virtual training on Monday, December 6 for the SADC Seed Centre Coordinator, Ms. Tilabilenji
Phiri, and the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC) Technical Officer
Documentation and Information, Mr. Mike Daka. The two will be responsible for the website
administration and maintenance and have now been prepared with practical guidance on
website content management and maintenance. The training included an overview of the new
website and content management system; how to update the website; website security and
maintenance; hands-on training on managing the SADC Seed Centre Website; and website
statistics and analytics.
Once finalized and launched, the website will give seed stakeholders access to information
related to variety release, seed certification and quality assurance, and quarantine and
phytosanitary measures for seed, as well as market information across SADC Member States.
It will also provide access to the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue, including more expansive
information about each seed variety. The website will also contain a web-based regional seed
market information database, which, upon population, will provide seed stakeholders with
accurate information on seed supply and demand within SADC, thereby aiding forecasting and
trade. The launch of the website awaits repurchasing of the domain name, migration of the
Market Portal, and a final decision on hosting. In the next quarter, the Project expects that the
SADC Seed Centre Coordinator will provide guidance on the issue.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 38
3.4 Stakeholder Participation and Involvement
Collaborating effectively with all stakeholders, like the NSAs, NPPOs, the SADC FANR,
private sector and others, is key to successful regional sustainability efforts for the SADC
HSRS. This is because all actors in the seed value chain are interdependent and integral to
improving seed systems. Concerted efforts and resource-leveraging also play a key role to
realizing the maximum impact. These are dynamics which the Seed Trade Project recognizes
and shapes interventions at different points in the value chain to attain that intended impact.
As part of efforts to achieve this, the Project has convened and participated in meetings with
various stakeholders during the reporting quarter. Below are some of the key engagements.
3.4.1 Seed Trade Project Engagement with Stakeholders
Malawi Stakeholders Galvanize to Prepare the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture
on National Seed Bill
The Seed Trade Project partnered with the Seed Trade Association of Malawi in making
preparations for the facilitation of a one-day meeting between the seed industry partners and
members of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture of Malawi. Other partners in these
preparations included the Farmers’ Union of Malawi (FUM), the Civil Society Agriculture
Network (CISANET), and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The meeting
was to be part of efforts to expedite the promulgation of the Malawi Seed Bill into the Seed
Act.
The purpose of the meeting was to familiarize the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture
with the contents of the draft Seed Bill, equipping them with knowledge to further debate and
hopefully pass the Bill. The meeting brought together 66 participants who included 20
Members of Parliament (MPs).
USAID Malawi Sustainable Economic Growth Office Deputy Director,
represented the U.S. Government and said the sensitization meeting marked another
milestone for Malawi in its journey toward a National Seed Act, creating a pathway for the
nation to advance its agricultural sector and provide farmers across the Southern African
Development Community and beyond with more resilient, high-quality seed. And STAM
Chairperson, Ms. Chikondi Ng’ombe, further stressed the importance of the Seed Bill ,
pointing out that despite huge investment in the seed sector, Malawi was facing significant
challenges due to the seed law being enforced, which affected service delivery by the seed
certifying authority; preventing the curbing of fake seed; and prolonging the variety release
process.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 39
artment of Agricultural Research Services, through the Head of SSU, Dr.
resented the background on the Malawi Seed Bill, what has changed, why
the change, and the required action. Once done, the Bill will go to the Ministry of Agriculture
to address any issues, before submission to the Attorney General and the Solicitor General
for their clearance. At this point, the MPs will need to be convened again with copies of the
Bill for their input before its introduction in Parliament.
As a follow up action, on December 9, 2021, the DARS through SSU met with the Ministry of
Justice and Constitutional Affairs to discuss some areas of clarification in the Bill. SSU Head,
informed the Seed Trade Project that SSU clarified the issues and the
Ministry of Justice were working on the Bill, with the hope of tabling in Parliament in the
February 2022 seating
Malawi has continued to make strides toward domesticating the SADC HSRS. In addition to
the Seed Bill, the country has a new Plant Protection Act which was enacted in May 2018
and a National Seed Policy which was officially launched in the same year.
Mozambique Stakeholder Validation Workshop on Revised Phytosanitary and
Quarantine Regulations Furthers SADC HSRS Alignment
On April 13, 2021, the Seed Trade Project supported the NPPO in Mozambique to host a
stakeholder validation workshop on the revised pest list and its phytosanitary inspection and
quarantine regulations. The purpose of the workshop was to validate the revised regulations
for adequacy and alignment to the SADC HSRS, including the updated SADC Pest List, in an
effort to accelerate adoption and implementation.
To get to this stage, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures/Trade Related Facility, financed by the European Union (EU), supported the update
and revision processes. The Seed Trade Project collaborated with an expert team from the
University Eduardo Mondlane, providing technical know-how, and engaged the Ministry of
Industry and Trade during the revision process, ensuring the revised Phytosanitary Inspection
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 40
and Quarantine Regulations are aligned with the SADC HSRS’ third Technical Agreement, the
Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures for Seed and include the SADC Pest List.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the stakeholder workshop took a hybrid format, employing
both in-person and virtual platforms. Thirty-two people participated in-person while 40 people
participated virtually. Participants came from government institutions, private sector,
development partners and academia. Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development, Office of Animal and Plant Health and Biosecurity, NPPO, and the Legal
Office of the Minister’s Cabinet and other high-level dignitaries were present. The comments
and recommendations from the meeting were collected and inserted in the documents for
internal discussions. During the June 3-4 Annual Technical Meeting of the National
Directorate of Agri-Livestock and Biosafety, the regulations were discussed towards
finalization and submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Mozambique Seed Sector Stakeholders Meet to Discuss Amendments to the Seed
Regulation Decree 12/2013
The Seed Trade Project continued to render support to the Government of Mozambique
towards the country’s efforts to amend its seed regulations. On November 9, 2021, Project
supported the National Directorate of Agricultural Health and Biosafety (DNSAB) and
APROSE to convene a stakeholder meeting, whose purpose was to validate the proposed
amendments to the seed regulations, Decree 12/2013 of April 10. This was a direct result of
recommendations from the 2018 Seed Trade Project-supported Assessment of
Mozambique’s Seed Sector Legal and Regulatory Framework and the resultant Policy Briefs.
To reach to this stage, in September 2021, the Seed Trade Project contracted two
consultants: a Seed Specialist to provide insights on seeds and its institutional framework;
and a Legal Expert to draft the necessary amendments. This work was geared toward
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 41
improving the function and efficiency of Mozambique’s seed regulations, and to bring it into
full alignment with the SADC HSRS.
During the validation meeting, the consultants presented their proposals to the stakeholders
for review and concurrence. The Legal Specialist highlighted the proposed articles, as guided
by the Assessment of Mozambique’s Seed Sector Legal and Regulatory Framework.
(Head of the Department of Seed - NSA); and Eng. Marcelino Botão (Chairman of APROSE).
Other participants came from seed companies and other producers, agro-dealers, FAO
Mozambique, staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Seed Trade
Project.
Speaking during her closing remarks, advised that once the
consultants consolidate the changes in the draft regulations, the document should be
circulated to the rest of the country for socialization and further input through the regional
laboratories and APROSE members in other provinces, under specific timelines.
As a prelude to the stakeholder validation meeting, the USAID Mission in Mozambique
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 42
SADC Seed Centre Coordinator Undertakes Joint Visits with the Seed Trade Project to
SADC HSRS Fields
The Seed Trade Project continued to effectively engage and transfer ownership of the SADC
HSRS process to the SADC Seed Centre by engaging into joint activities. For example,
between April 12 and 15, 2021, the Project facilitated a physical field visit for the SADC Seed
Centre Coordinator, o three Seed Co. Zambia Ltd hybrid seed maize
fields at Nyamanzi farm in Serenje (60 ha of variety SC 719), Damust farm in Mkushi (240
ha of SC 637), and Seed Co Mkushi South farm (902 ha of SC 719). The Coordinator also
visited Lake Agriculture maize seed fields at Paul Dobson farm in Mkushi (40 ha of Lake
601), farm in Kabwe (50 ha of Lake 601), and Allan Miller field in Lusaka (78
ha of Lake 601).
Further, on June 10, the Seed Trade Project facilitated a virtual field visit for the SADC Seed
Centre Coordinator to four Zimbabwe Super Seeds improved sugar bean certified seed
(variety NUA 45) production fields in Masvingo West, Zimbabwe. This virtual visit was as a
result of SADC’s indefinite ban on international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic which
curtailed the Coordinator’s in-person visits.
The field visits gave the SADC
Seed Centre Coordinator an
opportunity to monitor progress of
the scale-up efforts and gradually
transition ownership and
oversight of SADC HSRS seed
productions to the SADC Seed
Centre. They also served as a
relationship strengthening activity
between the Centre and the
private sector seed companies,
who are the primary users of the
SADC HSRS.
During the reporting period, Seed Co Zambia, Lake Agriculture, and Zimbabwe Super Seeds
scaled up the production of seed under the SADC HSRS seed certification and quality
assurance system using their own resources, following the successful pilots in 2018/2019
and 2019/2020 planting seasons, respectively. For these scale-up productions, the Seed
Trade Project was supporting the seed companies by providing technical support and
backstopping around the SADC HSRS throughout production to exporting of the seed.
SADC Seed Centre Coordinator Hosts Quarterly Meetings with the Seed Trade Project
In 2021, the SADC Seed Centre Coordinator successfully hosted all the scheduled quarterly
meetings between the SPGRC/SADC Seed Centre and Seed Trade Project. These meetings
formed part of the Project’s plan for the final implementation year to track progress on the
operationalization of the SADC Seed Centre, thus contributing toward the effective
implementation of the SADC HSRS.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 43
The quarterly meetings looked at several issues which included:
(i) Progress made on the operationalization of the SADC Seed Centre, particularly
looking at: sustainability of the SADC Seed Centre; signing of the SADC Seed Centre
Charter by SADC Member States; and capacity-building and monitoring visits by the
SADC Seed Centre Coordinator;
(ii) Progress made and challenges faced on variety listing on the SADC Seed Variety
Catalogue;
(iii) Progress made on seed production under the SADC HSRS;
(iv) Updates on regional training on quarantine and phytosanitary measures for seed; and
(v) Communications support including progress made on updating of the SADC Seed
Centre website, the Regional Seed Information Database, and others
SADC FANR and Seed Trade Project Jointly Host a Webinar for Seed Producers
Toward the end of the current reporting period, on December 9, 2021, the SADC FANR
Directorate and the Seed Trade Project hosted a seed producer webinar. Organized under the
theme “Taking Advantage of the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory System for Market Gain,”
the webinar aimed to inform seed stakeholders, particularly seed producers across all 16
SADC Member States, about the SADC HSRS, benefits of producing and exporting seed under
the system, and how to register and list improved seed varieties on the SADC Seed Variety
Catalogue. Further, the webinar provided a platform for SADC to encourage all Member States
and seed companies to adopt and implement the Technical Agreements on Harmonization of
Seed Regulations in the SADC Region.
The 2.5-hour webinar attracted 58 participants from SADC Member States and beyond:
Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe,
and representation from Kenya by Africa Seed Trade Association (AFSTA). The participants
consisted of representatives from NSAs, NPPOs, Zimbabwe Plant Breeders Association, the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) like the International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) with participates from Nigeria, seed trader’s associations,
and seed companies including: Advanta, Capstone, Corteva, Kamano, Klein Karoo, QualiBasic
Seeds, Zimbabwe Super Seeds and Seed Co. International, as well as Curechem Group,
Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Research Board, Windmill Development Group Zimbabwe, to mention a
few.
stated that the dialogue and platform should be an ongoing one and not a one-off activity. He
further stressed that as the world was changing, SADC should keep the conversation going
and keep changing and adapting.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 44
The engagement of the participants was particularly high around the process for seed
registration and approval.
3.5 Tasks/Interventions for the Next Reporting Period
The Seed Trade Project will continue to prioritize activities that focus on sustainability and
knowledge transfer. The Project, while keeping a keen eye on budgetary limitations, is also
focused on activities advancing SADC Member States on the policy continuum so that they
continue their journey toward domesticating and implementing the SADC HSRS beyond the
life of the Seed Trade Project. Among others, the Project plans to implement the following
activities in the next quarter depending on the COVID-19 situation:
i. Finalize and launch the SADC Seed Centre’s website, which will provide more
information and resources to SADC seed stakeholders, including access to the
guidelines, market information and trends, and tutorials for how to register seed
varieties on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue.
ii. Continue to provide technical backstopping to Zimbabwe Super Seeds in having the
export documentation issued in readiness for seed export to Mozambique
iii. Track progress on the operationalization of the SADC Seed Centre, especially
around its charging and collecting fees for its services, through joint meetings among
the SPGRC, SADC Seed Centre and the Seed Trade Project.
iv. Track progress of the Zambia and Malawi Seed Laws
v. Ensure all pest and plant disease testing equipment are cleared by NPPOs and
delivered to border posts in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and that the
necessary orientation for the plant health inspectors on the new equipment is done
vi. Finalize the procurement of ZSPCA in-kind grant equipment
vii. Submit the end of project report
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 45
ANNEX A: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
GOAL: Increased Seed Trade Across SADC Region
EG.3-507-CUST: Quantity (MT) of high-quality seed traded under HSR by crop
Unit of Measure Metric Tons
Disaggregation Type of Seed; Country of Origin
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 0
2021 Target 300
Q4 2021 Result 1,259
2021 YTD 2,109
LOP Target 450
LOP Results 2,810
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 624.4%
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0 0 0 0 30 0 200 226 224 475 300 2,109
EG.3.1-c: Value of targeted agricultural commodities exported with USG assistance
Unit of Measure US Dollar
Disaggregation Type of Seed; Country of Origin
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value $0
2021 Target
Q4 2021 Result
2021 YTD
LOP Target
LOP Results
Percent of LOP Target Achieved
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 46
RESULT 1: Increased Availability of Improved Seeds in the Region
Sub-IR 1.1.1: Increased Human Capacities
EG.3.2: Number of Individuals Participating in USG Food Security Programs (IM-Level)
Unit of Measure Number
Disaggregation Type of Individual; Gender
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 0
2021 Target 100
Q4 2021 Result 58
2021 YTD 173
LOP Target 1,669
LOP Results 2,156
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 129.2%
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
192 171 317 343 560 552 560 522 158 395 100 173
Sub-IR 1.1.2: Increased Institutional Capacities
Sub-IR 1.2: Strengthened systems for regional variety release, certification and
quality assurance
EG.3-501-CUST: Sustainable Business Model for Regional Seed Variety Release; Certification
and Quality Assurance Operational
Unit of Measure Number
Disaggregation None
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 0
2021 Target 1
Q4 2021 Result 0
2021 YTD 0
LOP Target 1
LOP Results 1
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 100%
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 N/A N/A 1 0
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 47
EG.3-502-CUST: Percent of Regional HSR Administrative System Costs Covered by
Revenues Generated
Unit of Measure Percent
Disaggregation None
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 0%
2021 Target 50%
Q4 2021 Result 0%
2021 YTD 0%
LOP Target 50%
LOP Results 0%
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 0%
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0% 0% 0% 0% 5% 0% 15% 0% 35% 0% 50% 0%
Sub-IR 1.3: Increased public-private engagement in the implementation of the
HSRS
EG.3-505-CUST: Number of Seed Companies Engaged in Regional Seed Varietal Release
Unit of Measure Number
Disaggregation Type of Company; Crop Type
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 2
2021 Target 2
Q4 2021 Result 1
2021 YTD 1
LOP Target 10
LOP Results 15*
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 150%
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0 1 2 1 2 4 2 9 1 10 2 1
*The total LOP results are not cumulative. Hence each engaged seed company is represented once only and there
isn’t year-to-year double-counting of seed companies.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 48
RESULT 2: Increased Availability of Technologies, Management
Practices and Innovations
EG.3-506-CUST: Number of Technologies or Management Practices Transferred as a Result
of USG Assistance
Unit of Measure Number
Disaggregation Country; Type
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 0
2021 Target 3
Q4 2021 Result 0
2021 YTD 3
LOP Target 10
LOP Results 12
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 120%
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0 1 2 0 5 1 4 5 4 2 3 3
Sub-IR 2.1: Increased public-private investment in the transfer of technologies
EG.3.1-14 Value of new USG Commitments and Private Sector Investment Leveraged by the
USG to Support Food Security and Nutrition
Unit of Measure US Dollar
Disaggregation Country
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value
2021 Target
Q4 2021 Result
2021 YTD
LOP Target
LOP Results
Percent of LOP Target Achieved
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
$0 $0 $0 $0
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 49
Sub-IR 2.2: Strengthened Regional Partnerships for Agricultural Technologies
and Management *See high-level indicator “Number of public-private partnerships formed as a result of Feed the Future assistance.”
RESULT 3: Improved Regional Policies to Support Agricultural
Growth
Sub-IR 3.1: Strengthened Regional Capacity for Inclusive and Evidence-Based
Policy Planning
EG.3.1-12: Number of Agricultural and Nutrition Enabling Environment Policies Analyzed,
Consulted On, Drafted or Revised, Approved and Implemented with USG Assistance
Unit of Measure Number
Disaggregation Policy Area; Process/Step
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 0
2021 Target 1
Q4 2021 Result 2
2021 YTD 3
LOP Target 3
LOP Results 36
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 1,200%*
*The target for indicator was initially for regional policies only. However, the dropping of indicator EG.3.2-b which
looked at national level policies supporting regionally agreed policies necessitated the merging of results for the
two indicators into one.
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0 0 2 2 0 9 2 20 2 2 1 3
Cross-cutting Indicators
EG.3-17-CUST: Number of Food Security Private Enterprises (For Profit), Producers’ Organizations, Water Users’ Associations, Women’s Groups, Trade and Business Associations, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) Receiving USG Assistance
Unit of Measure Number
Disaggregation New/Continuing
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value 0
2021 Target 10
Q4 2021 Result 10*
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 50
2021 Target 10
2021 YTD 52**
LOP Target 120
LOP Results 201***
Percent of LOP Target Achieved 167.5%
*Number of organizations supported for the first time in Q4 2021
**Counting each organization only once irrespective of the number of times supported in the year (both new and
continuing).
***Actual number of organizations supported (excludes repeat assistance).
2016
Target
2016
Result
2017
Target
2017
Result
2018
Target
2018
Result
2019
Target
2019
Result
2020
Target
2020
Result
2021
Target
2021
Result
0 0 0 0 57 54 32 70 2 73 10 52
EG.3-508-CUST: Value of Grants Distributed
Unit of Measure US Dollar
Disaggregation Country
Baseline Year 2016
Baseline Value $0
2021 Targ
Q4 2021
2021 YTD
LOP Targ
LOP Res
Percent o
2016
Target
2016
Result
$0 $0
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 51
ANNEX B: SUMMARY OF TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS
Program Name Program
Status Start Date End Date Males Females
Total
Participants
2021 Trainings
Seed producer’s webinar Completed 12/9/2021 12/9/2021 10 4 14
Training on SADC Seed
Centre staff on the
administration and
maintenance of the revamped
website
Completed 12/6/2021 12/6/2021 1 0 1
Regional Pest Risk Analysis
(PRA) training Completed 12/6/2021 12/8/2021 8 4 12
Mozambique Seed
Regulations validation
workshop
Completed 11/9/2021 11/9/2021 4 2 6
Mozambique hand over event Completed 10/29/2021 10/29/2021 5 3 8
Malawi Seed Bill review
meeting Completed 10/22/2021 10/22/2021 12 5 17
Zambia Seed Bill review
workshop Completed 9/21/2021 9/24/2021 2 2 4
SADC Virtual Seed Technical
Meeting Completed 8/23/2021 8/24/2021 12 5 17
Second Course of Private
Seed Inspectors in
Mozambique
Completed 8/9/2021 8/20/2021 10 4 14
SADC Seed Centre
Coordinator virtual field visit
to HSRS scale-up fields in
Zimbabwe
Completed 6/10/2021 6/10/2021 3 3 6
Malawi NSA Online Seed
Certification training for seed
companies
Completed 5/6/2021 5/6/2021 6 5 11
SADC Seed Centre
Coordinator in-person field
visits to HSRS scale-up fields
in Zambia
Completed 4/12/2021 4/15/2021 5 0 5
Mozambique NPPO
stakeholder validation
workshop
Completed 4/13/2021 4/13/2021 14 7 21
Malawi NSA Online Seed
Certification training Completed 3/15/2021 3/18/2021 10 5 15
Private seed sector
stakeholder’s awareness
creation workshop on
approved SIs in Zambia
Completed 3/10/2021 3/11/2021 11 3 14
Lake Agriculture seed
growers training Completed 2/26/2021 2/26/2021 8 0 8
Subtotal for 2020 121 52 173
2020 Trainings
Seed Co Zambia SADC
HSRS Seed Production and
Certification Training, Mkushi,
Zambia
Completed 12/10/2020 12/10/2020 13 2 15
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 52
Program Name Program
Status Start Date End Date Males Females
Total
Participants
SADC Seed Centre
Coordinator Orientation
Meeting (incl. uploading of
varieties)
Completed 12/1/2020 12/3/2020 0 1 1
Mozambique NSA and seed
companies training on online
seed certification
Completed 11/23/2020 11/27/2020 12 10 22
Zimbabwe Super Seeds
SADC HSRS Seed Export
Commissioning
Completed 11/5/2020 11/5/2020 23 17 40
Lake Agriculture SADC
HSRS Seed Export
Commissioning
Completed 11/5/2020 11/5/2020 24 4 28
Malawi OECD Seed
Schemes virtual training
workshop
Completed 10/19/2020 10/23/2020 15 6 21
Mozambique OECD Seed
Schemes virtual training
workshop
Completed 10/19/2020 10/23/2020 21 8 29
ZSTA HSR awareness
sessions at the Zimbabwe/
Mozambique border
Completed 9/29/2020 9/29/2020 14 3 17
Zimbabwe OECD Seed
Schemes virtual training
workshop
Completed 9/7/2020 9/9/2020 21 6 27
Border officials and plant
health inspectors workshop
(Zambia/Mozambique border)
Completed 8/12/2020 8/12/2020 15 1 16
OECD curriculum review and
training material development
workshops for Zambia's NSA
staff
Completed 7/24/2020 8/21/2020 1 0 1
Zambia seed stakeholders'
training workshops Completed 7/21/2020 7/31/2020 36 18 54
Mchinji Border Training
(Malawi) Completed 06/17/2020 06/17/2020 3 4 7
Dedza Border Training
(Malawi) Completed 06/16/2020 06/16/2020 4 2 6
Mwanza Border Training
(Malawi) Completed 06/15/2020 06/15/2020 4 8 12
SADC Seed Centre
Coordinator Orientation
Meeting
Completed 03/10/2020 03/11/2020 0 1 1
Zimbabwe Seed Trade
Association Stakeholders
Meeting
Completed 02/20/2020 02/20/2020 12 5 17
Zimbabwe Super Seeds
Company SADC Seed
Certification and Quality
Assurance Training
Completed 02/20/2020 02/20/2020 28 37 65
Zambia NPPO and Ministry of
Justice SI Review Meeting Completed 02/02/2020 02/04/2020 7 9 16
Subtotal for 2020 253 142 395
2019 Trainings
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 53
Program Name Program
Status Start Date End Date Males Females
Total
Participants
Zambia Crop Genetics
Limited SADC HSRS Seed
Production and Certification
Training, Lusaka, Zambia
Completed 12/20/2019 12/20/2019 10 1 11
Mozambique Policy Dialogue
Workshop Completed 12/12/2019 12/12/2019 39 15 54
Zimbabwe Super Seeds
Cooperative Company SADC
HSRS Seed Production and
Certification Training, Harare,
Zimbabwe
Completed 12/03/2019 12/06/2019 43 60 103
Training of the border posts
officials on Quarantine and
Phytosanitary Measures for
Seed – Nacala Province
Completed 10/08/2019 10/08/2019 20 4 24
Training of the border posts
officials on Quarantine and
Phytosanitary Measures for
Seed – Manica Province
Completed 10/02/2019 10/02/2019 12 1 13
Training of the border posts
officials on Quarantine and
Phytosanitary Measures for
Seed – Tete Province
Completed 09/30/2019 09/30/2019 19 2 21
ZASTA Chanida/Katete
Border SADC HSRS
Awareness Workshop
Completed 07/30/2019 07/30/2019 13 1 14
Fall Armyworm Training of
Trainers-Harare, Zimbabwe Completed 07/15/2019 07/19/2019 26 7 33
ZASTA Chirundu Border
SADC HSRS Awareness
Workshop
Completed 06/12/2019 06/12/2019 15 2 17
APROSE OECD DUS
Training Completed 06/11/2019 06/14/2019 20 12 32
APROSE SADC HSRS
Awareness Workshop Completed 06/10/2019 06/10/2019 20 13 33
ZASTA Kazungula and
Livingstone Borders SADC
HSRS Awareness Workshop
Completed 05/22/2019 05/22/2019 13 3 16
SADC May 2019
Johannesburg Seed
Workshop
Completed 05/14/2019 05/16/2019 8 4 12
STAM SADC HSRS
Awareness Workshop Completed 04/18/2019 04/18/2019 19 5 24
STAM Dedza Board Meeting Completed 01/29/2019 02/01/2019 27 29 56
STAM Lilongwe Workshop Completed 01/19/2019 01/19/2019 41 18 59
Subtotal for 2019 345 177 522
2018 Trainings
ZARI Seed Statutory
Instruments Validation
Workshop-Lusaka
Completed 12/11/2018 12/11/2018 15 6 21
SADC HSR Pilot Launch
Lusaka Completed 12/4/2018 12/4/2018 8 1 9
STAM Grant Management
Training Completed 11/22/2018 11/22/2018 1 2 3
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 54
Program Name Program
Status Start Date End Date Males Females
Total
Participants
APROSE Grant Management
Training Completed 11/20/2018 11/20/2018 2 2 4
APROSE Grant Official
Launch Completed 11/19/2018 11/19/2018 15 2 17
STAM SADC HSR Second
Awareness Workshop Completed 11/15/2018 11/15/2018 27 19 46
OECD Guidelines Training
Zambia Completed 11/13/2018 11/23/2018 25 8 33
ZASTA Zambia-Congo D.R,
Kasumbalesa Border SADC
HRS Awareness Workshop
Completed 11/7/2018 11/8/2018 15 7 22
Malawi NPPO Salima SADC
Pest List Review Workshop Completed 11/5/2018 11/7/2018 15 3 18
Nampula Mozambique NPPO
Refresher Training on
Quarantine and Phytosanitary
Measures
Completed 10/24/2018 10/25/2018 17 5 22
ZIMBABWE OECD Seed
Inspection and Certification
Training
Completed 10/16/2018 10/19/2018 36 12 48
Seed Co HSR Pilot Farmers
Training Completed 10/8/2018 10/8/2018 13 1 14
October 2018 SADC Seed
Technical Meeting RSA Completed 10/1/2018 10/4/2018 16 7 23
First STAM Seed Sector
Stakeholders Awareness Completed 9/28/2018 9/28/2018 21 8 29
Presentation on the
Mozambique Seed Sector
Legal Framework
Completed 9/28/2018 9/28/2018 18 10 28
Dissemination for
Mozambique Seed Sector
Consultation Results
Completed 9/28/2018 9/28/2018 21 8 29
ZARI Workshop to Review
Draft SIs on PRA and SADC
Pest List
Completed 9/26/2018 9/26/2018 4 5 9
ZARI Training Completed 9/25/2018 9/25/2018 6 1 7
Nairobi DUS & VSU Training
of Trainers Completed 9/18/2018 9/21/2018 13 4 17
ZASTA Zambia-Malawi
Border Seed Stakeholders
Awareness Workshop
Completed 9/12/2018 9/13/2018 19 4 23
ZASTA Zambia Seed
Stakeholders Awareness
Workshop
Completed 7/30/2018 7/30/2018 16 8 24
Zambia Seed Industry Study
Tour Completed 5/28/2018 6/1/2018 7 3 10
Seed Trade Theory of
Change Workshop Completed 5/22/2018 5/24/2018 12 2 14
SADC Seed Certification and
Quality Assurance Piloting
Workshop
Completed 5/15/2018 5/16/2018 11 8 19
ZASTA HSR Awareness
Creation 2 Completed 4/20/2018 4/20/2018 18 9 27
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 55
Program Name Program
Status Start Date End Date Males Females
Total
Participants
ZASTA HSR Awareness
Creation 1 Completed 2/16/2018 2/16/2018 20 16 36
Subtotal for 2018 391 161 552
2017 Trainings
SADC Technical Meeting Completed 11/13/2017 11/17/2017 52 33 85
SADC Variety Release in
Zimbabwe Completed 8/7/2017 8/11/2017 28 12 40
SADC Seed Inspection in
Zimbabwe Completed 7/17/2017 7/19/2017 27 9 36
Mozambique SPF
Presentation Completed 7/14/2017 7/14/2017 23 9 32
SADC Seed Testing Training
of Trainers Completed 4/24/2017 4/28/2017 11 8 19
SCCI Online Seed LAB
Training Completed 4/2/2017 4/20/2017 17 10 27
Zimbabwe SPF Presentation Completed 3/24/2017 3/24/2017 19 7 26
SADC Seed Certification
Training of Trainers Completed 3/20/2017 3/23/2017 15 4 19
SADC DUS and VCU
Training of Trainers Completed 3/13/2017 3/17/2017 14 6 20
Zambia SPF Presentation Completed 2/14/2017 2/14/2017 10 1 11
Malawi SPF Presentation Completed 2/7/2017 2/7/2017 24 4 28
Subtotal for 2017 240 103 343
2016 Trainings
SADC Seed Committee
Meeting Completed 11/22/2016 11/24/2016 10 1 11
SCCI Online Seed
Certification Training
Workshop
Completed 11/1/2016 11/3/2016 22 10 32
Stakeholder Awareness
Workshop Completed 10/19/2016 10/19/2016 21 5 26
SADC Technical Committee
Meeting Completed 5/24/2016 5/25/2016 43 10 53
Maputo Stakeholder
Consultation Workshop Completed 3/31/2016 3/31/2016 9 2 11
Lusaka Stakeholder
Consultation Workshop Completed 3/24/2016 3/24/2016 8 1 9
Lusaka Stakeholder
Consultation Workshop Completed 3/23/2016 3/23/2016 10 1 11
Lilongwe Stakeholder
Consultation Workshop Completed 3/11/2016 3/11/2016 5 3 8
Lilongwe Stakeholder
Consultation Workshop Completed 3/10/2016 3/10/2016 7 3 10
Subtotal for 2016 135 36 171
GRAND TOTAL FOR LIFE OF PROJECT 1,485 671 2,156
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 56
ANNEX C: OUTREACH & PROMOTION
ARTICLES
Highlight Type Date Link
Mozambique Advances Seed Trade and Policy Development
Op-Ed January 3, 2021
https://agrilinks.org/post/mozambique-addressing-seed-deficit-problems-attain-food-security
Food for Thought: Raising Up Women Through Agriculture
International Women’s Day
March 5, 2021
https://www.usaid.gov/southern-africa-regional/news/food-thought-raising-women-through-agriculture
Five Things the Seed Sector Can do to Increase Food Security and Protect Our Earth
International Earth Hour
March 17, 2021
Not published
Sowing the Seeds of Future Prosperity
World Planting Day
March 21, 2021
https://www.usaid.gov/southern-africa-regionalnews/sowing-seeds-future-prosperity
State-of-the-Art Digital Microscope Positions Zambia for Increased International Seed Trade
Impact Story July 21, 2021
https://www.usaid.gov/southern-africa-regional/news/state-art-digital-microscope-positions-zambia-increased-international-seed
SOCIAL MEDIA
Highlight Platform Date Link
International Women’s Day
Facebook March 12, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3728497100519395&id=160990270603447
International Women’s Day
Twitter March 12, 2021 https://twitter.com/USAID_SAfrica/status/1370304630782066688
World Planting Day
Facebook March 21, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3753609078008197&id=160990270603447
World Planting Day
Twitter March 21, 2021 https://twitter.com/USAID_SAfrica/status/1373558817712185345
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 57
World Environment Day
Facebook June 5, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/USAIDZambia/photos/a.441686262624966/3762552767204949/
World Environment Day
Twitter June 5, 2021 https://twitter.com/USAIDZambia/status/1401239909847998465
World Food Safety Day
Facebook June 7, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3983877991647970&id=160990270603447
World Food Safety Day
Twitter June 7, 2021 https://twitter.com/USAID_SAfrica/status/1401893464246214656
Digital Microscope
Facebook July 27, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=4123201624382272&id=160990270603447
Digital Microscope
Twitter July 27, 2021 https://twitter.com/USAID_SAfrica/status/1419986020339159042
SADC HSRS Overview Video
Facebook September 27, 2021
https://fb.watch/aKmoAIaDl3/
World Food Day
Facebook October 16, 2021
https://fb.watch/aCuZsVaDOb/
Mozambique Technology Transfer
Facebook November 9, 2021
https://fb.watch/aKm9dM2FQE/
VIDEOS
Topic URL
Malawi Technology Transfer https://youtu.be/HROeSsCfKBg
Mozambique Technology Transfer https://www.facebook.com/USAIDMozambique/videos/860150918019050
World Food Day https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=906834603602737&ref=sharing
Benefits of producing and exporting improved seed under the SADC HSRS
https://youtu.be/gI94_ltW0eQ
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 58
Business case for seed producers https://youtu.be/mSKL-ENquZo
Registering a new seed variety to the regional catalogue (tutorial)
https://youtu.be/eNj3vhTdPxw
SADC HSRS Informational Video: Part 1 English: https://youtu.be/EYMZvZGRe_g French: https://youtu.be/dtfUfj55epY Portuguese: https://youtu.be/Wcexmu4buLI
SADC HSRS Informational Video: Part 2 English: https://youtu.be/7dv5Avn2kMs French: https://youtu.be/gMzmvz9vE5E Portuguese: https://youtu.be/-FacaAwAoBM
OECD Seed Schemes Informational Video https://youtu.be/yvJ5ANSg2J0
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 59
Op-Ed by Elsa Timana, Head of Mozambique’s National Seed Authority By: Elsa Timana, Head of the National Seed Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Government of the Republic of Mozambique According to the United Nations-led Food Security Cluster in Mozambique, an estimated 3.9 million people are severely food insecure and require urgent humanitarian assistance. Mozambique also has a seed shortage. The main drivers of this extensive food insecurity include conflict (northern); residual effects of the 2019 Cyclones Idai and Kenneth (northern and central); floods (northern and central); droughts (southern and central); and a prevalence of fake and substandard seed permeating the market. Further exacerbating matters is the COVID-19 pandemic. Of all those affected, 1.5 million were already food insecure pre-COVID-19 and an estimated additional 2.4 million were pushed into acute food insecurity due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The simultaneous and consecutive shocks have left our most vulnerable populations with limited options to cope, much less able to thrive. And while partners are doing their best to reach Mozambique’s most affected with food and livelihood assistance, our nation needs a more sustainable plan for long-term food security. Mozambican seed companies have been plagued with a very limited capacity to produce high-quality seed at scale, attract qualified personnel, and invest in research and breeding due to significant financial limitations. These financial and resource limitations further drive weak coverage for seed quality control and assurance – no vehicles to conduct crop inspections, no lab equipment to test and certify seed, and no seed labeling system to indicate seed quality. Through a joint partnership with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Mozambique’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, we are working to come up with sustainable, long-term solutions that deepen food security for our nation and provide a pathway toward economic prosperity. And we are already reaping the benefits of this collaboration. With the assistance of the USAID-funded Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project, Mozambique has advanced its Seed Legal and Regulatory Framework by determining areas of alignment with the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory System and reforms needed to accelerate domestication. Through the development of eight policy briefs supported by the Seed Trade Project, Mozambican seed stakeholders and government representatives are working to improve the seed sector business environment, productivity and availability of quality seed. Together with the Association for the Promotion of the Seed Sector in Mozambique (APROSE) and the Mozambique’s Seed Trade Association (MOSTA), we are developing an action plan to improve performance of the seed sector based on recommendations from these eight briefs and policy discussions. We are also addressing the issues of individual and institutional capacity and shoring up our infrastructure to ensure quality seed is circulating in the Mozambican market. Through the partnership with the USAID’s Seed Trade Project, more than 150 personnel have been trained according to regional and international standards: border agents including plant and seed inspectors, customs officials, clearing agents; agro-dealers; staff from the National Seed Authority (NSA) and National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO); academia; and seed producers (both individuals and companies). The
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 60
Seed Trade Project has supported Mozambique in modernizing important infrastructure, critical for ensuring seed quality and control. We now have an Online Seed Certification System, which dramatically cuts costs and time for seed producers, and enables Mozambique to comply with the SADC Seed Certification and Quality Assurance System requirements and is ready for OECD accreditation. But the support has not stopped there. The Seed Trade Project has also procured and delivered state-of-the-art seed testing laboratory equipment for the Chimoio Seed Laboratory to improve our seed quality assurance system, and provide high-quality seed testing services that comply with regional and international seed testing requirements (SADC and International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)). It will further improve the quality of seed testing and enable the Seed Department to fully implement the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory System. Lastly, we have worked hard to replace fake and substandard seed with high-quality, improved seed that can deliver higher yields, withstand climate shocks, and resist pests and want to make farmers aware of their availability. Beginning in 2019, the Seed Trade Project began working with the seed companies to pressure-test the SADC HSRS. To date, there have been four pilot seed productions under the regional guidelines, two of which have exported to Mozambique between October and November 2020. Lake Agriculture of Zambia produced 250 MT of improved maize seed and exported 216 MT to Mozambique in October. Similarly, Zimbabwe Super Seeds Cooperative Company produced 228 MT of improved sugar bean seed under the regional guidelines and exported 100 MT to Mozambique in November. Normally, it would take Mozambique three years to return to its status quo prior to the cyclones, replenishing parent and regular seed supplies. However, with the influx of the 316 MT under the SADC HSRS and other consignments of improved seed ahead of the 2020/21 planting season, Mozambique’s ability to recover has drastically improved. It has also been announced that Seed Co. Zambia, Lake Agriculture and Zimbabwe Super Seeds are all scaling up their production of improved seed under the SADC HSRS in 2020/21, and plan to export to Mozambique, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo later in the upcoming year using the SADC Seed Label. Seed companies continue to register their improved seed varieties on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue, which now boasts 89 high-quality seed varieties including maize, sorghum, beans, Irish potatoes, wheat, cotton, soybean, and groundnuts. These seed varieties are accessible to farmers in any SADC nation, including Mozambique and can be sought after through agro-dealers. So, what is next? All of these efforts have positioned Mozambique for success and we must not let this opportunity slip through our collective fingers. We must see to it that our national seed policies fully align with the SADC’s Harmonized Seed Regulatory System. We must strengthen Mozambique’s seed quality control and certification system and insist on strict seed quality control at both the national and regional levels. And we must continue to enable seed companies with practical knowledge and skills, so they can comply with the regional standards and enable the development of the national seed industry. If we can keep focused on these agenda items, Mozambique’s agricultural sector can grow, farmers can gain economic benefits from a broader regional market, and we can all weather the shocks that are bound to come because seed can move more seamlessly between us and our neighbors.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 61
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: RAISING WOMEN THROUGH AGRICULTURE Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project
IN MALAWI, S WORKING TO SHAPE HER NATION’S FUTURE - ONE SEED AT A TIME Why should women have a prominent role in Malawi’s
agriculture future? According to
Team Leader for the Seed Certification and Quality
Control for the Ministry of Agriculture’s Seed Services
Unit (SSU), the answer is simple. “Women are the ones
who put food on the table every day. They also represent
40 percent of Malawi’s farming community and are willing
to grow neglected crops that men ignore. When it comes
to agriculture, women should not just be sitting at the
family table, but be a heard voice at the policy table.”
arents are small-scale farmers, but that is
not what inspired her enthusiasm for agriculture. “My
interest in agriculture began when I started working with
seeds in Malawi’s Department of Agriculture Research
Services (DARS). I realized you can’t grow anything
without a seed. A farmer can have good land, fertilizer,
and water, but without seed, they cannot grow anything.
And beyond that, it needs to be the right kinds of seed
combined with proper management to produce an
abundant yield.” This realization drove to Iowa State University (ISU) in the United
States where she earned her Ph.D. specializing in Seed Science and gained important experience
through her work at the largest public seed testing laboratory in the world - the ISU Seed Science
Center.
With that knowledge and experience, she returned to Malawi and now plays a key leadership role
in helping her country implement the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC)
Harmonized Seed Regulatory System (HSRS). The HSRS is a SADC-wide policy that establishes
elevated standards for seed production and trade among all 16 SADC nations, allowing for
improved, high-quality seed to quickly move across national borders. To date, Malawi has signed
the SADC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the SADC HSRS and has made significant
progress toward domestication of all three elements of the regional policy: Variety Release, Seed
Certification, and Quality Assurance, and Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures for Seed. By
the end of 2021, it is anticipated that Malawi will enact a Seed Bill, making them only the second
SADC nation to fully domesticate the HSRS along with Zambia.
“In my work with the Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project, we have been able to
facilitate speedy alignment of the country’s seed legislation to the HSRS based on the Project’s
excellent policy advice, and have improved implementation of seed certification and quality control
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 62
through the Project’s capacity-building support. Further, the Seed Trade Project has established
an Online Seed Certification System, which has received tremendous accolades from Malawi’s
seed industry and significantly reduced the amount of paperwork the SSU must handle.”
To realize full domestication of the SADC HSRS, s also pushing hard and actively
advocating for women, not only to be part of the conversation but also to be taken seriously. “With
women representing nearly half of all farmers, they have a role in decision-making. To improve
agriculture, all components of the value chain must be strengthened. For instance, in seed systems,
it is not enough to have improved crop varieties without seed multiplication, processing, and
distribution. Further, for more crop varieties to develop, farmers (both men and women), should be
able to sell any surplus produced from the use of high-quality seed to be able to buy more certified
seed which will ultimately drive the seed system. This is true with any improved agriculture
technology”.
drive toward more equitable systems is not just about women having a voice, but also
granting them access to the benefits of these systems. “If we can create equitable systems, the
benefits are numerous for everyone including greater investments by the seed sector to develop
superior crop varieties; new markets for farmers and seed companies; increased seed production
and access to a greater portfolio of improved seed; and increased employment opportunities,
particularly for women.”
But there are real challenges with women becoming an integral part of these systemic changes,
and in turn, reap these benefits. “Decisions made by women are considered not good enough and
are often minimized. There have been meetings I’ve sat in where I’ve made great contributions,
and it’s only until a man says the same thing, that the ideas are considered. It’s unfair. But as a
regulator, I have always stood by my decisions as long as they are supported by legislation, and
that’s another reason I am doing everything I can to move the Seed Bill along. There are also
preconceptions that women can’t execute on programs, as well – they are deemed “too busy” with
household duties. But I have always insisted on being given the chance and have performed better
than my male colleagues.”
Despite these challenges, believes firmly that agriculture is an exciting and satisfying
career for women to enter, offering huge potential to improve their livelihoods. “Women are patient,
good educators, and fast learners. They can do everything from de-tasseling seed parents in hybrid
seed fields and hand-grading legume seeds to disseminating information about the Harmonized
Seed Regulatory System. Their involvement could be a game-changer in the scale-up,
implementation, and adoption of improved agriculture technologies, like improved crop varieties
and agronomic practices. They are critical to making Malawi a healthy, food-secure nation.”
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 63
5 Things the Seed Sector Can Do to Increase Food Security & Protect Our Earth
A Call-to-Action for SADC Seed Sector Stakeholders “While intent is the seed of manifestation, action is the water that nourishes the seed. Your actions must reflect your goals in order to achieve true success.” George Washington People around the world will salute Mother Earth by ceremoniously turning off lights at 8 PM local time to mark Earth Hour. But are there more, tangible things we can do to honor and protect our precious Earth? Without a doubt. For its contribution to Earth Hour 2021, the Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project would like to challenge the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) seed sector to take action in five practical ways, beginning today, that will protect the Earth, increase biodiversity, and improve food security across the region, even in the midst of climate change and rising populations. 1. National Governments in the SADC Region can support the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulatory
System (HSRS), which establishes regionally agreed upon standards for trade of high-quality,
improved seed and provides clear guidelines on how to grow crops from these seeds so that they
produce the highest yields and make sustainable use of soil and water. There are three specific
ways Member States can support the SADC HSRS. First, if your country has not yet signed the
Memorandum of Understanding to operationalize the SADC Technical Agreements on
Harmonization of Seed Regulations, then now is the time. These agreements facilitate the
movement of high-quality seed across national borders, which can help stabilize the regional
markets and ensure food security. Second, if your country does not currently have national seed
legislation that currently aligns with the
SADC HSRS, then you can take steps toward
developing and enacting a National Seed
Law. Third, if your national government has
already acceded to the MoU and has a
national law that aligns with the SADC
HSRS, then the next step is to support
implementation by working closely with
seed companies and help them be in
compliance with the regional guidelines.
2. Seed Companies can register their improved seed on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue. The SADC Seed Centre has taken steps to streamline this process, making it easier than ever to apply to the regional catalogue. Once approved, a seed variety listed on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue can be marketed in any one of the 16 SADC Member States, opening up tremendous possibilities for private sector growth while also giving farmers increased access to high-quality seed. Currently, there are 91 improved varieties listed on the catalogue including maize, cotton, sorghum, beans, Irish potatoes, groundnuts, wheat and soybean. Seed companies are encouraged to not only register their improved seed, but also add to the diversity of seed available to farmers. Women farmers, in particular, are willing to grow a variety of crops including neglected ones in order to increase dietary variety and improved nutrition for their families and communities.
“Seed is a key input for improving
agricultural productivity and
ensuring food security, and access
to quality seed facilitates food
resource diversification and
prevention of genetic erosion.” – Peter Lungu, Director of Zambia’s
National Plant Protection Organization
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 64
3. Seed Producers, which might include seed companies, cooperatives and independent farmers, can
produce approved seed varieties in compliance with the SADC HSRS and either sell to a local market or export to other SADC Member States. Again, once a seed variety is approved on the regional catalogue, it can be marketed and exported to any one of 16 SADC Member States. For example, companies like Seed Co Zambia Ltd. and Lake Agriculture are now producing seed in Zambia for export to seed deficit countries such as Angola, DRC, Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique. Zimbabwe Super Seed Cooperative Company, which up until last year did not have access to any markets outside of Zimbabwe, will be exporting sugar bean seed to Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia by the end of 2021.
4. Agro-dealers play an important role in connecting farmers with high-quality, improved seed. Seed
companies are marketing to specific countries whose soil, climate and rainfall are well-matched. Agro-dealers can become familiar with the information listed on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue for each approved seed variety and work directly with seed companies to acquire supplies. The SADC Seed Centre updates the list on an ongoing basis, so it is important that agro-dealers frequently check the Catalogue. Further, agro-dealers can offer important technical assistance to farmers who plan to grow improved seed, and therefore should become familiar with the SADC Harmonized Seed Regulations and encourage compliance.
5. Farmers have a great deal to gain by planting high-quality, improved seed. Not only do they
produce higher crop yields, but the increased income that can be generated can help grow business
or be re-invested into the family and household. Farmers should reach out to their local agro-
dealer(s), inquire about improved seed varieties, and work with them to gain access to these high-
quality seed varieties. Further, farmers can play a vital role in preserving seed, soil and water by
using sustainable agricultural practices that meet production expectations, promote healthy
biodiversity and sensibly manage natural resources. Examples of these types of practices include
crop rotation, natural pest management, and naturally suppressing weed growth.
If each stakeholder group does its part, whether creating sound policy that facilitates the trade of improved seed or creating a supply of high-quality or demanding access to better seed, the SADC region has the potential to prosper in new and formidable ways. But most importantly, the seed sector could drive food security across SADC, make the region more resilient to climate shocks and help repair damage done to our Earth in real, meaningful ways. Now is the time.
Photo: Shutterstock
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 65
SOWING THE SEEDS OF FUTURE PROSPERITY Friday, March 19, 2021
Woman farmer tending to her plants
SADC Seed Companies Scale-up Production and Export Under the SADC
Harmonized Seed Regulatory Systems
“It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn.”
Ask any farmer, and they’ll say this quote by B.C. Forbes, the founder of Forbes Magazine, is a
truism – a way of life – not just a metaphor for how to live life. Prosperity comes to those who
literally plant seeds. But nowadays, with climate change, invasive pests, and plant diseases, not
every seed is equal. Through the Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project (Seed
Trade Project)(link is external), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is
showing that a little upfront investment can be catalytic to long-term prosperity and food security.
Sowing the Seeds: Pilot Productions and Exports Substantiate Regional System
Beginning in 2018, the Seed Trade Project awarded Seed Co. Zambia Ltd. with a $100K grant to
pilot production of high-quality maize seed under the Southern African Development
Community’s (SADC) Harmonized Seed Regulatory System (HSRS)(link is external). Seed
companies who register their improved seed varieties on the SADC Seed Variety Catalogue(link
is external) and receive approval from the SADC Seed Centre can then proceed with production
and export, following the guidelines, to any of the 16 SADC Member States.
The Seed Co Zambia pilot production and export(link is external) proved a tremendous
success. By September 2019, Seed Co Zambia, with the help of the Zambia National Seed
Authority started exporting to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The success of Seed
Co.’s pilot export sparked interest from several other seed producers vying to break into the SADC
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 66
market and resulted in the Seed Trade Project awarding three emerging seed companies with
grants each to Lake Agriculture of Zambia, Zimbabwe Super Seeds Cooperative Company
(ZSS) of Zimbabwe, and Peacock Seeds of Malawi. These additional pilots collectively produced
high-quality seed which was exported to countries like a cyclone hit Mozambique.
These pilot exports were the first-time improved varieties that crossed national borders bearing
both the SADC seed labels and certificates, allowing the consignments to clear customs in
minutes—not hours or days. The SADC seed labels and certificates have also proven useful in
helping recipient countries quickly identify high-quality seed from fake or substandard seed. As
Seed Co Zambia’s Country Manager for DRC and Angola, states, “The SADC
seed labels are an advantage for border post clearances and assist in distinguishing genuine seed
from fake seed in the DRC. It’s just one more benefit of producing seed under the SADC HSRS.”
Future Prosperity: Scale-up Efforts in Progress
Of the four seed companies who participated in the pilot productions and exports, three returned to
the Seed Trade Project to sign commitments for scale-up productions and exports under the SADC
HSRS during the 2020/21 planting season. However, this time, they did so without additional grant
funding—only technical support and guidance from the Seed Trade Project.
ZSS Managing Director “The respect the SADC HSRS gets in the region
makes it an ideal production standard which we can use further. As Zimbabwe Super Seeds, we
are going to continue using the SADC HSRS whenever we have orders going outside the country
– it makes our life easier”.
Each company is currently at different stages of production, with anticipated exports set between
September – November 2021.
The Farmer Who Faithfully Plants…
With new markets available to seed producers and increased profits, another benefit of producing
and exporting high-quality seed under the SADC HSRS is the potential for much-needed forex to
enter each exporting nation. Lastly, farmers across SADC are spoilt for choice, gaining increased
access to improved seeds that will allow them to grow higher yield crops, further increasing both
nutrition and food security for the region, as well as for their families.
ZSS outgrower farmer shares, “I have already received my payment for the
seed which I delivered to ZSS. As a family, we plan to build a three-roomed house and I’ll send my
children to school through college level. I have gained a lot of knowledge growing seed with
Zimbabwe Super Seeds, and I am willing to continue growing seed using the SADC standards.”
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 67
State-of-the-Art Digital Microscope Positions Zambia for Increased International Seed Trade Every National Seed Authority requires state-of-the-art equipment to enable seed purity testing. In late 2020, the Zambian Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) reached out to USAID-managed Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project (Seed Trade Project) flagging their need for a modern digital microscope. In response, the Seed Trade Project awarded the Institute a US$9,000 in-kind grant to procure the digital microscope. The high-end microscope was delivered in April 2021 and followed by virtual training on its proper use and functionality on May 20, 2021. Food safety begins early in the food chain – from the moment seed is produced through the point food reaches the family table. Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture aims to prevent, control, and contain plant diseases, invasive pests, and weeds as a way of enhancing both national and regional agricultural production, productivity, and food security. This is done through the SCCI, which is Zambia’s National Seed Authority (NSA). But for Zambia to trade high-quality seed internationally, it must be proficient in international standards such as the Other Seed Determination (OSD) tests, which are audited by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). Passing those audits had become a serious challenge, though – until now. “SCCI had been using an obsolete microscope for OSD testing. Every time we sent results to ISTA, we were failing because we couldn’t identify the weeds in the samples,” says
, the SCCI Chief Seed Officer in charge of Testing Laboratory Services. These failures threatened the country’s ISTA accreditation and position as Africa’s largest maize seed exporter. OSD tests are an ISTA requirement and were most recently adopted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Harmonized Seed Regulatory System (HSRS). As the regional policy for the production and trade of improved seed, the SADC HSRS ensures that Member States meet certain requirements for regional seed export, and in turn, protect the food people consume and their environment. All seed must be inspected and certified, confirming it is free of foreign seeds, pests, and plant diseases, as well as anything
that would prove harmful to the food chain and human consumption. “We are there to put controls on the quality of seed that is on the market. We don’t want junk out there. For quality control, seed testing is very vital. If a test fails, the poor seed won’t be released on the market, and this is a good thing for farmers who want to make something at the end of the day,” says SCCI Senior Seed Analyst. With this new equipment, SCCI can meet expectations for quality seed control. “This is a modern digital microscope used in almost all ISTA accredited labs around the world. With it, SCCI has improved our ability to identify foreign bodies in ISTA samples (during audits). Purity testing will now be done accordingly because we have the necessary equipment,” state
An SCCI seed laboratory technician using the new digital microscope. Photo Credit: Seed Trade Project
Sr. lab technician, Theresa Mutiti, prepping to test maize seed.
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 68
“Further, with this new digital microscope, we can now see even the tiniest weed – this wasn’t possible with the previous microscope.”
Since its beginning, the Seed Trade Project has supported the SCCI in several other ways. In 2019, the Project installed a modern cold storage facility following a 2015 fire that destroyed the much smaller original facility. The new facility, equipped with a modern cooling system, can store up to 10,000 reference seeds for all 16 SADC Member States. The Project also supported SCCI with the installation of Zambia’s Online Seed Certification System, the Seed Lab, moving the Institute from paper-based to online service delivery for over sixty thousand clients. All these efforts contribute to the safe production and trade of seed across the SADC region, ultimately leading to increased food production, trade, and, ultimately, food security.
Purity testing will now be
done accordingly because
we have the necessary
equipment.”
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 69
ANNEX D: INSTITUTIONS RECEIVING U.S.
GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
Zambia
Ministry of Agriculture Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zambia Agriculture Research Institute Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary and development of statutory
instruments for seed regulation
Seed Certification and Control
Institute
Business improvement and seed variety release, seed
certification and quality assurances practices
Zambia Seed Trade Association Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Klein Karoo Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ZAMSEED Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
MRI/Syngenta Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Harvest Plus Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Ministry of Commerce, Trade and
Industry
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
University of Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Caritas Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
KAML Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
CropLife Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
CTDI Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
AgriCoop News Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
National Union of Small Scale
Farmers
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Bayer Monsanto Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Share Africa Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Kamano Seed Company Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Bollore Transport Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
TARA Farming Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Cross Border Traders Association of
Zambia
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 70
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
ZCSA Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Pioneer Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zambia Associations for Clearing and
Forwarding Agents
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
QualiBasic Seed Company Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Lake Agriculture/Zambia Crop
Genetics Limited
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Allan Miller Lilayi Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Cameo Estates-Mkushi Zambia Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ZED TV Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ZANIS Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zambia 24 Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Classic Radio Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Power FM/TV Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Life TV Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
National Agriculture Information
Service
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Daily Nation Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Good Nature Agro Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Omnia Fertilizer (Z) Ltd Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
CABI Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Mahesh Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Paul Thomson Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Fwambana Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Michalakis Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Nyamanzi Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Damust Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Francis Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Ministry of Justice Review of the Draft Plant Variety and Seeds Bill
Advanta Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 71
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA)
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Malawi
Department of Agricultural Research
Services (DARS)
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Seed Tech Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Mbeu Seed Investment Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
CAN TV Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Nema Farm Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Panthochi Farms Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Seed Services Unit (SSU) Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Plant Protection Commodity Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Seed Co Malawi Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Malawi Revenue Authority Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Global Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Clearing and Forwarding Agents
Association of Malawi
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Bridge Shipping Limited Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
S&K Shipping Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Horizon SCC Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Cargomate Limited Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Integrated Freight Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Liberty Freight Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Transmaritime Freight Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Global Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Peacock Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
MUSECO Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Demeter Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ARET Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
NASCOMEX Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
TRFCA Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 72
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
CPM Agri Enterprise Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ETG Limited Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Bayer Malawi Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
AISL Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
PCB Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Premium Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
TASAI Regional Agriculture Trade Integration, Variety Release,
seed testing and certification, quarantine and
phytosanitary
USAID-S34D Regional Agriculture Trade Integration, Variety Release,
seed testing and certification, quarantine and
phytosanitary
DIMAGI International Regional Agriculture Trade Integration, Variety Release,
seed testing and certification, quarantine and
phytosanitary
Universal Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Funwe Investments Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
MGOMERA Investments Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Pindulani Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Exagris Africa Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Pannar Seed Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Pyxus Agriculture Seed testing and certification
Agriculture Research and Extension
Trust
Seed testing and certification
UVGV (Limbe Leaf) Seed testing and certification
Parliamentary Committee on
Agriculture
Review of the National Seed Bill
Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) Review of the National Seed Bill
Civil Society Agriculture Network
(CISANET)
Review of the National Seed Bill
Mozambique
Ministry of Agriculture Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Agro-Comercial Olinda Fondo Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
TECAP Agro-dealer Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Agricultural Productivity Program for
Southern Africa (a World Bank
Program)
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Samora Maguazane Investimentos Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 73
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
SEMEAR Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Mozambique Autoridade Nacional de
Sementes
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Uniao Nacional de Camponeses
(National Union of Farmers)
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Mindzo Commercial Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Seed Co Mozambique Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Techno-Serve Mozambique Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Procampo Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Klein Karoo Mozambique Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Solucoes Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Oruwera Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Helvetas Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
DPCI Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
DSV Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
SDC Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
COWI Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
SMI Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
United Purpose Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
VEM Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Culturas de aviso Previo Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ORAM Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
C-Zembe Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
IAV Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Pannar Seed Company Mozambique Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Emilia Commercial Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Dengo Commercial Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Agroserv Mozambique Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Jumato Commercial Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 74
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
SEMOC Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Nzara Yapera Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Munguambe Fihos Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Hortisepre Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
JNB Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
AENA Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Syngenta Mozambique Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ACOF Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
DNEA Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Phoenix Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Mozambique Institute of Agriculture
Research (IIAM)
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Departamento de Sanidade Vegetal Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Agrico Seed testing and certification using the online system
AgriServ Seed testing and certification using the online system
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Seed Trade Association
(ZSTA)
OECD Accreditation and Variety Release, seed testing
and certification, quarantine and phytosanitary
Seed Services Institute (Zimbabwe
NSA)
OECD Accreditation and Variety Release, seed testing
and certification, quarantine and phytosanitary
Zimbabwe NPPO OECD Accreditation and Variety Release, seed testing
and certification, quarantine and phytosanitary
AGPY OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
AGRISEEDS OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
KUTSAGA OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
MATAPIRI OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
National Tested Seeds OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
Prime Seeds Company OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
Mukushi Seeds OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
PANNAR Seeds OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
Zimbabwe Garden Seeds OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
Bio-Technology Authority of
Zimbabwe
Guidelines on clearing seed consignments carrying SADC
seed labels and certificates
Freight Forwarders Association of
Zimbabwe
Guidelines on clearing seed consignments carrying SADC
seed labels and certificates
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Guidelines on clearing seed consignments carrying SADC
seed labels and certificates
Capstone Seeds (Mustastone) OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
SIRDC (ZTS Seeds) OECD Seed Schemes/Seed Testing and Certification
Seed Co Zimbabwe Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Klein Karoo Zimbabwe Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 75
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
Pioneer Hi-Bred (PVT) Limited
(Corteva Agriscience)
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zimbabwe Super Seeds Cooperative
Company
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zaka District Seed Growers
Association
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Masvingo District Seed Growers
Association
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Quton Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Gutu District Seed Growers
Association
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Farm & City Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zadzamatura Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Thermal Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Marondera University of Agricultural
Sciences and Technology
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Champion Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Valley Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
SDC Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Intaba Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Crop Breeding Institute Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
CIMMYT Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ZFC Ltd Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zimbabwe Farmers' Union Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
ZMF Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Harvest Plus Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Easi Seeds Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
CTDO Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
FAO Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Zimbabwe Plant Breeders
Association
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Curechem Group Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Tobacco Research Board Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Windmills Development Group Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
2021 Calendar Report: Seed Trade Project January 2022 Page | 76
Country Name of Firm/Organization USG Funded Support Rendered
Namibia Ministry of Agriculture Fall Army Worm Training
Eswatini Ministry of Agriculture Fall Army Worm Training
Angola Ministry of Agriculture Fall Army Worm Training
DRC
Ministry of Agriculture Fall Army Worm Training
Department of Revenue and Customs Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Seed Co DRC Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary
Madagascar Ministry of Agriculture Fall Army Worm Training
Botswana Ministry of Agriculture Fall Army Worm Training
Regional
Organizations
SADC FANR Drafting the Seed Production, Certification and Quality
Assurance Guidelines
SADC Seed Centre Operationalizing the Seed Centre Sustainability Business
Model
Africa Seed Trade Association
(AFSTA)
Variety Release, seed testing and certification, quarantine
and phytosanitary