Kenya moves to protect indigenous seeds as review of national seed policy begins

[00:00:00]Thank you for [music] keeping it with us, and we go on to our next stories.

[00:00:05]The National Genetic Research Institute, in collaboration with farmers groups, have embarked in the process of renewing the national seed policy in a bid to develop an act that will protect the country's indigenous seeds.

[00:00:17]Criminalization of sharing of seeds, while promoting exotic varieties, has been blamed for the disappearance of local varieties, which experts warned that is a threat to crop dial vibe I beg your pardon, bio diversity. Ken Gachuhi reports.

[00:00:34]>> Following a landmark High Court ruling in November 2025, which declared unconstitutional key provisions of the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act, a review of the current law has kicked off led by the Genetics Resources Research Institute.

[00:00:48]>> Government's now, more than ever before, most committed to ensuring that what currently we commonly refer to as the informal seed sector uh that's contributing about 80% of the seed supply is mainstreamed.

[00:01:06]>> The Seeds and Plant Varieties Act had criminalized the sharing, exchange, and sale of indigenous or farmer-saved seeds, limitations which proposed amendments seek to lift.

[00:01:16]>> Integration of farmer-managed seed system in the law means that farmers who live very far from the shops in the villages don't have to travel long distances to go and access seeds.

[00:01:27]>> Uh and this is, I think, a very good opportunity for farmers to benefit from their resource. Indigenous seeds is a resource that is God-given to farmers, and they have a right uh to be able to benefit.

[00:01:42]>> In a meeting held in Gilgil, the experts noted that the prohibitive act had greatly contributed to the disappearance of some indigenous seed varieties, which were best adapted to regional climatic conditions.

[00:01:54]>> And if seeds are more diverse, it also means that um we are able to confront climate change by having the resilient varieties which are able to grow in each and every environment that we find ourselves in.

[00:02:11]It plays a very critical and significant role in in food and nutrition security in our country.

[00:02:18]>> The experts have underscored the need for sensitizing farmers and collecting views on the proposed amendments before the draft bill is taken to parliament.

[00:02:37]>> Kenga Shuhui, KTN.