The stakeholders in the West African and Sahelian seed sector are meeting this week in Accra to assess progress in regulatory harmonization designed to ease the circulation of seeds across the region.
The 10th Ordinary Meeting of the Regional Seed and Seedling Committee of West Africa and the Sahel (CRSPAO) is being held from September 15–17 with representatives from 23 countries, under the auspices of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) and its institutional partners.
This annual gathering reviews the implementation of the regional harmonized seed regulation adopted in 2018 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and
Monetary Union (UEMOA), and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).
The ultimate goal is to ensure the free movement of certified seeds across West Africa and the Sahel, thereby boosting agricultural productivity and advancing regional food self-sufficiency, according to a statement made available to APA on Monday.
“We must intensify our efforts to ensure harmonized seed regulations serve as dynamic tools that facilitate seed trade, guarantee quality assurance, and expand farmers’ access to improved varieties,” said John Dumelo, Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, host of the meeting.
Persistent challenges
Seven years on, the regulation has yet to deliver its full impact. Dr. Moumini Savadogo, Executive Director of CORAF, described the progress as mixed. “Seed multiplication remains insufficient to meet our needs, certification systems are still plagued by dysfunctions, and—most importantly—trade barriers continue to restrict the free movement of seeds between our countries,” he said.
These structural obstacles, he argued, call for “innovative solutions and renewed political will” to unlock the potential of the regional seed market. The ECOWAS Commission also acknowledges “the central role of seeds in boosting agricultural productivity,” stressed Dr. Emmanuel Glé,representing the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture.
CORAF, which has served as the technical secretariat of the CRSPAO since its inception, reaffirmed its commitment to coordination with
the support of technical and financial partners.
Established in 1987 and headquartered in Dakar, the subregional body brings together the national agricultural research systems of 23 West and Central African countries to sustainably increase agricultural output and improve livelihoods.
The Accra meeting will review recommendations from the ninth session,
held in Abidjan in 2024, and set priorities to accelerate farmers’ access to quality seeds across the region.
Deliberations will continue through September 17, bringing together seed institutions, technical partners, and farmers’ organizations from across West Africa and the Sahel.
ARD/sf/lb/gik/APA