Key Policy Provision
Of
The National Seed Policy
Of
TIMOR LESTE
Introduction
Sr. Adalfredo do Rosario Ferreira,
DNPSE MAF
- Seed sector in Timor Leste
v Predominance of seeds of local plant
varieties
v Over 80% seed contributed by
informal seed systems (use and exchange of farm-saved seeds)
v Seed exchange largely non-monetized
- Timor Leste’s net food deficit
and imports food worth USD 25 million annually
- High dependence on seed import
(rice and corn)
v about 200 tons annually
- MAF-SOL program initiated in
2000 to increase access to improved seeds of major food crops
v Evaluation to identify suitable crop
varieties
v 10 new varieties of maize, rice,
sweet potato, cassava and peanut released for cultivation
v Support for formal and informal seed
production
- Private sector almost
non-existent and organized seed production and marketing lacking
- Seed Policy urgently needed to
promote and regulate quality seed production and distribution
Approach
used:
- Formation of National Seed
Policy Working Group (NSPWG) to facilitate the drafting process
- NSPWG members representing MAF
Officials, SOL Advisors and NGOs
- NSPWG jointly accountable for
draft seed policy and responsible to facilitate adoption by the Govt
- Policy Advisor to assist in
drafting the seed policy
Methods
used:
- NSPWG meetings identifying
policy issues and formulating policy provisions
v Several meetings of NSPWG organized
v Series of policy issues identified
and discussed
v Policy framework developed and
policy provisions formulated
Methods
used:
- Consultation with relevant
stakeholders by the Policy Advisor at various levels
v Consultation with MAF and SOL staffs
v Consultation meeting with MAF-SOL
staffs and Suco Chiefs in Manatuto on 2 August
v Consultation with Community Seed
Producers’ Group (CSPGs) in Liquica district on 10 Aug
v Consultation with HASATIL NGO
members
v Written submission from HASATIL and
Lao Hamutuk
Methods
used:
- Sharing of the meeting and
consultation notes and draft policy framework to all
v Sharing of meeting notes of NSPWG
meetings
v Notes of consultation meeting in
Manatuto
v Notes of visit and consultation with
CSPGs of Liquica district
v Sharing of first draft seed policy
to NSPWG members and observers to provide comments
v Presentation of first seed policy
for wider sharing
Methods
used:
- Sharing of Draft National Seed
Policy with wider stakeholders for additional inputs and feedback
v Sharing with district level GO, NGO,
private agencies, farmers’ and other community organizations in 12 districts
v Sharing with the academic community
v National workshop for final
consultation
Session 1
Sra. Herminia de Jesus Pinto,
The
NSP has the following sections:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Scope of the seed policy
- 3. Objective of the seed policy
- 4. Policy provisions (9 sub-sections)
- 1. Conservation and Use of Plant
Genetic Resources
- 2. Variety development
- 3. Registration and Protection
of New Plant Varieties
- 4. Seed Production
- 5. Seed Standards and Quality
Regulation
- 6. Seed Distribution and
Marketing
- 7. Strengthening Domestic Seed
Sector
- 8. Import and Export of Quality
Seed
- 9. Implementation, Coordination
and Monitoring of
- seed policy
Introduction
- Importance of agriculture in
Timor Leste
- State of agriculture, role of
seed diversity and need for seed sovereignty and security
- Seed systems and need for
quality seeds
- Need for National Seed Policy
Scope
of the Seed Policy
- Seeds to cover sexually
propagated seeds and all planting materials
- Seeds of all plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture and used for commercial purposes
- Includes local seeds as well as
new plant varieties
- Include both informal and
formal seed systems
Objectives
of the Seed Policy
- National seed sovereignty as an
overarching guiding principle
- Strengthen domestic seed sector
to enhance seed security
- Ensure production and
distribution of quality seeds to farmers
- Regulate production and
distribution of quality seeds to facilitate good access to seeds
1.
Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources(PGRs)
- Sovereign right over the its
PGRs
- Measure for conservation and
use of all PGRs
- Mechanisms for access and
benefit sharing
- Incentives for the conservation
of PGRs
- Registration of local PGRs
- Establishment of Community Seed
Banks to promote conservation of PGRs
2.
Variety Development
- Strengthen national capacity
for breeding
- Participatory variety
development, and use of local PGRs and farmer participation
- Engagement of private sector,
NGOs and farmers in variety development
- Options for hybrid and GMO
seeds: NO or regulated development and use
3.
Registration and Protection of New Plant Varieties
- Mechanism for registration of
new varieties
- Public notification of
registered varieties and maintenance of database
- Sui generis for IPR protection on new plant
varieties for commercial use
- Protection of Farmers’ Rights
for save, use, exchange and sell in non-branded form
- Exemption for research,
training and breeding
Session 3
Remigio Laka Vieira
Farming Study Group (FSG)
4.
Seed Production
Government to ensure access to
source seeds
Engage private sector, NGOs and
farmers in production of source seeds
Three generation system of seed
production
System of certified and
Truthfully labelled seeds
Decentralized seed production
and support for production in inaccessible and remote areas
4.
Seed Production
Support for production of seeds
of local plant varieties, including NUS
Advance seed planning and
preparation of seed balance sheet
Preparation of seed
vulnerability map and early warning system
National seed reserves and
linkage with Community Seed Banks
5.
Seed Standards and Quality Regulation
Establish national seed quality
standards
Mechanisms for quality
assurance and regulation
Provision for engagement of
private sector and NGOs to provide services of quality assurance
Requirement for seed label with
adequate information about seed quality
Measures for quality regulation
(inspection during production and marketing)
6.
Seed Distribution and Marketing
Engage and strengthen capacity
of private sector in seed marketing
Requirement for obtaining
authorization for seed marketing of registered seeds
Equal treatment to new and
local seeds, except in special situations
Provision of compulsory
licencing
Provision of adequate
information and compensation for any losses
Protection of Farmers’ Rights
Contribution to National
Biodiversity Fund
Session 3
Sr. Buddhi Kunwar
7.
Strengthen Domestic Seed Sector
- Access to source seeds for
private sector and NGOs
- Support to private sector, NGOs
and CSPGs in production and marketing of seeds
- Support to private sector, NGOs
and CSPGs for establishment of infrastructure
- Access to easy financing and
tax concessions
8.
Import and Export of Quality Seed
- Provision for regulated import
of seeds of kinds and varieties not produced in the country
- A number of provisions for
quality regulations
- Scope for custom production of
seeds for export
- Regulation of seed production
for export to safeguard adequate supply of seed and food production in the
country
9.
Implementation, Coordination and Monitoring
- Establishment of National Seed
Council (NSC)
- Adequate representation of
stakeholders in NSC
- Functions of NSC
- Establishment of Committees of
NSC
- Meeting and decision making of
NSC
- National Seed Authentication
Body (Directorate of Agriculture and Horticulture and departments)
- Recognition of farmers’ groups
- Membership of relevant treaties
and bodies
|
|
Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries
|
Chair
|
Director General, Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries
|
Member
|
National Director, Research &
Special Services, MAF
|
Member
|
National Director, Agriculture &
Community Development, MAF
|
Member
|
National Director, Forestry, MAF
|
Member
|
National Director, Quarantine &
Biosecurity, MAF
|
Member
|
Representative from academic institution
(Seed Expert)
|
Member
|
Representative, private seed producers
and entrepreneurs -2
|
Member
|
Representative, NGOs working in
agriculture
|
Member
|
Representative of local religious
organization
|
Member
|
Representative of CSPGs (2, at least one
women)
|
Member
|
National Director, Agriculture &
Horticulture, MAF
|
Member Secretary
|
