TOSCI Embarks On Project To Facelift National Seed Laboratory

 

👉 Funds for the project comes from Tanzania Agricultural Inputs Support Program and Agriculture and Fisheries Development Program (AFDP), at least 2.14bn/

MOROGORO. THE government has embarked on a robust strategy to expand and further digitilizing the country’s seeds quality, testing and control, the development which will automatically promote the whole chain of the kernels sector.

Apart from the ongoing skyrocketing demand for seeds in Tanzania, the timely strategy seeks to ensure the seeds produced home are meeting the set international standards.

At the helm of  implementation of the strategy, the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) is working on a project to expand and install cloud- connected facilities at the National Seed Laboratory (NSL).

TOSCI’s Director General (DG) Mr Nyasebwa Chimagu told the publication that work for the project is now at 46 percent of it erection.

TOSCI Director General (DG) Mr Nyasebwa Chimagu

Having already registered by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), the Director said completion of the project will see Tanzania attain a meaningful milestone in the sector.

He said funds for the project, including construction of the lab structure and procurement of modern facilities, has been sourced from Tanzania Agricultural Inputs Support Program and Agriculture and Fisheries Development Program (AFDP), at least 2.14bn/-.

“The purpose is to ensure the Tanzania’s agriculture sector is equipped with quality and standard seeds, but far above, is to ensure the country maintains the good track record of marketing local seeds outside the country,” he expressed.

He unveiled that works for the erection of the national seed facility located at the TOSCI’s Morogoro- based headquarters is being handled by high- profile builder company under supervision of the Tanzania Building Agency (TBA).

” If all goes well, the project for the laboratory is expecting to finalize in September this year,” he informed.

Chimagu added the state- owned seed watch-dog institute is also working to construct modern laboratory facilities at all of it zonal offices across the country.

” The vision is to ensure the farmers and seed companies are in access to key seed services at their vicinity,” he added.

So far, he said TOSCI has managed to lessen incidents of fake seeds from 327 during 2014/2015 to at least five incidents during 2023/24.

To negate penetration of counterfeit seeds in local seed markets, he said TOSCI has collaborated with TTCL to invent a digital system to help farmers detect fake seeds that have been packed under the sachets with TOSCI’s quality -assurance labels.

“Introduction of the cloud- connected system has played a pivotal role in fueling a war against availability of sub- standards, as well as counterfeit seeds in the local seed market,” he said.

Together with that, he communicated that TOSCI has been implementing a five – year strategy to impart the agricultural extensional officers across the country with key awareness on seeds quality.

Targeting to impact the extensional officers within at least 500 districts, the (2022/23-2026/27) strategy focuses to enable the beneficiaries to become seeds inspectors in their areas of jurisdictions.

“The strategy majored to train  district agricultural officials and registering them so that they can assist in managing the quality of seed in their areas on behalf of TOSCI,” he said.

He detailed that, Tanzania is member of different international seeds Association, the development which play key role to elevate performance of the country’s seeds control sector.

Mr Chimagu named the international seeds association as the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Economic Cooperation and Development Seed Schemes- OECD Seed Schemes) and  International Union for   Protection of New Varieties (UPOV).

He expressed that some of the benefits that the country enjoys from affiliating with the reputable international associations as to get various guidelines regarding the rules and procedures for measuring the quality of the laboratory seed.

TOSCI is a government entity responsible for ensuring the quality of seeds sold in Tanzania. Its main roles include seed certification, quality control, and promotion of quality seeds.

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Valentine Oforo

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