Source: SEED INFO 38
The Libyan national seed system has seen several important changes in the past 10 years. The National Center for Improved Seed Production (NCISP) was established in 1998 and began operations a year later in the Tsawa Project (southern desert areas) and the Kiaam Balkhams Station (northwestern coastal zone). Several government decrees were issued to formulate a well-defined strategy to reduce seed imports and provide incentives for domestic production to meet the country’s seed demand according to the guidelines of the Popular General Committee.
In 2005, a National Committee for Variety Registration and Seed Certification was established. Through its technical committees, it has compiled a catalog of all cereal and vegetable varieties marketed in Libya. It handles variety evaluation and registration of domestic and foreign breeding institutions. Another important development was the establishment of the Seed Producers Society in 2007, at a time when NCISP was exploring alternative seed production arrangements to meet growing demand. The organization has membership of all farmers in major seed production areas of the country who have contractual agreements with the NCISP.
The Tsawa Project, covering 750 ha, specializes in producing seed of wheat, barley, and legumes (faba bean, peas and chickpea). It focuses on variety maintenance and breeder, pre-basic, basic and registered seed production. The project, however, does not have sufficient capacity to meet the national seed demand estimated at 20,000 to 25,000 t of wheat and barley seed. Therefore, NCISP developed a contract seed production scheme with farmers who have agricultural investment projects and sufficient area and equipment for seed production. Members of the Seed Producers Society have large areas under central pivot irrigation, estimated at 30,000 ha with potential for further expansion and use of modern seed production techniques. Since 2006/07, NCISP has established contract production with large numbers of farmers who are members of the Society.
An NCISP representative will select and monitor seed multiplication fields before and during the growing season. All seed fields are inspected by an independent committee and will be accepted if they comply with the contract particularly regarding varietal purity and weed contamination (e.g. Avena sativa). Farmers deliver the harvested seed to Tsawa Center where samples are tested for quality to determine the purchase price (which is set by the State).
The NCISP processes (clean, treat, package) and stores the seed until it is sold to public and private enterprises. The Agricultural Bank may support cereal prices to encourage the purchase and use of improved seeds produced by the Center. The NCISP, through contract seed production, was able to provide 80% of commercial seed of cereals (bread and durum wheat, barley, forage grasses, oats) during 2007/08 (Tables 1 and 2). The performance of the private sector in 2008/09 was excellent, not only in seed production but also in durum wheat grain production, which for the first time reached about 300,000 t, enabling Libya to achieve self sufficiency.
The Seed Producers Society not only multiplies seed, but also coordinates with the NCISP in receiving, transporting and delivery operations. In addition, it provides inputs (fertilizers, herbicides) and farm equipment (irrigation, etc) and helps find solutions to problems faced by seed producers during the season.
Several factors have enabled Libya to achieve self-sufficiency in seed supply of wheat, barley and oats. These include government policy and support in establishing the National Committee for Variety Registration and Seed Certification; the increase of area under pivot irrigation systems; the activities of the Seed Producers Society; and the incentives for seed prices particularly for durum wheat. Ali Salem Al-Shreidi, Agriculture and Animal Research Center, National Cereal Crops Improvement, Tripoli, Libya; E Mail: alishreidi2009@gmail.com.
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