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Project Overview
The “Supporting the Government to Implement Policy and Regulations Governing the Seed Sector” project is a strategic initiative implemented by the SAGCOT Centre Limited (SCL) with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) under the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) programme. The project was financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and aimed at strengthening Tanzania’s seed system by addressing critical gaps between policy reform and implementation.
The project sought to support Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in implementing amended and enacted policies and regulations in the seed sector, thereby improving the enabling business environment and catalyzing agricultural transformation. Implemented over a three-year period, the project played a pivotal role in accelerating the development of robust and sustainable seed systems in Tanzania.
The intervention builds on a landmark on the Legal Guide to Strengthen Tanzania’s Seed and Input Markets developed in 2016 by the New Markets Lab in collaboration with SAGCOT and AGRA. This guide became a blueprint for one of East Africa’s most comprehensive agricultural policy transformations. The collaboration brought together an unprecedented coalition, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives (MAFC), the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), the Plant Breeders’ Rights Office (PBRO), the Tanzania Seed Trade Association (TASTA), and private corridor companies under the SAGCOT umbrella.
Project Objectives
- To improve policy and regulatory environment for the seed sector
- To strengthen seed certification system for non-true seed
- To improve implementation of seed policies and regulations in 10 seed production regions
Supporting the Government to Implement Policy and Regulations Governing the Seed Sector
Key Issues and Challenges Addressed
Despite significant policy and legal reforms introduced by the Government of Tanzania over the past decades, a persistent gap between policy enactment and implementation at the local level continued to hinder the seed sector’s growth. The project was designed to address these critical challenges:
- 1. Inadequate Harmonisation of Reforms
The Government abolished the cess charged on seeds in transit in July 2017 and waived 108 levies, taxes, and fees in the agriculture sector. However, these reforms were not fully implemented, with seed agribusinesses continuing to face illegal imposition of nuisance taxes at sub-national levels. Some LGAs still charged crop cess on seeds, creating an uneven business environment.
- 2. Limited Awareness and Enforcement
There was low awareness among LGAs and stakeholders about enacted seed policies and regulations. The gap between policy reform and implementation made it difficult for the private sector to fully benefit from reforms such as the 2017 Seed Circular authorizing private seed companies to access registered public varieties.
- 3. Unregulated Non-True Seeds
There was no system for regulating non-true seeds (vegetatively propagated crops such as fruits), jeopardizing productivity and quality for farmers.
- 4. Inconsistent By-Laws Across LGAs
There was no uniformity in by-laws from one LGA to another, creating challenges for seed companies transporting seeds across districts. Some LGAs did not recognize transport orders issued by TOSCI.
- 5. Limited Land Allocation for Seed Production
Access to land for seed production remained a significant challenge, with limited allocation of suitable land for seed growing and research.
Expected Outcomes and Impact
The project was structured around three key objectives and anticipated the following outcomes and impacts:
Key Outputs
| Output | Description |
|---|---|
Output 1.1 | Compliance to the VAT Act of 2014 and the East African Community Customs Management Act of 2004 on seed cess mainstreamed within LGAs |
Output 1.2 | Government Circular on Authorization of New Varieties of Plant of 2017 (private sector access to public bred seed varieties) enforced |
Output 2.1 | Draft regulation for non-true seed developed |
Output 3.1 | Active Multi-stakeholder platforms promoting an enabling environment for seed sector at LGAs established |
Output 3.2 | Seed policies and regulations (National and LGAs) harmonized |
Key Achievements
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
Finance Act 2022/2023 | Directed the Local Government Finance Act to remove cess on seed, reducing production costs for seed companies |
13 Regulation Standards Approved | Standards for seedlings (non-true seeds) (avocado, apple, banana, mango, citrus, pawpaw, oil palm, coffee, cashew, cocoa, sugarcane, tea, and grapes) were developed and endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture |
20 Seed Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (SMSPs) | Established in 20 LGAs across 10 seed production regions to discuss challenges and champion policy issues |
Increased Private Sector Engagement | Private companies like RIETA AGROSCIENCES TZ LTD started promoting seed varieties developed by TARI |
Buy-in from PO-RALG | Commitment to develop uniform model by-laws for enforcing the Tanzania Seed Act of 2003 |
Buy-in from MLHHSD and NLUPC | Agreement to demarcate land for seed production in 18 LGAs |
Expected Impacts
- • Reduced cost of seed production through the removal of cess on seeds
- • Increased availability of quality seeds to smallholder farmers
- • Improved productivity and food security through access to improved seeds
- • Enhanced investment in the seed sector through an improved business environment
- • Increased farmer incomes and poverty reduction
- • Strengthened seed certification system for non-true seeds
- • Harmonized seed policies and regulations across LGAs
Implementation Regions and Districts
The project was implemented across 10 seed production regions in Tanzania:
| Region | Districts Covered |
|---|---|
Songwe | Mbozi DC, Momba DC |
Mbeya | Mbeya DC, Mbarali DC |
Iringa | Kilolo DC, Iringa DC |
Njombe | Njombe DC, Ludewa DC |
Morogoro | Kilosa DC, Mlimba DC |
Rukwa | Nkasi DC, Sumbawanga DC |
Ruvuma | Madaba DC, Namtumbo DC |
Manyara | Mbulu DC, Babati DC |
Kilimanjaro | Moshi DC, Siha DC |
Arusha | Arusha DC, Meru DC |
The project identified 18 district councils with potential to grow quality seeds on 17,610 hectares to meet Tanzania’s short-term seed demand. These districts include Butiama, Musoma, Sumbawanga, Kalambo, Nkasi, Mlele, Nsimbo, Mpanda, Simanjiro, Serengeti, Kiteto, Namtumbo, Madaba, Songea, Mbozi, Momba, Mpimbwe, and Uvinza.
Funding and Partners
Funding Amount
The project that phased out in 2022 was implemented with a total budget of USD 334,047, financed through AGRA’s PIATA programme. The Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) is a multi-donor initiative led by AGRA that was launched in 2017 to accelerate inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa. It brings together development partners, governments, the private sector, research institutions, and farmer organizations to improve agricultural productivity, market access, food security, and farmer incomes. The members of PIATA includes: AGRA (implementing partner); Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Rockefeller Foundation; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ/KfW); and Mastercard Foundation (in recent phases).
Project Implementing Partners
During the project implementation phase (2021 – 2022), SAGCOT/AGCOT was a lead partner in a consortium that included the Tanzania Seed Trade Association (TASTA) and RUCODIA. However, apart from consortium members, SAGCOT/AGCOT collaborated closely with the following partners:
| Partner | Role |
|---|---|
Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) | Policy oversight and coordination |
President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) | LGA coordination and by-law harmonization |
Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) | Seed certification and standards development |
Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) | Research and variety development |
Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA) | Seed production and distribution |
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) | Research and training |
Tanzania Seed Trade Association (TASTA) | Private sector coordination and advocacy |
Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority (TPHPA) | Plant health regulation |
Local Government Authorities (LGAs) | Implementation and enforcement at district level |
Private Sector Seed Companies | Seed production and distribution |