Private Seed Sector Assistance in the ISSD Project in Ethiopia

Svalöf Consulting has been contracted by Wageningen UR, Centre for Development Innovation, to render services in the project “Integrated Seed Sector Development in Ethiopia”. Rutger Persson conducted his  second mission in 2014, between 7-21st June 2014, in the following activities:

Followed up on specific activities in the Strategy Plan, strengthening the Ethiopian Seed Association
Assisted the private seed sector, represented by ESA, to increase their involvement in the Ethiopian seed sector development
Facilitated in the implementation of the model business for Ethiopian seed producers/companies.
Facilitated in the revision of the Association´s Bylaw.
Assisted in using ICT-SMS technique as an information dissemination and seed marketing tool
Assisted in developing the Ethiopian Seed Association´s website.
Facilitated in the development of the organization structure and job profiles of the Association staff
Facilitated in the finalization of the training plan for the Association staff and members, including experience exchange visit
Facilitated in the development of profiles of the seed companies in Ethiopia.

WB assignment as Seed Specialist– Analyzed the Fodder Seed Value Chain in Kazakhstan

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of the Republic of Kazakhstan requested the World Bank to provide technical assistance for sustainable development of fodder production and improvement of animal nutrition, to stimulate development of the livestock sector, especially for meat production.

Svalöf Consulting was contracted by the World Bank in Kazakhstan, during the period 27th January-30th April 2014, to analyze seed value chain of the fodder crops and describe sector related issues and possible scenarios for development. More specifically:

  • familiarized with the currently employed system of seed production and distribution in fodder crops.
  • described the current performance of the seeds sector in supplying quality seed to farmers. Assessed the likely impact of improving seeds provision on yield and farm profitability.
  • reviewed institutional aspects of the seed supply system including the policies and legal frameworks for seeds and varieties, seed and variety testing, seed certification, seed multiplication to produce elite; seed multiplication to produce lower generation seed; seed testing and inspection; distribution and marketing; plant variety protection and the royalty system, capital investment for plant breeding and commercial seed production and farmer-based seed activities.
  • commented on arrangements for the government’s seed subsidies scheme and made remarks on the extent to which these are contributing to improved seeds supply. Examined to what extent the scheme is undermining competition in the seeds trade.
  • Suggested options for the state support to the sector, including:
  • Summarized the key policy reforms, institutional reforms and public investments to improve seed production and supply in Kazakhstan.
  • Prioritized the proposed reforms and public investments and categorize them into short term (<2 years), medium term (2-5 years), and long term measures (5-10 years).

Outputs 

  • A policy paper describing issues faced by the fodder crops seed sector and recommendations for the sector support by April 15, 2014.
  • Presentation of the recommendations for the fodder production conference in the MOA tentatively planned for May 2014.

 

Private Seed Sector Assistance in the Integrated Seed Sector Development Project in Ethiopia

Svalöf Consulting has been contracted by Wageningen UR, Centre for Development Innovation,  to render services in the project “Integrated Seed Sector Development in Ethiopia”. Rutger Persson will conduct 4 short term mission to Ethiopia during 2014, as Private Seed Sector Consultant.The first mission is taking place between 3rd March- 6th April  2014, in the following activities:

  1. Finalize the strategy plan with detailed activities and outputs and start making quick wins, implementing the strategies
  2. Facilitate in the private seed sector involvement in Ethiopian seed sector development
  3. Facilitate model business plan development for Ethiopian seed producers/companies.
  4. Facilitate in the revision of the Association bylaw.
  5. Finalize in using ICT-SMS technique as an information dissemination and seed marketing tool
  6. Assist in developing the Ethiopian Seed Association´s website.
  7. Facilitate in the development of the organization structure and job profiles of the Association staff
  8. Facilitate in the finalization of the training plan  for the Association staff and members, including experience exchange visit
  9. Facilitate in the development of profiles of the seed companies in Ethiopia.

 

EEC Seminar on Policies for a Single Market in Moscow, 23 January 2014

The purpose of this seminar was to review the European Union experience in creating a single market in agriculture and discuss the application of this experience for the creation of a single market within the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The seminar took place within the institution of the Customs Union for regulation of the single market, the Eurasian Economic Commission.  The review of the European experience was helpful to the EEC in creating their own unified market for agricultural commodities.

The seminar included three 20 minute presentations by FAO on various aspects of the building of a single market for agriculture within the European Union. Policy briefs (5-10 pp.) was circulated to the EEC before the seminar.

Rutger Persson, CEO of Svalöf Consulting, was contracted by FAO in writing and presenting a policy brief on “Building an integrated seed market within the Customs Union” . It was well received at the EEC Seminar in Moscow and generated many questions and long discussions how all EEC member countries will harmonize their legal seed framework within the customs union in order to create a more competitive and commercially sustainable seed industry.

Supported Wageningen UR and the ISSD programme in Ethiopia in developing the 2014 Action Plans, supporting ESPGA, Seed Companies and Producers…

Svalöf Consulting was contracted by Wageningen UR, Centre for Development Innovation,  to render services in the project “Integrated Seed Sector Development in Ethiopia”. Rutger Persson conducted a short term mission to Ethiopia between 21-27 November 2013, supporting the ISSD programme in the following two activities:

1) Development of the 2014 Action Plan for the ISSD programme component: Seed Companies and Producers

2) Support the Ethiopian Seed Producers and Processors Association (ESPGA) towards the development of a strategic plan and an action plan for 2014.

 

 

Training course in “Seed Business Management and Seed Value Chain” in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Svalöf Consulting has been contracted by VRIAN projects B.V  to undertake the second part of a tailor made training course in “Seed Business Management and Seed Value Chain” , 14-19th October 2013, requested by Bahir Dar University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, financed by the Netherlands Fellowship Programmes. Specific features of the seed production sector will be taken in account in the training of university staff and seed business managers. The plant breeders and producers of the seeds in the Amhara Region need to collaborate more closely in order to have a sustainable seed business. The breeders and growers need to be rewarded for the development and multiplication of the seeds. The new Ethiopian Seed Law, recognizing Plant Breeder´s Rights, is expected to stimulate the formal seed sector.

The objectives of the training:

1) Participants will become aware of the context of the Ethiopian seed sector in respect to international  (UPOV, ISTA, OECD and EPPO) and national legislation (Seed Law), the functioning of the market and knowledge transfer.

2) Participants will be able to manage/advise seed production, seed processing, handling and storage and apply recommended agricultural practices in seed production of the main agricultural crops.

3) Participants will be able to design an implementation plan for action oriented research in the seed sector

 

 

Consultancy for preparing of a World Seed Project proposal

 

WSP Committee Members

 

The World Seed Project engaged Rutger Persson, CEO Svalöf Consulting, and Per Anderson, as a team, in providing conceptual and writing skills needed to prepare a project proposal with two sub-proposals, one for Ghana and another for the United Republic of Tanzania, based on the Concept Document “Strengthening the Seed Sector in Developing Countries” with which to secure donor funding for the WSP´s work in these countries. In preparing the technical components of the project, the consultants have worked closely during two months, March-April 2013, with the WSP Steering Committee members (i.e. FAO, OECD, UPOV, ISF and ISTA). The consultants have studied all relevant documents and information materials provided by the WSP Steering Committee and other sources, including the Second World Seed Conference proceedings and the UPOV Report on the Impact of Plant Variety Protection (Impact Study). The draft WSP document has been reviewed and the final amendments approved by the WSP Steering Committee on 8th May 2013.

 

 

Hello Seed Professionals

Dear Seed Colleagues,

Welcome to the revised website of Svalof Consulting, with news and information from recent training programs and projects, within our professional field. Fellow participants in the Alumni workshop in Kampala, Uganda requested Svalof Consulting and NIRAS Natura to make all the information from the workshop available to everybody, which I have started to do, by downloading all  the documents under the tab “Alumni PBSP”  divided into two headings “Seed Sector Status Reports” and “Project of Change”.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any news you wish to disseminate to  former PBSP participants and fellow seed professionals around the world.

Once the newly established Executive Committee of the Alumni PBSP has finalized the first edition of the PBSP NEWSLETTER , I will publish it on the SC website.

Your active participation is necessary in order to maintain our close seed professional network.

Raj Kumar has successfully organized the “Innovators Cum Seed Day” – 600 farmers assembled at DWR in Karnal

Raj Kumar have sent me an email with the following information from the “Innovators Cum Seed Day” in India that I wish to share with you:

 The “Innovators Cum Seed Day” was organized at Directorate of Wheat Research (DWR), Karnal on 31st October 2012 for the sale of about 110 q truthfully labeled seed of latest wheat variety DPW 621-50. This variety is notified and released for the timely sown and irrigated condition in Punjab, Haryana, Northern Rajasthan, and Western Uttar Pradesh states of North Western Plain Zone of India.

On this occasion more than 600 farmers assembled at DWR, Karnal and discussed about the problems they faced in cultivation of wheat and barley crops. A panel of experts replied their queries. I educated the group about the importance of newly released variety and its seed. These farmers were provided small quantities of seed for experiencing the performance of this variety in their fields. The progressive farmers, who are using innovative ideas for excelling agriculture production, were awarded in this function.