Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
UDC 338.43
This paper presents a comparative analysis of the seed systems of two East African countries (Tanzania and Uganda). The purpose of the study is to study seed systems and the current state of regulation of the seed sector in order to establish mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of breeding and seed production of economically important crops cultivated both in the Russian Federation and in African countries. The current state of production of four agricultural crops cultivated in the countries under consideration is described: cereals (corn and wheat) and oilseeds (sunflower and soybeans). The theoretical basis of seed systems in Sub-Saharan African countries is considered, where seed production is represented by three parallel functioning systems: formal, informal and intermediate, also known as the Quality Declared Seed System or QDS system. A comparative analysis of national legislation on regulation, measures to support and promote quality seeds in Tanzania and Uganda has been carried out. It was found that in both countries laws and regulations concerning seeds are directly related to the creation of seed certification institutions, approval of seed categories, introduction of a Quality Declared Seed system, establishment of variety testing periods. The conducted analysis has made it possible to formulate key positions on the current state of regulation and functioning of seed production in East African countries. Firstly, official implementation of an intermediate system or a QDS system allows farmers to be integrated into interaction with research institutions within the framework of producing seeds of improved varieties that meet minimum standards for variety purity and germination. Secondly, improvement of national legislation on seed production is a response to participation of these countries in regional economic unions. Thirdly, the experience of Tanzania and Uganda shows that flexibility and adaptability of the African seed system lies in complementarity and interrelation of all three systems.
seed systems, crop production, government regulation, legal framework, small-scale farmer, QDS system, Uganda, Tanzania
1. Papcov A. G. K voprosu ob organizacii selekcii i semenovodstva v agrarnom sektore stran s razvitoy rynochnoy ekonomikoy // Ekonomika, trud, upravlenie v sel'skom hozyaystve. 2022. № 9. S. 4-15. DOI:https://doi.org/10.33938/229-4
2. Mihaylushkin P. V., Moiseev A. V. Razvitie integracionnyh processov v napravlenii selekcii i semenovodstva // APK: Ekonomika, upravlenie. 2021. № 3. S. 62-69. DOI:https://doi.org/10.33305/213-62
3. Report AU Seed. The seed sector in Africa. Status Report and Ten-year Action Plan (2020-2030): A Summary. February 2021. http://au.int/en/documents/20220109/seed-sector-status-report (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
4. Report AfricaSeeds. The African Seed Sector Development Organization Strategy 2022-2031. For inclusive seed sector development to support agricultural transformation in Africa. http://www.africa-seeds.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NewStrategy_EN.pdf (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
5. World Bank. Statistics. Indicators. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator (data obrascheniya 22.08.2025).
6. Mastenbroek A., Otim G., Ntare B. R. (2021). Institutionalizing quality declared seed in Uganda. Agronomy, vol. 11(8), 1475. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081475
7. Vanlauwe B., Coyne D., Gockowski J., Hauser S. et al. (2014). Sustainable intensification and the African smallholder farmer. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, vol. 8, pp. 15-22. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2014.06.001
8. Ajambo R., Elepu G., Bashaasha B., Okori P. (2017). Farmers’ preferences for maize attributes in Eastern and Western Uganda. African Crop Science Journal, vol. 25(2), pp. 177-187. Available at : http://www.ajol.info/index.php/acsj/article/view/156973.
9. Mghweno O. N., Mishili F. J., Nchimbi-Msolla S. (2020). Farmers’ decision to purchase quality declared seeds in Kongwa District, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 19(2), pp. 203-215. http://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjags/article/view/205098.
10. FAOSTAT. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL (data obrascheniya: 22.09.2025).
11. FAO GSIRP. Global'naya sistema informirovaniya i rannego preduprezhdeniya. http://www.fao.org/giews/countrybrief/index.jsp?lang=ru (data obrascheniya 22.08.2025).
12. Molela G., Kira A. (2024) Attribution of Gross Margin Differential to Quality Declared Seeds in Tanzanian Sunflower Sub-Sector: Difference-in-Differences Analysis. Journal of African Economic Perspectives, vol. 2(2), pp. 13-23. http://journals.udom.ac.tz/index.php/jaep/article/view/857.
13. Khojely D. M., Ibrahim S. E., Sapey E., Han T. (2018). History, current status, and prospects of soybean production and research in sub-Saharan Africa. The Crop Journal, vol. 6(3), pp. 226-235. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2018.03.006
14. FAOLEKS. http://www.fao.org/faolex/background/en. (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
15. Seeds Act No.18. Tanzania. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tan61038.pdf. (data obrascheniya 22.08.2025)
16. TOSCI. Tanzania Official Seed Certification. http://www.tosci.go.tz/pages/dmi-objectives (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
17. TOSCI. Tanzania. National Plant Variety Catalogues. http://www.tosci.go.tz/seed-varieties?page=5 (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
18. National Agricultural Policy. Tanzania. 2013 https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tan141074.pdf (data obrascheniya 22.08.2025)
19. UPOV. Members. http://www.upov.int/members/en. (data obrascheniya 22.08.2025).
20. ISTA. Seed Quality Assurance. Member Search. http://www.seedtest.org/en/membership/member-search.html?memberType=&country=Tanzania&testType=&testMethod= (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
21. The United Republic of Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture. http://www.kilimo.go.tz/pages/directorate-units (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
22. Seeds and Plant Act №3. Uganda. http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/uga140397.pdf (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
23. Seeds and Plant Regulations, Uganda, 2016. http://www.agriculture.go.ug/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Seeds-and-Plant-Regulations-2017.pdf (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
24. MAAIF. Acts. Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. Uganda. http://www.agriculture.go.ug/acts/ (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).
25. National seed strategy 2018/19 - 2022/2023 by Ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries of Uganda. http://www.agriculture.go.ug/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/National-Seed-Strategy.pdf (data obrascheniya: 22.08.2025).



