Burundi

Last updated: March 2019
  • Region Eastern and Southern Africa
  • UPOV membership status No
  • Participation in OECD Seed Schemes No
  • ISTA accredited member laboratories No
  • GM crop approval for cultivation No
  • Law on Plant Variety Protection Law 1/08 2012 for organizing the seed sector; decree 100/55 (2016) for protecting new plant varieties; law 1/07 (2009) for amending certain provisions of decree law 1/032 (1993) for producing and marketing vegetable seeds in Burundi
Seed sector in Burundi

Although development began in 1985 with the draft of a national seed program, which was introduced in 1987, the presence of a commercial seed sector remains Burundi limited. The first decree on seed production and trade was promulgated in 1993 and emphasized four main components: developing a national catalog of crops and varieties; improving the production, import and commercialization of certified seeds; developing a seed control and certification system; and identifying the roles of all partners in the seed value chain. In 1999, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock signed a series of ordinances applying measures to the above decree, but these have not entered into force. Following national legislation, the National Seed Quality Control and Certification is active, and private seed producers can operate as associations or individuals.

Observations

Eight index companies operate in Burundi, four of which are regionally based and four that are globally active. With both testing and seed production locations, Seed Co is the only company with seed activities beyond sales. The company reports that it has been concentrating on product evaluation and promotion in Burundi, where last year it registered and released four maize and three soybean varieties, as well as selling several vegetable crops through agro-dealers. East African Seed is the only company that carries out extension services in the country.

Index company activities identified in Burundi
Company Crops in portfolio Company activities in country
Companies selected for
the Access to Seeds Index
Field
crops
Vegetables Breeding
location
Testing
location
Seed
production
Processing
location
Sales Extension
services
Corteva Agriscience
East African Seed
Kenya Highland Seed
Pop Vriend Seeds
Sakata
Seed Co
Syngenta

Other index companies are also active in the country. However, country-specific information for these companies is not available or was provided under a non-disclosure agreement.

Other companies identified in the regional landscaping study and their activities

Company Crops in portfolio Company activities in country
Field
crops
Vegetable
crops
Breeding
location
Seed
production
Sales
COPROSEBU
ISABU
SRDI
AVET
UHACOM