I wish to thank the Seed Producers
and Traders Association (Mauritius) – SPATA and the African Seed Traders and
Producers Association (AFSTA) for organising this years’ Conference in
Mauritius. This is a very important
organization and I must congratulate the people who took the initiative in 2000
to set up a regional representative body for the seed industry. I am given to understand that the
organization has now a diplomatic status with a current membership of 92 and its
mission is to promote trade on quality seed and technologies for the benefit of
its members. AFSTA’s mission is to promote trade in quality seed and technologies in
Africa for the benefit of members and farmers. Its objectives are to
promote the use of improved quality seed, strengthen communication with African
seed industries and with the world and to facilitate establishment of national
seed trade associations in Africa. I congratulate AFSTA for its support for the
harmonization of seed regulations and policies in the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) and in the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS). I wish AFSTA plenty of success in its present endeavour to strengthen
the network of the various agro-dealers not only in Africa and also with the whole
world.
