Malawi Seed Sector Challenges
Like any other sector, Malawi Seed sector has a number of challenges and among others below are highlighted
- The Malawi Seed Act is outdated. It means has weak penalties. This results in challenges to deal with malpractices in the seed industry.
- Inadequate Services from Certification Agency. This means services are not timely delivered and as required to stakeholders. Enactment of seed act and accreditation of licensed seed inspectors is essential
- Poor Grain Market: Markets are not known in advance. This continue to affect the size to seed markets
- Limited Awareness on Importance of Using Certified Seed. More farmers Plant uncertified seed that gives them low yield per unit area. There is potential to improve adoption if awareness can be created
- Illogical Timing of seed procurement by certain Programs. Seed is a business of time has small window to make sales and the country has one rainfall season. To ensure timely delivery and in right quantities government seed procurement programs should be known to industry in advance.
- Fake seed or illegal seed sales. This is a result of limited awareness and weak penalties in the 19196 seed Act
- Inadequacy of availability of foundation seed for most public germplasm