Experts to map the way forward for seed industry
Addressing challenges facing the seed industry in Malawi requires an inclusive approach of engaging both public and private sector institutions to invest in the seed industry with the aim of creating an enabling environment for players to thrive, the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) has said.
AICC Programme Manager- Legumes Mphatso Dakamau said challenges facing the seed industry include lack of robust demand and supply estimates for seed, weak collaboration of stakeholders, poor system of multiplication, storage and distribution of certified seed and overdependence on rain fed agriculture.
Following this development, the Legumes Development Trust, a body under AICC has organised a National Seed Industry Conference in Lilongwe on Wednesday with the aim of providing a forum for analysing and deliberating current efforts, gaps and solutions in the seed industry in Malawi.
Dakamau said: “The conference will help us to analyse and deliberate the current efforts and gaps in the seed policy and regulatory frameworks and environment as well as developing feasible mitigation measures to the impact of climate variability on seed production and availability in Malawi.
“On top of this, we will identify, quantify and map the supply and demand of seed in Malawi and the seed industry in general. Action points will be developed with stakeholders and we hope to see improvements in the near future. The seed industry has potential to be the back bone of the economy and we just need to improve on collaboration of players.”
The conference will attract stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. These include seed companies, farmers’ organisations, relevant Government departments in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Ministry of Industry and Trade, non-governmental organisations and the donor community.
