@article{Minde:25703,
      recid = {25703},
      author = {Minde, Isaac J. and Waithaka, Michael M.},
      title = {Rationalization and Harmonization of Seed Policies and  Regulations in Eastern and Central Africa: Effecting Policy  Change through Private Public Partnerships},
      address = {2006},
      number = {1004-2016-78862},
      series = {Poster Paper},
      pages = {16},
      year = {2006},
      abstract = {Cereal grains are important staple foods in Africa but  yields are still too low at 1.5 tons per ha for maize while  compared with a global average of 4.5 tons per ha. This can  be partly attributed to limited development of commercial  seed markets, low use of improved seeds, small and highly  fragmented seed markets. Many released varieties are not  widely disseminated due to closed national markets  dominated by a few international companies and parastatals,  and restrictive laws, regulations and policies.  Transactions costs within and across national boundaries  are high because of differing arrangements across  countries. Establishment of common regulatory structures is  expected to reduce transactions costs and promote increased  trade and hence use of improved seeds. This paper describes  the process, results, experiences and lessons learned in  developing and operationalizing a seed trade harmonization  system in eastern and central Africa. It is clear that the  public-private partnerships can play a pivotal role in  catalyzing, facilitating and supporting the establishment,  development and strengthening of national and regional seed  trade. By building partnerships and wide participation, the  project was able to apply lessons learned from older to  newer countries. The technical, political and legislative  processes in the policy-change-cycle are equally important  and optimal outcomes must be based on trade-offs between  technical issues and interests of the stakeholders.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/25703},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.25703},
}