AFSTA Focuses on the Revitalization of Seed Industry in West Africa
February 12, 2010| |
The organizing committee of the 10th Congress of the Association of African Seed Trade (AFSTA) met to line up the platform in the revitalization of the seed industry, an important requisite to attain food security. The president Mr. Issa Mory Dembele itemized the challenges in raising the level of seeds in West Africa. He said that "Without a quality seed it is not possible to achieve development objectives in agriculture." Mr. Mamadou Traore of the Ministry of Agriculture added that the best solution to improve the quality of seed is to allow researchers to conduct experiments including GM seeds. He believed that biotechnology is already being used to solve important agricultural problems such as drought and excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers.
The 2010 Congress which will be held in Barmako, Mali on March 1 to 4, 2009 hopes to revive the West African seed industry and thus will offer opportunities to harmonize regional legal framework, obtain the commitment and willingness of partners to support the development of the seed sector as a whole, and to conduct concerted and coordinated efforts towards the Alliance of West African Seed (WASA).
The story in French can be viewed at http://www.journaldumali.com/article.php?aid=1049
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