According to Dr. John Mukuka, CEO of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialised agency of COMESA, poor seed quality and limited availability have left over 130 million people in the region food insecure.
Speaking at a seed harmonisation workshop in Nairobi, Dr. Mukuka said COMESA countries require at least two million metric tons of improved seed annually — yet current production is only a quarter of that.
“Seed is the beginning of every harvest. If farmers don’t have access to quality seed, they cannot grow enough food,” said Dr. Mukuka.
COMESA has developed a regional seed trade harmonisation regulation that allows certified seeds to move across borders. However, implementation at the national level remains slow, with only 10 countries having fully adopted the system.
The lack of funding is also hampering progress. ACTESA estimates it needs at least $10 million annually to fully operationalize seed systems in all member states. So far, only $600,000 has been raised — a fraction of what is needed.
Dr. Mukuka urged governments and partners to scale up support, noting that countries like Kenya, Zambia, and Ethiopia have the capacity to produce seeds for both local use and export.
“We can help Egypt, for example, meet its barley deficit of eight million metric tons, but only if we improve seed availability,” he added.
The European Union, through its European Development Fund -EDF programme, has pledged continued support to COMESA’s agricultural value chains, including seeds. Mshuka Kamwela, EDF Programme Manager, said the bloc is keen to build on achievements made and address key policy gaps.
As the region faces the dual challenge of climate change and rising food demand, improving seed systems is seen as a critical step toward sustainable farming and food security.
