Zambia

Seed sector in Zambia

The Zambian government, through the Soils and Crops Research Branch under the Department of Research and Specialist Services, is responsible for genetic resource management and crop varietal research.

Zambia Seed Company (Zamseed) was established in 1980 with assistance from the Swedish International Development Authority, and it is now the only government parastatal company in the country involved in producing, processing and marketing seed varieties developed through public research. The company held exclusive rights on all products resulting from government-funded breeding

The current legal regime governing seeds in Zambia includes the following acts and their regulations: the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act (Cap 236 of the Laws of Zambia), the Plant Pests and Diseases Act (Cap 231) and the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (No. 18 of 2007).

The Seed Control and Certification Institute, a government department under the Ministry of Agriculture, is Zambia’s seed certification authority and provides the country with additional seed-related services. Another key player in the seed sector is the Zambia Seed Trade Association, which is a national seed association with membership from individuals, seed associations, firms and companies.

The formal seed sector produces and markets most of the seeds traded in Zambia. Farmer-to-farmer and local diffusion mechanisms are, however, the main distribution channels through which farmers get their seeds.

Observations

There are 20 index companies present in Zambia. Seven have seed production locations in the country but only two of these, Corteva Agriscience and Klein Karoo Africa, involve smallholder farmers in seed production activities.

Three regional Eastern and Southern African companies—Klein Karoo Africa, Seed Co and Zamseed— plus globally active Syngenta are the only ones with breeding locations. Four companies have testing and processing locations, while five provide extension services in the country. Seed Co has activities along the entire seed value chain, with Zamseed, headquartered in the country, only lacking testing.