TASAI concludes successful Seed Sector Dissemination Workshop in Yaoundé, Cameroun

Participants at the Seed Sector Assessment Workshop in Mogadishu

TASAI held a dissemination workshop in Yaoundé, Cameroun, on Wednesday 23^rd July 2025, to present and discuss the findings from the ongoing seed sector assessment. The workshop, a key part of TASAI’s work under the Technologies for Africa’s Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, was a significant event that drew attention from both government officials and industry stakeholders. The workshop was convened in collaboration with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Cameroun office and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), as lead of the TAAT Policy Compact. As a complementary exercise, AATF coordinated the drafting of the Cameroun Seed Roadmap, which was also presented to stakeholders for validation and discussion.  

Strong Government participation. The workshop was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), His Excellency Gabriel MBAIROBE, signifying the importance of the seed sector to the Ministry. Ministerial involvement highlighted the government’s strong commitment to advancing the seed sector in Cameroun and provided an invaluable opportunity for stakeholders to engage with top-level decision-makers.

Led by the Minister, MINADER was well-represented by a high-level delegation from the Department of Regulation and Quality Control (DRCQ), Department of Survey and Statistics (DESA), and Department of Agricultural Development (DDA). In addition, the other key government entities including the Institute for Agricultural Research and Development (IRAD) which is the national agricultural research institute, and the Ministry of Scientific Research, which is the mother ministry for IRAD, were also well-represented.

General outcome: The findings of the TASAI Cameroun Seed Sector Assessment were well received by the stakeholders. Following the presentation, a lively and constructive discussion ensued, covering areas where further clarification and corrections were needed. These areas will be addressed in the final version of the report, ensuring its accuracy and relevance.

Priorities for seed sector development in the country: As part of the dissemination process, TASAI presented its Priorities Report, which outlines the key interventions needed to enhance the seed sector in Cameroon. The priorities include strengthening the human resource capacity in the breeding programs at IRAD, Strengthening the Conseil National des Semences et Obtentions Végétales (CONSOV) to effectively conduct variety release and registration process, Harmonizing the cost of variety release testing at different test centres, Increasing efforts towards farmer awareness of newly released varieties, Strengthening DRCQ in seed quality assurance, and Strengthening the Association du Commerce des Semences du Cameroun (ACOSEC) as the national platform for the seed sector in the country.

TASAI is grateful to the IITA Cameroun office for playing a key role in ensuring the success of the workshop. With its longstanding relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, IITA effectively managed the protocol for the Minister’s attendance and ensured that all relevant officials were present.

Looking Ahead. With the dissemination workshop successfully concluded, the next steps include finalizing the TASAI Cameroun Seed Sector Assessment report and the Priorities Report. These documents will be distributed to the Ministry, stakeholders, and partners involved in the workshop. The final reports will serve as valuable tools for shaping future discussions and interventions aimed at strengthening Cameroon’s seed sector.

TASAI remains committed to supporting the growth of seed systems across Africa, and the success of the workshop represents a significant step forward in achieving this goal.

For more information on TASAI’s work and to access the reports once finalized, please visit www.tasai.org.