WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/CFMC/W/41 
13 October 2008 
 
 (08-4867) 
 Original:   French 
  
 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK 
MECHANISM ON COTTON 
 
Cotton Projects
 
 
Communication from Benin 
 
  The following communication, dated 7 0ctober 2008,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Benin. 
 
___________________ 
   
STRATEGY FOR REINFORCEMENT OF THE NATIONAL 
SEED AND SEEDLING INSPECTION SERVICE 
AND ANALYSIS LABORATORY IN BENIN 
 
 
I. ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEED AND SEEDLING CERTIFICATION SYSTEM IN 
THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN 
1. Benin is having to take several measures in order to solve problems of falling productivity, 
one of them relating to seed quality, which has b een neglected.  Today, however, by reason of the 
liberalization of the economy, food security objec tives, the requirements of international trade in 
agricultural products and, lastly, sub-regional mee tings, there are new priorities involving approaches 
relating more to the quality of life of rural popula tions and increasing producers' incomes.  It has been 
decided for this purpose to reinforce the national seed  control system so that it is able to provide 
technical support to the seed sector.  In this c ontext, in 2006 the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock 
and Fisheries (MAEP) drew up and adopted a seed pl an to encourage agricultural diversification and 
promote different sectors. 
II. CONTEXT 
2. In the past, Benin benefited from the FAO/ UNDP BEN 84/010 project on "Seed Project 
Formulation", which concentrated solely on increase s in production and produc tivity.  As a result, 
Benin now has a national seed system with seed growers, seed distributors, and an embryonic monitoring service, which, as it now stands, is not capable of assisting the country in its new vision and its objectives of reducing poverty and food insecurity and then making the economy less 
vulnerable. WT/CFMC/W/41 
Page 2  
 
  3. The project is in keeping with: 
(a) the rural development policy document aimed at  helping to raise the standard of living 
of the population by increasing producers' purchasing power, combating poverty, and controlling food quality and safety; 
(b) Benin’s poverty reduction strategy paper, which aims to facilitate producers' access to 
agricultural inputs and reduce their cost, in  order to ease constraints specific to the 
agricultural sector, where seeds ar e producers' basic raw material; 
(c) Benin's MDGs for 2005:  agricultural pr oduction based on high-yielding seeds will 
help to guarantee food security. 
4. Furthermore, the Benin authorities have expressed  their agreement with, and support for, the 
NEPAD approach to agriculture, and Benin has its Programme National d'Investissement à Moyen 
Terme – PNIMT  (Medium-Term National Investment Progra mme), which was validated in February 
2004.  Among the eight ideas for projects are the pr omotion of sectors including rice, market garden 
produce and cashew nuts;  there is also the use of dams for a variety of purposes, farm mechanization 
and improved productivity.  Seeds are indissociab le from the goals pursued under the PNIMT. 
5. Benin participates in regional work on seeds under the auspices of the FAO, the GTZ, the 
ECOWAS, the WAEMU and other regional associations  working to promote the seed sector.  The 
goal pursued, in keeping with the project, is to rende r agriculture in West African countries of capable 
of meeting the needs of a steadily growing popul ation, without, however, jeopardizing the capital 
asset which soil constitutes, by improving access to agricultural inputs including seeds.  The last 
meeting, from 14 to 16 December 2005 in Lomé, dea lt with the regulatory framework for plant seed 
production and trade, and the meeting on 5 and 6 Ma rch 2007 in Accra dealt with technical rules on 
seed production and control.  States were invited to take urgent steps to strengthen their seed control 
and analysis systems. 
III. MAIN APPROACHES 
• The weakness of seed quality support has a negative effect of the volume and quality 
of production.  Producers do not have access to certified seeds and are not told about 
the drawbacks of using seed mixtures;  commercial and sanitary quality are both 
poor;  there are no support, inspection and certification services for fields and seeds, yet the relevant structure has been set up and has over 150 monitoring posts to cover the whole range of agricultural products of plant origin;  inspectors and monitoring 
officers are under-equipped;  and the nationa l seed analysis laboratory is likewise 
under-equipped.  In order to overcome these constraints, FAO has been asked to help 
by reason of its expertise in this field,  its earlier work in Benin through the 
FAO/UNDP/BEN 84/010 project and the recen t initiatives it has taken at subregional 
level, in particular with the ECOWAS and the WAEMU. 
 
• The approach to the project is based on  technical support under a TCP for the 
formulation of a seed control strategy the aim of which is to:  
 
(i) strengthen the regulatory framework, including the seed catalogue for key
 crops; 
(ii) train technical personnel and motivate stakeholders (group awareness and 
individual implementation);  WT/CFMC/W/41 
 Page 3 
 
 
  (iii) conduct pilot experiments in seed preparation (packaging, marking, 
traceability and quality control); 
(iv) strengthen the seed inspection and analysis system. 
• The project will develop synergies via the existing coordination bodies.  At national 
level there is a National Seed Committee ( Commission Nationale des Semences )and a 
Quality Control and Regulation Sub-Committee ( Sous-commission Contrôle Qualité 
et Réglementation ).  At the technical level, the DPQC, a regulatory body, has 
150 monitoring posts distributed over the Centre Régional pour la Promotion 
Agricole  (Regional Agriculture Promotion Ce ntre) Agricultural Regions (CeRPAs), 
established in production centres and along the major commercial routes – an 
intricate network which allows for local c ontacts – and this structure encompasses the 
National Seed and Seedling Laboratory.  In  relation to the sub-regional bodies, this 
project will enable Benin to participate more effectively in the work of the 
ECOWAS, the WAEMU, and the African seed associations (ASN, WASNET, CILS, etc.). 
 IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 
6. The aim of the project is to increase the quantity and quality of plant produc ts in order to give 
agricultural producers improved and sustainable acc ess to certified seeds of high quality.  The short 
term goals of the project are to: 
(a) strengthen the technical, material and human resource capacities of the inspection 
 service and of the national seed and seedling analysis laboratory; 
(b) motivate stakeholders in the seed sector on the basis of a quality approach that 
involves them. 
7. The principal activities are as follows: 
(a) Year 1
:  Conduct an organizational and techni cal audit of the seed quality control 
system and assess needs in respect of fiel d and laboratory inspection and analysis;  
assess training and information needs;  acquire inspection and analysis materials and 
equipment for purposes of training and pilot schemes;  train personnel and design a quality and traceability system;  design training and awareness-raising modules based on appropriate media. 
(b) Year 2
:  Strengthen the regulatory framework, generate awareness among seed 
producers and growers;  develop pilot expe riments in production, distribution and 
marketing circuits;  develop inspection, sa mpling and analysis activities and relay of 
results to target groups;  devise a bankable project. 
8. The FAO is expected to fund: 
(a) one international expert in seed control and certification and quality control (2 man 
months per annum, or 4 man-months for the two years of the project).  This expert 
will be the principal consulta nt and will be assisted by a national consultant for 3 man 
months per annum; WT/CFMC/W/41 
Page 4  
 
  (b) one international expert specializing in  seed regulation and cataloguing (2 man 
months in year 1 and 1man-month in year 2), assisted by a national consultant for 2 man-months per annum; 
(c) one training expert specializing in seed qu estions (research, production, quality) for 
2 man-months per annum, assisted by a national expert for 3 man-months per annum; 
(d) one expert specializing in seed analysis, seed laboratory manageme nt and drafting of 
quality manuals; 
(e) training of six technical analysts and 30 DPQC officials to inspect seed beds and 
seeds; 
(f) extension of training to 150 inspectors a nd controllers and organization of outreach 
sessions; 
(g) printing of training modules and control forms; 
(h) acquisition of seed inspection and analysis equipment for pilot experiments and the 
national laboratory; 
(i) preparation of training and awareness-raising materials; 
(j) follow-up and evaluation of the TCP; 
9. The budget is estimated at CFAF  400 million, apportioned as follows: 
• Expert missions (CFAF 70 million) 
• 6 training courses (CFAF 40 million) 
• 10 workshops and extension of  training (CFAF 50 million) 
• Inspection materials (CFAF 20 million) 
• Laboratory equipment (CFAF 150 million) 
• Promotion of inspection and analysis activities (CFAF 20 million) 
• Documentation, including drafting of documents (CFAF 15 million) 
• Consumables (CFAF 10 million) 
• Travel (CFAF 5 million) 
• Meetings (CFAF 10 million) 
• Seed packaging and labelling (CFAF 10 million). 
 
V. IMPLEMENTATION 
10. The project will be implemented by the MAEP’s Direction de la Promotion de la Qualité et 
du Conditionnement des Produits Agricoles  – DPQC (Farm Produce Quality Promotion and 
Packaging Department) (tel.:  (229) 2131 2289;  fa x:  (229) 3121 5376;  em ail:  dpcg@intnet.bj);  
relations with those targeted by the project will be  the responsibility of the six decentralized services 
controlling the quality standards of ag ricultural products of plant origin.  The DPQC is in charge of 
coordinating the project.  Benin will appoint a coordi nator and premises will be made available for the 
project.  FAO headquarters will carry out three follow-up missions.  WT/CFMC/W/41 
 Page 5 
 
 
  VI. BENEFICIARIES 
11. The project is intended to help those in the seed sector achieve control of their occupational 
environment.  Consequently, the strategic targets of the project are: 
(a) basic, pre-basic and certified seed producers: 
(b) seed growers; 
(c) seed distributors and seed bank managers; 
(d) agricultural producers using certified seeds; 
(e) professional agricultural organizations; 
(f) seed and seedling controllers and analysts. 
12. Creating synergies between these public and privat e players offers the possibility of effective, 
sustainable partnership, because each of those concer ned will be able to acquire greater skills through 
involvement in the implementation of th e project innovations and strategies. WT/CFMC/W/41 
Page 6  
 
  APPENDIX 
 
DPQC EQUIPMENT NEEDS 
 
 (i) For the mini-laboratories 
•  Grader 
• Binocular magnifier 
• Portable humidity meter 
• Seed probe 
• Germination trays 
• Jars 
• Tapes (planting lines) 
• Insect collection boxes 
• Riffle divider 
• Germination box 
• Electronic scales 
• Rod sensor 
• Portable magnifier 
• Field germination box (1) 
  
(ii) For the National Laboratory 
• Automatic drying autoclave 
• Digital spectrophotometers 
• Thermobalance 
• 1/10 mg precision balance with protective cover  
• 2,100 g capacity precision balance 
• Pairs of gloves 
• Calibration apparatus for diameters of 1.5 mm, 1.2 mm and 0.4 mm 
• Seed counter 
• Binocular magnifier (2) 
• Microscope (1) 
• Circline magnifier lamp (2) 
• Electric seed crusher 
• Refrigerator (1) 
• Metal cabinets (2) 
• 
100 m2 blotting paper 
• 100 m2 corrugated paper 
• Oven, model UM 300 (1) 
• Non-textured glass desiccator 
• White laboratory coat (10) 
• Rubber gloves (10 pairs) 
• Disposable gloves (10 boxes) 
• Overhead projector (1) 
• Sieve shaker with electrical vibration system (accommodates 16 sieves of varying 
mesh sizes) 
• Metal laboratory seed container 
• Camera (1)  WT/CFMC/W/41 
 Page 7 
 
 
  • 250°C thermometer (1) 
• Jomo mini-laboratory kit (development)  (2) 
• Multi-wrist shaker (2) 
• 1000 ml separation flask 
• Stand (5) 
• Magnetic stirrer (1) 
• Hotplate (1) 
• Ethanol Bunsen burner 
• Parafilm (4 in x ft roll) (20)  
• Glass petri dishes (20) 
• Hamilton micropipette 
• Dilemizoow hairdryer (2) 
• Vaporizer (2) 
• Wash bottles (5) 
• Dropper 
• N° 1 filter papers (10 boxes) 
• N° 4 filter papers (10 boxes) 
• Target kit (10 boxes) 
• Thin-layer chromatography plates (10 boxes) 
• Germination trays (1,000) 
• Napco autoclave, model 8000 
• Piston burette (10) 
• Pipettes (Pipetman Gilson) (2) 
• Conical and riffle dividers (2) 
• Bleach 
• Hydrochloric acid 
• Lactic acid 
• Ethanol 
• Smear slides (10 boxes) 
• Thin smear slides (10 boxes) 
• Glass TLC developing tank (2) 
• N-hexane 
• Methanol 
• Chloroform 
• 250 ml and 500 ml beakers (20) 
• 125 ml and 500 ml Erlenmeyer flasks (20) 
• 100 ml, 100 ml and 20 ml test tubes (10) 
• Copper carbonate (CuCO3) (2) 
• Acetone 
• Iodized kitchen salt 
• UV 365 manometric lamp 
• Incubator suitable for seeds 
• Cereal homogenizing grinder or micro-grinder 
• Wavelength ... (1)  
• Paper face masks (200) 
• E6 slide films (50) 
• Hand-held rice huskers  
• 4x4 vehicle (1) 
• Portable humidity meters (150) WT/CFMC/W/41 
Page 8  
 
  • Portable gins (10) 
• Pairs of waterproof boots (150) 
• Probes (150) 
• Double-decametre or half-hectometre measuring tapes 
• Laboratory stool 
• Full sampling kit 
• Digital camera for expert evaluation 
• Portable light table (UV 340 x 400 mm) 
• Micrometer or calliper rule (resolution: 0.01 mm) 
• Crucible tongs 
• Vacuum desiccators with silica gel d esiccant (2 seed and seedling boxes) 
• Mini-propagator (for multiplication) 
• Mini attached greenhouse for seeds and seedlings 
• Stainless steel spatula 
• Scalpel 
• Laboratory autoclave (134°, 2 bar) 
• Complete Chopin apparatus and accessories for multi-seed analysis 
• Movable shelving 
• Fixed shelving 
• Counting scales 
• Seed quality poster 
• Trays (0.6 cm aluminium box for drying) 
• Light table for seed grading 
• Seed counter 
• Diaphanoscope and spare parts/accessories 
• Visual inspection reference images 
 
 
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