22/07/2025
NEW COMESA SEED CERTIFICATION SYSTEM A GAME CHANGER
By Kelly Njombo
FOOD insecurity and poverty could be reduced among African countries, if smallholder farmers had access to good, quality and certified seeds.
Farmers depend on access to good quality seed, which is fundamental to their crop production system, as well as resilience to climate change.
However, out of the 90 million smallholder farmers in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region, only 20 percent have access to quality and improved seed.
According to COMESA Statistics, limited access to improved seed varieties is negatively impacting about 130 million people across COMESA, by remaining food insecure, experiencing chronic poverty and hunger. This out of the total 610 million COMESA population.
It is worth noting, that the potential of total seed market in COMESA region is at 2 million metric tonnes of quality and improved seed, however, the region is currently producing and accessing less than 500,000 metric tonnes, equivalent to two percent of the global seed production and value.
The above challenge is attributed to the regional seed market, which is still fragmented into small national markets, and each country operates its seed policies and regulations differently from other COMESA Member States.
Therefore, seed companies enter each of the national seed markets separately and individually. This is not only costly for the seed companies but also results in prolonged delays before seeds of good quality can find their way to the small-scale farmers.
In view of the above, COMESA, through its Specialised Agency, the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has launched the Regional Seed Certification and Labelling System in its efforts to combat counterfeit seed, improve access to quality seed, thereby boost food security and regional agricultural trade.
The COMESA Seed and Certification Labels are key in monitoring the transparent free movement of seeds within the COMESA region, and crucial to ensuring increased seed production, reliability and competitiveness of the seed industry.
The initiative, backed by the European Union (EU), also aims to harmonise seed standards, boost intra-regional trade, and expand seed availability across the 21 COMESA Member States.
Commenting on the development, ACTESA chief executive officer John Mukuka, described the launch as a milestone, adding that the COMESA Labelling system will promote competitiveness of the seed industry in the Southern and Eastern African (ESA) region.
Speaking during the launch, Dr Mukuka explained that access to quality seed is critical for the agricultural value chain, and that the COMESA Regional Certificates and labels will expedite the seed export and imports by the Member States, therefore facilitating the seamless flow of seeds in the region.
“With the funding from the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP), funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), ACTESA has managed to launch the COMESA Seed Labelling and Certification System. The COMESA Regional Certificates and labels will expedite the seed export and imports by Member States, therefore facilitating the seamless flow of seeds in the region,” he said.
With access to quality seeds being a challenge, the COMESA regional labels are key in monitoring the transparent free movement of seeds within the region and crucial to ensuring increased seed production, reliability and competitiveness of the seed industry in the Common Market.
This initiative has excited Government, with Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, John Mulongoti revealing that about 4.3 million COMESA seed labels and regional certificates were now available for use by Member States through the COMESA Seed Unit, working with National Seed Authorities.
In a speech read on his behalf by Ministry of Agriculture Director of Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services Kenneth Msiska, Mr Mulongoti notes that the meeting provided an avenue for all seed stakeholders in COMESA Member States and beyond an opportunity to launch and further pilot the COMESA Regional Certificates and Labels which will help in the seamless flow of seed within the Common Market.
He urged stakeholders to use the COMESA Regional Seed Certificates and Labels, as Government works on enhancing access to quality and affordable seed to farmers, thus facilitate reliability through promotion of traceable information for any agribusiness products.
“A vibrant, modern and competitive seed industry that meets national demands and contributes to regional seed requirements in terms of adequacy, affordability, and quality is therefore essential for agricultural growth. Agriculture continues to be a critical sector of development in the region,” Mr Mulongoti said.
Evidently, it has been anticipated that the newly introduced system is expected to harmonise seed standards, expedite exports, and enhance the availability of high-quality seed across the region.
It is for this reason that, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Zambia and COMESA Karolina Stasiak expressed confidence that the regional Seed Certification and Labelling System is not just a technical achievement, but a strategic step toward unlocking regional seed trade and reducing costs for producers.
The Ambassador said the new initiative is also expected to support seed companies, and most importantly ensure that the millions of smallholder farmers across COMESA have access to the high-quality seed they deserve.
In a speech read on her behalf by Delegation of the European Commission to Zambia representative Christiane Haziyo, Her Excellency reaffirmed the EU’s joint commitment with COMESA by building a region where quality seed flows freely, farmers have real choices, and where agriculture can fulfil its promise as a driver of prosperity and resilience.
She is confident the new system will serve as a solid base for a stronger, more inclusive seed sector driven by innovation, strengthened by harmonisation, and powered by regional cooperation.
“The EU is proud to support this journey through the Regional Enterprise competitiveness and access to market programme by providing financial and technical assistance to help build institutional capacity, harmonise policy frameworks, and develop systems that work for all stakeholders in the seed value chain,” Ambassador Stasiak said.
Similarly, African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) Secretary General Yacouba Diallo urged continued engagement with seed companies to prioritise quality and compliance.
“AFSTA plays a significant role in supporting the implementation of the harmonised seed regulation of COMESA and we will continue to engage the industry for their buy in and implementation of the certification label to ensure that quality seed moves smoothly across borders to reach farmers,” he said
He noted that the COMESA seed certification label benefits the private sector more, and it aligns with AFSTA’s new strategic plan, which prioritises on improving market access and market reach with quality seeds.
It is evident that smallholder farmers produce 80 percent of all food consumed in Africa, and helping these farmers increase their yields and produce more nutritious crops is key to achieving global food security and ending hunger.
As the region continues to face climate change challenges and rising food demand, improving seed systems remains critical in developing a sustainable and resilient agricultural value chain to ensure increased productivity and food security.
Aligned with COMESA’s broader efforts to deepen regional integration through trade facilitation, thereby driving economic growth and strengthening cooperation among Member States, sustainable agriculture is an essential factor within the Common Market and beyond.
