Two bills for agriculture in pipeline

NAMIBIA will soon have two new laws in place for the agricultural sector, the first one being the Plant Breeders’ and Farmers’ Rights Bill.

Cabinet approved the Plant Breeders’ and Farmers’ Rights Bill at its latest meeting and authorised the Agriculture Minister to table it in the National Assembly. According to the latest statement on Cabinet resolutions, Namibia is one of the countries in the SADC region that has not yet enacted a Plant Breeders’ and Farmers’ Rights law. ‘The absence of such legislation negatively affects the development of the varieties of plants and consequently the seed industry, as seed companies are reluctant to invest in countries where their rights are not protected,’ the statement said. ‘The enactment and implementation of the new law will enhance the development of crop varieties in Namibia.’ The bill provides for the establishment of an effective system for the protection of plant varieties, the development of new plant varieties, the rights of plant breeders and farmers and setting up a Community Gene Fund. Another new legislation being drafted is the Seed and Seed Varieties Bill, which Cabinet also approved during its latest session. The Agriculture Ministry presented a Seed Policy to Cabinet in June 2008. Following the adoption of the policy, the Ministry undertook the drafting of the Seed and Seed Varieties Bill and served it before the Cabinet Committee on Legislation in April 2009. Countries without seed laws find it difficult to regulate the import of seeds and other related plant material from other countries due to the speed and intensification of the pace of globalisation.A regulatory framework will ensure the minimum standard of genetic purity and seed quality and protection.The Bill provides for the appointment of a Registrar of seed and seed varieties, the registration of producers, processors and dealers of seed and control over import and exports of seeds, a Namibian Seed Council, a Seed Varieties Committee, a seed certification service and its powers and functions and consequently setting up a national seed certification scheme.Cabinet, therefore, approved the Seed and Seed Varieties Bill and authorised the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to table it in the National Assembly. Cabinet also authorised additional funding for the Directorate of Agricultural Research and Training over the next five financial years, starting next year, to ensure the smooth implementation of the two new laws.