Stakeholders from government institutions, civil society organizations, and farming communities have convened in Morogoro to deliberate on the role and protection of farmers’ seeds within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol.
Opening the meeting, the Coordinator of the Tanzania Biodiversity Network (TABIO), Mr. Abdallah Mkindi, said the protocol which Tanzania has ratified covers various sectors including agriculture.
He explained that stakeholders found it crucial to reflect on the future of farmers’ seeds under this framework to ensure their continued recognition and contribution to food security.
“Statistics show that 70 percent of seeds used in African agriculture originate from farmers. We therefore expect these seeds to remain a priority under the AfCFTA framework so that the protocol does not negatively affect smallholder farmers,” he said.
Mr. Mkindi said the one-day forum brought together representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Industry and Trade, civil society organizations promoting agroecology, and farmers’ associations to explore how the protocol can open new market opportunities across Africa while safeguarding indigenous seed systems.
He noted that while AfCFTA holds vast potential for agricultural trade, it could also pose challenges, as many farmers’ seeds are not legally recognized and may risk exclusion from international trade systems.
“If governments legally recognize farmers’ seeds, the protocol could bring positive outcomes by allowing broader market access across the continent,” he added.
TABIO’s Agroecology Researcher and Advocate, Mr. David Manongi, said the discussion provided an opportunity for stakeholders to influence how the AfCFTA agenda can benefit local farmers.
“These dialogues help push African governments to plan and implement strategies that protect smallholder farmers’ rights,” he said.
He noted that Tanzania still lacks a specific policy framework governing ownership and production of key local varieties such as Mang’ula onions, Kyela rice, and Kamsamba rice. Mr. Manongi emphasized the need for legal protection of such varieties under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), which Tanzania has already signed.
“Tanzania began drafting legislation to protect plant varieties in 2008, but it remains unfinished. It is important that our genetic resources be protected by law,” he said.
He added that TABIO, in collaboration with other agroecology partners, has established 48 community seed banks across the country, categorized by region.
He also called on the government and other actors to seek access to plant varieties preserved in international seed banks.
On his part, Mr. Abdulkarim Nzori, Legal Officer at the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA), said AfCFTA aims to create a single continental market by removing trade barriers.
He explained that to achieve this goal, AfCFTA established a Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) across Africa.
Discussions on the IPR Protocol began in 2022, and it was adopted in 2023 to enhance Africa’s business environment and align intellectual property standards with global norms.
“Articles 40 and 41 of the protocol require member states to negotiate key annexes on intellectual property rights such as trademarks, patents, industrial designs, protection of new plant varieties, and geographical indications. These annexes are at various stages of approval,” he said.
Mr. Nzori noted that the protocol obliges member states to enact laws recognizing farmers’ rights and the protection of geographical indications an opportunity for Tanzania to safeguard products such as Kyela and Kamsamba rice as national brands.
He added that the protocol promotes innovation, industrial growth, technology transfer, and the smooth movement of goods among African countries.
Meanwhile, Ms. Winfrida Patrick, Assistant Coordinator for Gender and Development at the Catholic Diocese of Mbulu, Manyara Region, said the implementation of the protocol must prioritize the protection of farmers’ seeds, which are already facing a decline.
She said the diocese works with 14 farmer groups in Mbulu and Babati districts, many of whom are struggling to maintain indigenous seed varieties.
“These seeds are vital not only for community livelihoods but also for human health and environmental sustainability,” she said.
Farmer Mr. Salvatory Katembwa from Usoche Village in Momba District, Songwe Region, said he continues to cultivate indigenous rice varieties because they are safe for human health and environmentally friendly.
“Traditional farming is good because it avoids chemical fertilizers. We use compost and organic manure, and the rice we produce has a pleasant aroma and good market value,” he said, calling on the government to strengthen education on the benefits of indigenous seeds.