NEADAP co-authors forage seed policy brief for Kenya

The livestock sector in Kenya is a major contributor to the country's economy, accounting for up to 42% of the agricultural GDP (ILRI, 2021). However, livestock productivity is constrained by a lack of good quality and adequate quantity of feed. Forage is a major component of ruminant diets, and its quality and quantity directly impact livestock productivity. A lack of forage leads to low milk production, weight loss, and in periods of prolonged drought high mortality of livestock in arid and semi-arid regions. To produce quality forage, it is important for farmers to access quality seeds.

For most livestock producers, one of the most pressing challenges is timely access to affordable certified forage seeds. The current regulatory framework for forage seed registration in Kenya is not conducive to the development of a vibrant forage seed sector. The process of registering forage seed varieties is long and complex, and the standards for quality and performance are often not aligned with the attributes and characteristics of the specific forage seed that seed companies would be interested to introduce. This has made it difficult for the private sector to invest in the production and marketing of forage seeds.

Policy Brief to Address Challenges

The (draft) Policy Brief is an output of the KIT-led NOW-funded project, implemented by CIAT and ILRI, NEADAP funded by the Netherlands Government, and ICSIAPL, funded by the Netherlands Government and the European Union and implemented by SNV Kenya and Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) among other strategic partners.

The final draft of the brief has been submitted to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) for feedback, before it is launched and presented to stakeholders in the forage seed sub-sector, including the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

The policy brief addresses the challenges of the current regulatory framework and gives recommendations for reforms, that would make it easier for seed companies to register and certify forage seed and for farmers to access improved and novel forage seed varieties.

Key Recommendations for Reforms

Key recommendations include:

• Shortening the appraisal time for forage seed. The current appraisal process can take up to two years, which is too long for farmers who need access to forage seed.

• Fast-tracking the appraisal of forage seeds from countries with suitable forages for the tropics. This would allow farmers to access new and improved forage varieties from around the world.
• Aligning standards for quality and performance to the specific attributes and characteristics of the forage varieties entered for registration.
• Revising the Seed Act to include more eligible forage species. The current Seed Act only lists a limited number of forage species that are eligible for registration.
• Clarifying the rules and regulations for the registration of vegetative planting material. The current rules and regulations for the registration of vegetative planting material are complex and confusing.

The Forage Seed Policy Brief is a vital step towards improving livestock productivity in Kenya. By making it easier for farmers to access improved forage seeds, the policy brief will help to boost the livestock sector and the Kenyan economy as a whole.