Zambia

Last updated: March 2019
  • Region Eastern and Southern Africa
  • UPOV Membership status Member of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC); initiated the procedure for acceding to the UPOV Convention
  • Participation in OECD Seed Schemes Yes
  • ISTA accredited member laboratories Yes
  • GM Crop Approval for cultivation No
  • Law on Plant Variety Protection The Plant Breeder's Rights Act, 2007
Seed sector in Zambia

The Zambian government, through the Soils and Crops Research Branch under the Department of Research and Specialist Services, is responsible for genetic resource management and crop varietal research.

Zambia Seed Company (Zamseed) was established in 1980 with assistance from the Swedish International Development Authority, and it is now the only government parastatal company in the country involved in producing, processing and marketing seed varieties developed through public research. The company held exclusive rights on all products resulting from government-funded breeding

The current legal regime governing seeds in Zambia includes the following acts and their regulations: the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act (Cap 236 of the Laws of Zambia), the Plant Pests and Diseases Act (Cap 231) and the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (No. 18 of 2007).

The Seed Control and Certification Institute, a government department under the Ministry of Agriculture, is Zambia’s seed certification authority and provides the country with additional seed-related services. Another key player in the seed sector is the Zambia Seed Trade Association, which is a national seed association with membership from individuals, seed associations, firms and companies.

The formal seed sector produces and markets most of the seeds traded in Zambia. Farmer-to-farmer and local diffusion mechanisms are, however, the main distribution channels through which farmers get their seeds.

Observations

There are 20 index companies present in Zambia. Seven have seed production locations in the country but only two of these, Corteva Agriscience and Klein Karoo Africa, involve smallholder farmers in seed production activities.

Three regional Eastern and Southern African companies—Klein Karoo Africa, Seed Co and Zamseed— plus globally active Syngenta are the only ones with breeding locations. Four companies have testing and processing locations, while five provide extension services in the country. Seed Co has activities along the entire seed value chain, with Zamseed, headquartered in the country, only lacking testing.

Index company activities identified in Zambia
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
Advanta
Bayer
Bejo
Capstone Seeds
Corteva Agriscience  *
Demeter Seed
East African Seed
East-West Seed
Hygrotech
Klein Karoo Africa  *
Limagrain
Monsanto
Pop Vriend Seeds
Rijk Zwaan
Sakata
Seed Co
Starke Ayres
Syngenta
Zamseed  **
  • * Company involves smallholder farmers in seed production activities
  • ** Company headquartered in Zambia

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

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
Afriseed
Kamano