Restrictions on cross border movement affecting seed supply chain COMESA countries

By Our Reporter
Restrictions on cross border movement imposed in response to the
Coronavirus pandemic by countries in the COMESA region, have adversely
affected the supply of seeds which may lead to food insecurity,
according to experts.
Experts from the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and the COMESA
Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA),
now recommend classification of seeds as essential commodities that
should be allowed unrestricted movement across the region.
“If the seed movement is not normalized in the next six months, 123
million out of 650 million people in the COMESA region will face
starvation,” according to a joint statement issued by the two
organizations.
According to COMESA/ACTESA  Seed Expert, Dr John Mukuka, a few
countries have reported difficulties to move seeds across borders. If
this trend continues, there will be inadequate harvests, a situation
that will lead to food insecurity, malnutrition and hunger the COMESA
and African countries, in the next few months.
“Closing borders or even slowing down the trans-boundary movement of
seeds could create a significant problem in the seed supply chain,” Dr
Mukuka said noting that regional countries need to ensure access to
quality and improved seed for the 80 million small scale farmers in
the COMESA region and beyond.
Dr  Mukuka observed that no country today could fully supply farmers
with quality seed of their choice solely from their own production.
Hence, companies produce seed in different countries all over the
world including COMESA, to mitigate the risk of crop failures due to
adverse weather conditions.
“By finding optimal locations for seed production, timing of harvest,
and localized expertise, the seed sector ensures steady supply of seed
for farmers everywhere in the region and globally,” he said.
Mukuka said ACTESA and AFSTA appeals to Member States to allow free
movements of seed at this time of the year in line with international
standard practice of seed trade and in conformity with COMESA Seed
Harmonisation Implementation Plan (COMSHIP).
This includes: facilitating the movement of seed within the region in
line with the COMESA Harmonised Seed Trade Regulations; application of
phytosanitary measures for seed only for pests, which are not common
to all COMESA countries; use the COMESA Regional Seed certificates and
labels for all seed meeting the COMESA Seed Standards among others
Since 2010 COMESA/ACTESA has been working with AFSTA on the
implementation of COMSHIP.  AFSTA has more than 118 Members from 39
countries of which 27 are National Seed Trade Associations (NSTAs) in
Africa and 44 associate members worldwide.
ACTESA is a specialized agency of COMESA formed to address staple food
production and marketing in the region.