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The fight for the effective application of harmonized regional seed regulations in West Africa and the Sahel is gathering pace, with the support of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation ( AATF ), backed by the African Development Bank'sTechnologies for Agricultural Transformation in Africa (TAAT) program. This was the conclusion of speeches given at the opening of a regional consultation workshop on the subject in Dakar on Tuesday June 11.

Some fifty participants, representing regional institutions, national seed committees, producer organizations, the private sector, financial institutions and various other players, are taking part in this meeting organized jointly by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) and AATF.

In his welcome address, Dr Abdulai Jalloh, Director of Research and Innovation, representing CORAF's Executive Director, recalled the progress made by West Africa in supporting the seed sector. ''From 12% in 2012, the rate of certified seed use rose to 25% in 2017, while that of adoption of harmonized regional seed regulations, rose from 40% to 84%'' over the same period, thanks to the combined efforts of CORAF, regional institutions, member states and their technical and financial partners.

However, despite this significant progress, many of the challenges the region is striving to overcome continue to loom large.

Taking his turn to speak, Dr Jonas Nwankwo CHIANU, representative of the AfDB, reiterated the commitment of Africa's leading financing institution, through its "Feed Africa" strategy, one of its five "High 5" priorities, and its TAAT program, to working alongside West African and Sahelian countries to boost agricultural productivity by supporting the seed sector.

Agricultural transformation is imperative in Africa to end extreme poverty, eliminate hunger and malnutrition, and ensure that Africa becomes the leading exporter of key agri-food products," pleads Mr. Nwankwo CHIANU.

As a partner of CORAF in the organization of this meeting, AATF, through the words of its Executive Director Dr. Denis T. Kyetere, represented by Dr. Francis Nang'ayo, welcomed the opportunity offered by this workshop to share lessons and experiences gained in the implementation of seed regulations in Africa's regional economic communities.

The harmonization of seed regulations began some twenty years ago in certain regional economic communities in Africa," points out Dr. Nang'ayo.

However, he says, there are still a few challenges to be met before harmonized protocols and procedures can be fully implemented at regional level.

The Dakar regional workshop provides an important platform for sharing lessons and experiences on the implementation of harmonization between SADC (Southern African Development Community), EAC (East African Community), ECOWAS and COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa).

Scheduled to last two days, the regional consultative workshop is expected to result in a plan of action and a roadmap at regional and national levels to meet the country-specific challenges of implementing harmonized regional seed regulations.