By Tendai Chisiri
Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Develpomemt (MLAFWRD) permanent secretary Dr John Bhasera has announced that the International Seed Testing Association(ISTA has approved the re-acredition of the Ministry’s national seed testing laboatatory at Seed Services Institute on Wednesday.
“I am pleased to announce that, the International Seed Testing Association, a network of 130 international laboratories has today (28.12.22), approved the re-accreditation of the Ministry’s national seed testing laboratory at Seed Services Institute”, said permanent secretary Bhasera in a statement.
This follows a successful technical and systems audit carried out by international auditors at Zimbabwe’s national seed testing laboratory this year. The physical audit is carried out at member laboratories every three years as a pre-requisite.
In-between audits, member laboratories are also monitored through participation in proficiency tests to check internal competency in comparison with other international laboratories three times every year.
“The accreditation by ISTA enables Seed Services Institute to issue Orange International Certificates (OICs) for seed consignments in international trade. These OICs are issued after laboratory analysis of seed samples using the protocols prescribed by ISTA. The system provides a platform for science based validation of seed testing methods. The certification system through OICs is accepted worldwide as a reliable quality assurance system”, added Dr Bhasera.
ISTA also provides periodic skills development trainings to seed scientists and technicians to keep abreast with modern technological developments in seed science.
Accreditation to such international standard setting bodies forms the backbone for the sustenance and development of Zimbabwe’s seed industry’s international competitiveness and is a key enabler for local and international seed trade.
It goes a long way into consolidating the reputation of the seed industry thereby ensuring uninterrupted trade facilitation and market access for Zimbabwe’s seed consignments and varieties.
‘Seed quality is one of the key ingredients for agricultural transformation in line with our mantra #Going4YieldGrowth. I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Edmore Mtetwa, Dr Claid Mujaju, Dr Dumisani Kutywayo and the whole Seed Services Team for this milestone achievement. It is a job well done”, commended Dr Bhasera.
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