Access To Quality Seeds Critical To Sustainable Agriculture, CS Karanja
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr Andrew Mwihia Karanja
By MKT Correspondent
Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Andrew Mwihia Karanja, has urged all stakeholders in the seed industry to remain vigilant and support the government in combating counterfeit seeds.
He stressed that access to quality seeds and inputs is crucial for agricultural productivity and lays the foundation for successful and sustainable agriculture.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and industry stakeholders have intervened through market surveillance, post-control procedures, awareness creation, and increasing registration of seed companies.
Karanja acknowledged that climate change, extreme weather events, and environmental disruptions have significantly affected the seed industry, leading to low production of certified seed.
To mitigate the effects of climate change on food security, it is essential that governments and organisations develop strategies for enhanced availability of quality seed that can better withstand extreme weather events and climate variability.
“Seed certification is a robust process that plays a pivotal role in promoting crop productivity, maintaining genetic integrity, and fostering market confidence, considering that Kenya and other African countries have invested heavily in seed production, infrastructure, and services over the last two decades,” he added.
KEPHIS Managing Director, Prof. Theophilus M. Mutui, said the institution has invested in automation of procedures and integration with other existing government systems to streamline trading activities and reduce the cost of doing business.
The Seed Certification and Plant Variety Protection System (SCPVP) has been a game changer in the industry, automating service delivery and enhancing customer service.
“Quality seed is the one which has genetic purity, physical purity, viability, and a good physiological condition in accordance with the prescribed standards of seed certification, which is a crucial step in seed production and marketing done to maintain high-quality seed standards while making them available to farmers for good and quality yield,” he noted.
The seed certification system enhances farmer access to high-quality, climate-resilient, and high-yielding seeds and propagating materials for enhanced productivity.
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