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Bruce Sosola and Isaac Nyoka

The potential role of NGOs, Government and donors in

ensuring production and supply of high quality tree planting material

A paper presented at the Dissemination Workshop on voluntary tree seedling certification scheme in Malawi

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1.0 Planting material supply chain

• Production• Quality assurance• Training

Supply

• Inspection• Regulation• Monitoring

Quality Consolidation

• Farmers• Supported by

government, NGOs, donors

Demand

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1.1 Supply side

• Launched the Voluntary Certification Scheme (VCS) concept in 2013

• Conducted a review of Seed Act 1996• Developed a position paper of inclusion of

agroforestry planting material as seed in the new Seed Bill

• Need for certification of planting materials.

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1.1 Supply side

• Developed and tested minimum standards for fruits and indigenous tree seedlings.

• Trained 60 nursery operators on minimum standards – Revamped National Fruit Tree Association of Malawi (NAFTA)– Supported Indigenous Tree Producers Association of Malawi

(iTAM)• Trained 12 seed inspectors on nursery inspection using

minimum standards• Conducted a robust media sensitization on significance

of minimum standards for tree planting material

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1.2 Quality consolidation

• Seed Act 1996 stipulates Quality Declared Seed (QDS) scheme.

• Draft Seed Bill 2013 will enforce quality control for tree planting materials.

• Voluntary Certification Scheme (VCS) employs QDS for quality control and assurance

• Voluntary certification board oversees VCS on interim basis

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Why Voluntary Certification

Advantages• It is cost effective. • Compulsory certification is generally

expensive compared to Voluntary Certification• Is best suited for low value seedDisadvantages• Does not eliminate poor quality germplasm on

the market

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1.3 Demand

• Government and the national tree planting season– 15 December- 15 April

• National programs– Public Works Programs– RIDP– Shire River Basin– MAFE– HODOM– PROSCARP– FIDP

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1.3 Demand• Donors, Govt, NGOs and Farmers play big part in the supply

of tree planting material• Donors and Govt support many programmes involving tree

planting (land restoration, AF, afforestation, woodlots, etc) through funding.

• NGOs and Govt support the production of planting materials (seedlings and seed)

• Are these different players aiding and abetting the supply of poor quality planting material?

• Do they care about the quality of the planting material which they provide?

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2.0 What we can do!• Government

– pass the seed bill 2013 into law and support its full implementation?– The major challenge is that of costs. That type of germplasm will be

expensive as compulsory certification has costs. It is best reserved for high value crops.

– Based Seed Act 1996, invoke QDS but there are no standards for tree germplasm.

– Support nursery entrepreneurs who produce quality germplasm by selectively buying from them.

– procure seeds and seedlings from certified nursery producers• Engage procurement officers and controlling officers on

significance of quality planting material

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2.0 What we can practically do!

• Donors/NGOs– Support germplasm acquisition from reputation

sources. – Support programmes focusing on improving

quality of tree planting material (e.g. VCS) • DCAFS and MDTF insist on use of QDS and certified

tree based seed– Support procurement of seeds and seedlings from

certified nursery producers

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2.0 What we can do!

• Nursery operators– Agree and provide support to have your nurseries

and seedlings certified– produce and declare high planting materials using

minimum standards of VCS– Lobby Donors, NGOs, Govt to only buy certified

material for the planting programmes they support

– register with your producer affiliates

Production (Nursery producers)• Adopt and enforce standards

among members• Lobby Government/NGOs to buy

voluntarily certified material

Users (Farmers, Govt or Community programs)1. Insist on quality planting material

even if given without charge2. Learn and produce own quality

material3. Identify reputable producers

Donors/Government/NGOs1. Source quality germplasm from reputable

(certified) suppliers 2. Only support programs or NGOs that use

good quality planting material.3. Pay a premium for quality material4. All germplasm must be known.5. Assess tree planting success on survival

and productivity not no. of planted trees

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Sample certificate

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Press release of certified nurseries

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Flow Chart of Certification

Registration

• Fill and submit application forms • Wait for acceptance by producer affiliate

Inspection

• Apply and pay for inspection • Independent inspectors using minimum guidelines

Certification

• Voluntary Certification Board approves and certifies nursery facilities and lots for a valid period of time

• Board publishes certified lots and nursery facilities

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Why this?

• enhanced tree survival• more value for money (higher return on

investment)• sanity and orderliness in the production to

consumption system (value chain)• consumer (farmer rights) protected and ensured• enhanced fruit and nursery industry• Increased economic growth

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Thank you

smart seedlings smart business

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