Wallace Mawire
The horticulture sector in Zimbabwe is facing challenges in accessing specialised crop varieties bred elsewhere for Citrus budwood, blueberries, flowers, potatoes, chillies, mangetout, peas and kiwis, just to mention a few, according to Edmore Mtetwa, Head of Seed Ser lnstitute in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. Mtetwa made the remarks at a recent plant breeders rights amendment Bill validation meeting for concerned stakeholders such as breeders and farmers convened by the Ministry. Mtetwa said Plant Breeders Rights are a form of intellectual property rights granted to plant breeders for their efforts in developing new improved plant varieties.
He said the purpose of the Bill is to incentivize investment into research and development in crop improvement. Zimbabwe is currently implementing the Plant Breeders Rights Act Chapter 18:16, which is now being amended for alignment with international best practices, including conforming to the lnternational Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention.
He said Zimbabwean varieties are already in circulation in both the SADC and COMESA regional blocs and beyond and therefore require a protection system that is internationally recognised. “Our local farmers, especially in the Horticultural sector, are also facing challenges in accessing specialised crop varieties bred elsewhere for Citrus budwood, blueberries, flowers, potatoes, chillies, mangetout peas, kiwis etc,” Mtetwa said. According to him the Amendment Bill validated by farmers, seed industry association, plant breeders associations and Ministry experts also aims to unlock access to such specialised varieties and also attract more investment for local research and innovation.