TOSCI Set For 980m/-Worth Seed Lab To Spur Inspection, Certification
By STAFF REPORTER
THE Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) plans to construct a 980m/- worth state-of-the-art seed laboratory at its Morogoro –based headquarters, being in concerted efforts to digitize seeds inspection and certification sub-sector in the country.
The development which stands among the series of initiatives that the state-owned seed watch -dog plans to accomplish in the current fiscal year is being implemented under the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Program.
The vital program which focuses to help increase the performance of the two key economic sectors in the country, agriculture and fisheries, is coordinated by the office of the Prime minister whereby the ministry of agriculture is the main implementers.
TOSCI’s Director General, Dr. Patrick Ngwediagi unveiled that construction of the high-tech facility will go in tandem with the general work for the construction and rehabilitation of the institute’s zonal seed laboratories.
“We have decided to implement the project in order to improve our internal seeds inspection and certification standards. Currently, there is a potential increase in seed demand in the country so that we must stand on a better and equipped side to assure the farmers are reached with quality seeds for the general improvement of the country’s agriculture sector,” he said.
He informed that during 2023/24, TOSCI received a total of 12.6bn/- from the state coffer as its annual budget, saying the amount will wisely be used to implement several projects, all with an eye to improving the seed sub-sector in the country.
And he added: “Among the targeted program involve also efforts to educate the farmers across the country on how to identify and make use of certified (labelled) seeds varieties,”
TOSCI’s chief boss communicated that TOSCI has so far inspected and registered more than 647 seed varieties for diverse crops in the country.
And he added: “Among the targeted program involve also efforts to educate the farmers across the country on how to identify and make use of certified (labelled) seeds varieties,”
TOSCI’s chief boss communicated that TOSCI has so far inspected and registered more than 647 seed varieties for diverse crops in the country.
“The future focus is to ensure Tanzania becomes a counterfeit seeds-free country through capacitance of our seeds inspection and certification facilities,” he added.
He added that, TOSCI was working to assure all seed varieties being certified and registered in the country are of high quality, basically in terms of yields and resistance to diseases, added: “Seed quality attributes are expressed in terms of germination, purity, vigor and seed health,”
In a further effort to help improve performance and standards of the seed sector across the country, Dr. Ngwediagi informed that the institute had implemented a special program to capacitate the seed dealers across the country to deliver services in accordance with the Seed Act, 2003 and its regulations.
With its headquarters in Morogoro region, the institute (TOSCI) is now recognized internationally since it has been accredited to International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) admitted to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Seed Certification Schemes, whereby seed produced in Tanzania and certified by TOSCI can now be sold in the country and the excess can be exported to other countries.
TOSCI is responsible for field and seed inspection, sampling, seed testing, variety evaluation and verification through National Performance Trials (NPT), Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability tests (DUS) and control plot testing.
Tanzania is also a member of the International Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), since 2015.
TOSCI was established under the Seed Act No. 18 of 2003 as a successor to the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Agency (TOSCA), which is a government entity under the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). TOSCl’s Headquarter is in Morogoro with four branches in Lake zone (Mwanza), Northern zone (Arusha), Southern Highland zone (Njombe) and Southern zone (Mtwara). TOSCI Headquarters also caters for the Central and Eastern zone.
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