26 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM • Further implement the COMESA Seed Training Programme to include countries in SADC and EAC; • Support production of niche seed of small grains and leg- umes less attractive to regional / international seed companies focusing on hybrid seed crops so that benefits of the harmo- nised seed system benefit all types of seed companies, namely national, regional and international seed companies; • Design, produce and distribute of COMESA Seed System Manuals / Protocols for use by seed inspectors, analysts and seed that would also cover SADC and EAC within the TFTA; • Support harmonisation of COMESA-wide Plant Variety Protection (PVP) in line with existing harmonized PVP in SADC, EAC and ARIPO. This will provide breeders reasonable return on their investments and benefit farmers with new varieties that are high yielding, drought tolerant, disease resistant, etc leading to high productivity and high-quality seed on the market; • Explore ways of coming up with a common Variety Identification Number (VIN) for same varieties that are mar- keted under different brand names to enable them getting reg- istered on the COMESA Variety Catalogue and also of SADC and EAC; COMSHIP MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK (COMMAF) COMESA through its specialized agency, the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has now developed the COMSHIP Mutual Accountability Framework (COMMAF). The COMMAF framework outlines the principles, mechanisms, tools and specific activities to facilitate mutual accountability in COMSHIP. The COMMAF strives to assist in the evaluation, review, debate, dialogue and negotiation performance within public-private partnership arrangements of COMSHIP. With the COMMAF in place, the monitoring of COMSHIP at national and regional level shall bring about coherence, syner- gies and consistence among the COMESA Member States. This includes annual reviews of COMSHIP which shall bring shared responsibility for both the public and private seed sector through multi-stakeholder engagement already established by ACTESA. The independent reporting, unlike self-reporting embedded in COMSHIP, shall bring about mutual trust and ownership in COMSHIP. Through article 130 (a) of the Treaty, COMESA has options for food and nutritional security for its people. This will also contribute to the rise of the COMESA Member States seed companies, seed distributors and seed dealers enhancing intra- and extra regional seed trade. This will enhance COMESA seed stakeholder’s quality and improved seed availability to small- holder farmers in a sustained, suitable, affordable, timely, relia- ble and profitable manner. NEW COMESA LABELS AND CERTIFICATES TO SPUR REGIONAL SEED TRADE Intra-regional seed trade is set for a boost following the intro- duction of seed labels and certificates to be utilized by seed companies for large consignments crossing the borders. The move is intended to spur regional trade through improved seed varieties across the region. The COMESA Seed Labels and Certificates will be used by member states to identify seeds in the market that meet the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Regulations of 2014. This development is in line with the COMESA Seed Harmonization and Implementation Plan (COMSHIP) that provides a frame- work for the 21 COMESA Member States to trade, facilitate seed industry and support to local seed companies. Samples of the labels and certificates were presented to regional seed companies and National Seed Review teams from seven COMESA Member States that have aligned their national seed laws to the COMESA Seed Policies. These include Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. The COMESA seed labels are based on the OECD labels and will apply to four seed classes: Pre-basic Seed, Basic Seed, Certified Seed (1st Generation) and Certified Seed (2nd Generation). LABELLING EXPORT SEEDS COMESA takes the lead in labelling export seeds as it is set to become the first regional economic community in the world to introduce the use and distribution of seed labels and certificates as a way of improving access to quality seeds in the region. This move is aimed at guaranteeing the integrity of seeds traded in the region and is expected to impact positively the approxi- mately 130 million people in the region who are currently food insecure and experiencing chronic poverty and hunger for fail- ure to get quality and improved seed. The potential total seed market in COMESA is at two million metric tons of quality and improved seeds. Currently, the region is producing and accessing less than 520, 000 metric tons. Out of 80 million small-holder farmers in the COMESA region, only 20% have access to quality and improved seed, a situation that has continued to impact negatively on the people. Editor's Note: This article has been condensed for print. To read the full version, go to european-seed.com Lack of quality and improved seed in the African COMESA countries has contributed significantly to food insecurity and poverty.