The West Africa Seed Program (WASP) aims to increase quality seed production and use in West Africa. It is funded by USAID and implemented by CORAF/WECARD. The program's objectives are to expand certified seed production from 12% to 25% over 5 years and contribute to sustainable agricultural growth. It works in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. Activities include establishing an alliance of stakeholders, strengthening seed companies, and supporting countries' implementation of ECOWAS seed regulations.

1. WEST AFRICA SEED PROGRAM
(WASP)
WASP
an ECOWAS Program funded by USAID,
implemented by CORAF/WECARD and
hosted by WAAPP

2. 
To expand both the production and supply of
good quality and improved certified seeds (OPV
& Hybrid) from current 12% to 25% over the 5
year period of the program (2012 – 2017)

3. 
General Objective: To contribute to the
sustainable improvement of agricultural
production

Specific Objective: To increase sustainable
production and use of good quality seeds of
selected crop varieties in the region

4. Main activities cover Par ticipating Countries :
 Benin
 Burkina Faso
 Ghana
 Mali
 Niger
 Nigeria
 Senegal
BUT Policy related activities will cover 
All ECOWAS member states; and

Two CILSS countries that are not ECOWAS member states,
namely Mauritania & Chad

5. 
Build an alliance for Seed Industry in West Africa

Support implementation of ECOWAS Seed Legislation and
regulatory framework

Strengthen the capacities of the seed units of both private &
public research organization to supply quality breeder seeds

Support active involvement of NSTAs & private sector in
national seed industry affairs

Strengthen the agri – business capacity of the private sector

6. 
Neither public sector nor private sector, working alone,
was able to ensure availability of agric inputs, including
seeds, on a sustainable basis

Alliance provides a mechanism for the public and private
sector stakeholders to share new ideas, expertise,
financial resources and benefits from both partners
Therefore, the Alliance will work together at the regional
and national levels to address critical constraints and
issues of mutual interest

7. 
Par tners such as USAID/WA, CGIAR Centers
like IITA & ICRISAT, AfricaRice, WAAPP, EU, FAO,
EMBRAPA, WB, ROPPA, AFDB, National
Farmers’ Organization, International Seed
Companies,

Others are AFSTA, AGRA, ICRISAT, CILSS, HUB
- RURAL

8. 
NARIs




Breeder seed production
Variety trials
Variety maintenance
Training

Coordination activities

Agric Extension
Promotion of new varieties
Fostering linkages
between farmers & seed
entrepreneurs


Governance issues

National Agric Seed Council


Nat. Seed Committees
Nat Var Rel Committee
Release of new varieties
Cataloguing of new

9. 


National Seed Quality
Control & Certification
Agencies
Plant Protection
Regulatory Services
Universities






National Seed Trade
Associations


Implementation of Seed
Policy
Regulatory Activities
Plant Health regulatory
Activities
Training
Development of new
varieties
Production of Seeds
Marketing of Seeds

10. Breeder
Seed
Production
Training for
staf fs of
National
Agric
Research
Institutes at
NCRI,
Badeggi
August 28
-30

11. Seed
Business
Management
Training for
Managers of
seed SMEs
at SAFTEC
Hotel, Minna
Sept 2 – 4,
2013

12. Harmonize
dECOWAS
Seed Law
Gazetted

13. Learning
Visit to
Kenya &
Tanzania by
Seed
Exper ts &
reps of
Trade
Associations
from
ECOWAS
Countries
including

14. 
Agri – business capacity building and credit access
facilitation for seed SMEs

Breeder Seed Production
a) NCRI producing 16 tonnes of rice, and
b) IAR&T producing 3 tonnes of maize

Building capacity of Agric Research Institutes to produce
Breeder Seed

Formation of ASIWA – alliance for seed industry in West
Africa, to involve all stakeholders

15. 
See to the take – off of a National Seed Committee to
oversee the implementation of ECOWAS seed
regulations

Form an alliance to bring stakeholders together for
mobilizing, pooling resources together & avoiding
duplication of efforts for delivery of quality seeds to
farmers

Organize training for regulators of ECOWAS seed
regulations

16. 
Procure equipment for National Research
Institutes for planting, harvesting, processing,
irrigation as well as seed laboratory

Strengthening of organizational, technical &
agri – business capacities of private sector

Strengthening of NSTAs to deliver quality
foundation and certified seed

17. 
Organize a National Seed Planning Workshop
to determine seed requirements for all classes
of seeds, project for the next 5 years and
assign responsibilities

Provide assistance for SEEDAN, producer
organizations (such as rice, maize & sorghum),
and water user organizations

18. 




Establishment of an inclusive Alliance for Seed
industry in West Africa (ASIWA)
Implementation of regional seed regulations at
National Levels
Good Quality seeds produced and used
Enhancement of private sector participation in
seed industry
Agri – business capacities of small and
medium scale seed companies strengthened