Seed policy and programmes for the Central and Eastern European countries Commonwealth of independant states and other countries in transition FAO Plant Production and Protection paper Series, Vol. 168

The development of a strong seed industry is crucial to improve the delivery of good quality seed to farmers and the development of agriculture in Central and Eastern European Countries, Commonwealth of Independent States and other Countries in Transition. In any discussion of agricultural development strategies, the subject of seed has a unique capacity to draw attention and interest. Seed is the primordial input, the embodiment of past harvest and the promise of future ones. It is not surprising that seed is a prominent feature of many proposals for programmes and projects concerned with improving the productivity of limited-resources farmers. In addition, efforts to strengthen the private sector in developing country agriculture often target the seed industry. Unfortunately, these various seed initiatives have had relatively little impact on the majority of resource-poor farmers. In 1996, the World Food Summit concluded that more assistance and realistic approaches in the agricultural sector were needed if food security was to be achieved and sustained. In response, the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action have established the foundation for diverse paths to guarantee food security. Improvement in the seed (and planting material) supply sector in the region is one of the main strategies to improve food security. Guaranteeing farmers ongoing access to high quality seed can only be achieved if there is a viable seed supply system to multiply and distribute seeds of plant varieties adapted to the low-input crop management systems typical of limited-resource farmers. Agricultural policies aimed at achieving food security must emphasize seed supply system strategies that will ensure the availability of good quality seeds and planting materials of locally adapted varieties in a timely and affordable fashion. In addition, it is necessary to develop a regional capability to restore farmers’ seed systems affected by disasters.