January 2009
Source:
SEED INFO, Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network - No.
36, January 2009
The Egyptian Seed Industry
Association (ESIA) was formally established and registered
on 16 April 2006, under Law No. 84 of 2002. It is the second
association, after the Egyptian Seed Association (ESAS).
Fifteen private seed companies established the association whose
membership today grew to 41 members. The membership is open to
all reputable seed industry stakeholders as full and associate
members, all receiving same services and privileges except for
voting rights in general assembly and membership of board of
directors congruent to the bylaws of the association.
ESIA's membership includes all leading seed companies in field
crops (except one) with their own plant breeding program and
seed processing plants. They account for 87% of maize seed
production in Egypt. All leading Egyptian vegetable seed
companies representing the multi-national seed companies and
with their own seed testing and acclimatization stations are
also members of the new association. In addition, several
reputable seed traders /distributors and professional and
experienced contract seed growers are members.
The main objective of ESIA is to make available quality seed and
planting material and serve the Egyptian farmers in achieving
higher production and productivity in the agricultural sector.
The association represents the interest of its members and
contributes to the dialogue of challenges facing the seed
industry at national, regional and global levels. The
association also contributes to the on-going national dialogue
to improve the regulatory framework and enabling policy
environment such as the amendments of Agriculture Law No 53 of
1966, amendments to IPR law, variety release protocols and
breeders' rights recognizing the role of private sector in the
seed sector.
ESIA is officially recognized and is a member of several
government committees such as the Seed Council, Plant Varieties
Registration Committee, Biosafety Committee, Grain Council, and
Agricultural Crops Committee. In addition, ESIA maintains close
relations and regular meetings with all relevant institutes of
Agricultural Research Council, as well as the newly formed
Agriculture Modernization Consultative Council. ESIA has seven
board members elected by the general assembly every two years
which in turn elect its Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary and
Treasurer.
Adel Sayed Ahmed, ESIA, 10 Midan Abou Al Lethammein, Agouza;
Giza 11213, Egypt; E-mail:
esia_ahmed@yahoo.com |
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