Final Report: Seed Potato Sector in Tanzania

The country has a comparative advantage in the region in terms of land availability and price. The Southern Highland agro-ecological zone and the Northern zone are the most important regions for potato and seed potato production, accounting for 70-80% of potatoes produced in the country. Local farmers in Tanzania can achieve an average yield of 5-7 tons per hectare, but this is hindered by the lack of access to clean certified seeds potatoes. The main issue is the lack of modern varieties registered in Tanzania and the preconditions for any farmer to produce certified seeds. Local varieties, such as Obama, Tigo, and Kikondo, are popular among smallholder farmers and traders due to their high dry matter content and desirable fry color. The Seed Act No 18 of 2003 and its regulations of 2006 provide the framework for variety release, registration, and deregistration procedures in Tanzania. The Tanzania Official Seeds Certification Institute (TOSCI) is responsible for conducting the Distinctness Uniformity Stability (DUS) test and the National Performance Trial (NPT) for new varieties. The process starts with an application for variety release submitted by a registered seed dealer, which is then reviewed by the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) and the National Performance Trial Technical Committee (NPT-TC). The DUS test and NPT are conducted to evaluate the distinctness, uniformity, and stability of the new variety. The results of the DUS test and NPT are then reviewed by the NVRC, which advises the National Seed Committee on the release of the new variety. The Director General of TOSCI issues a Certificate of Registration to the applicant once the variety is approved by the Minister. The Seeds Act Number 18 of 2003 also provides provisions for seed certification, seed sales, seed importation, and seed exportation. Seed certification is a critical aspect of the seed industry, as it ensures that seeds meet certain standards and are free from diseases and pests. The Act requires that all seeds be certified before they can be sold or exported. The National Performance Trial Technical Committee (NPT-TC) is responsible for conducting the NPT for new varieties. The NPT is a critical component of the variety release process, as it evaluates the performance of the new variety in different environments and conditions. The results of the NPT are then used to determine whether the new variety is suitable for release. The Seed Act Number 18 of 2003 also provides provisions for the deregistration of varieties. The Director General of TOSCI may deregister a variety if it is no longer conforming to its original description or has lost its qualitative and quantitative attributes for which it was released. The deregistration of a variety is an important aspect of the seed industry, as it ensures that only high-quality varieties are available to farmers. The National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) is responsible for reviewing the recommendations of the NPT-TC and advising the National Seed Committee on the release of new varieties. The NVRC plays a critical role in the variety release process, as it ensures that only high-quality varieties are released to farmers. The Seed Act Number 18 of 2003 and its regulations of 2006 provide a comprehensive framework for the seed industry in Tanzania. The Act and its regulations provide provisions for variety release, registration, and deregistration procedures, as well as seed certification, seed sales, seed importation, and seed exportation. The Act and its regulations are critical to the development of the seed industry in Tanzania, as they ensure that only high-quality seeds are available to farmers.