Seed Unit Annual Report 2003

Abstract

The 2003 Annual Report of the Seed Unit is prepared in a slightly different format following the Logframe developed for the Medium Term Plan (MTP). The primary objective of the Seed Unit of ICARDA (MTP project 5.1) is to strengthen national seed systems in Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) with an overall goal to increase productivity and food security through improved seed security and access to quality seed. The actual purpose of the project is ‘Strengthened capacity of formal and informal seed systems of CWANA countries to supply farming communities with quality seed of adapted varieties in a cost-effective and sustainable manner’. To achieve this objective, 7 outputs are pursued. Output 1 aims at enhanced knowledge and expertise in national seed programs (Section 2 of this Annual Report), while Output 2 supports a regional seed network implemented by the national seed programs in the region. One of the important aspects of the network is harmonization of seed regulations to facilitate regional trade. The activities of the network are reported in Section 3. Improving the economic efficiency of seed delivery systems is the focus of Output 3 (Section 4). Output 4 is aimed at improving the performance and integration of the informal seed sector as part of a national seed delivery system (Section 5).