WATT: We are targeting some 400ha to produce quality seeds for farmers

Andy Watt, the managing director of the Nairobi-based QualiBasic Seed Company spoke to The EastAfrican's NJIRAINI MUCHIRA on the firm’s plan to tackle food insecurity in Africa.

Why is food insecurity still rampant in Africa despite the availability of quality seeds?

The route to solving the perennial food insecurity in Africa is for farmers to use quality seeds, correct level of fertiliser and have access to water.

It is frustrating that 70 per cent of the rainfall Kenya receives goes to waste. We need dams and reservoirs to harvest water and use it for farming.

There is also a need to use organic and chemical fertilisers to ensure the soil has enough nutrients.

To deal with pests and diseases, we need an integrated approach that includes the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which are tolerant.

How is QualiBasic Seed Company helping farmers fill this gap?

QualiBasic Seed Company has come in to help farmers benefit from hybrid seeds, which guarantee quality and quantity, thereby boosting yields. The firm seeks to support small and medium-sized seed companies to produce the foundation/parent seeds.

It costs up to $500,000 to put up a proper foundation seed programme. Seed companies do not have the time or capital to produce these seeds. The African Agricultural Technology Foundation identified this gap and approached the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for finances to help set up QualiBasic Seed Company.

In eastern and southern Africa there are about 90 small seed companies trying to commercialise hybrids from various programmes and we want to help them to scale up.

How affordable will the seeds be given that QualiBasic Seed Company is a commercial entity?

It is true we are not donors despite being part of AATF with financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The two organisations are only helping us to start up.

It is important that we operate in a commercial way. Hybrid seeds are expensive when you only look at the cost of buying.

However, when you look at what you get in terms of higher yields and better crop value, it is no longer expensive.

The problem with open pollinated varieties or recycled seeds is that their genetic potential is low.

They cannot achieve the same potential as good quality hybrid seeds. What we are aiming at is to underwrite seed companies selling reliable quality seeds.

Which varieties do you intend to produce and in which countries?

We intend to invest around $8 million in the initial programme targeting maize seeds. We are starting with maize because it is an important crop in East Africa.

We then hope to produce other seeds including sorghum and beans. The plan is to enter into contractual partnerships with farmers in Kenya, Zambia and South Africa to produce parent seeds for us.

We shall sell the seeds to seed companies that will in turn produce the hybrids then sell them to farmers. We are targetting some 400 hectares to produce the seeds and use Kenya as a distribution hub.

How will you deal with the problem of pests and disease resistance?

Seeds generally have natural resistance to some pests. Even among conventional breeds, you will find varieties that are resistant to certain diseases.

However, good quality seeds stand a better chance to resist pest attacks. Our programme is intense and we have also put up proper systems, including storage facilities to deal with such challenges.

You will be producing seeds in South Africa, a country that allows GMOs. This might raise eyebrows?

One of the reasons we are having operations in South Africa is because it allows GMOs and it means we can produce seeds for that market and surplus for other markets when authorities allow their production and consumption.

South Africa has new genes coming up that control pests like fall armyworm which is becoming a major problem on the continent. When authorities approve GMOs we will bring them to the Kenyan market but not before.

The good thing about the food and the healthcare industries is the level of regulation and Kenya is well regulated.

What is the position of QualiBasic Seed Company on GMOs?

In the near future, GMOs will be important for tackling pests and diseases. It is thus important for the public to feel confident about GMOs and for government and regulators to appreciate they have been used in many parts of the world for a long time.

I think science has to take its time to prove the people opposing GMOs based on emotions wrong. I am confident that in East Africa GMO crops will be approved for use and the region will benefit from the enhanced purity of crops because of their resistance to pests and diseases.

What do you think of the push to harmonise seed policies within the Comesa region?

This is really good because many of these markets are similar. What is happening now is a lot of protectionism, sometimes with good intentions but there is a need to open up borders provided regulatory authorities remain alert particularly when there are outbreaks of diseases.

In the European Union there is a mutual recognition of regulations across boundaries that Comesa can learn from.

Background

Andy Watt is an agriculturalist with extensive experience in business management, strategy development and implementation, corporate governance, driving change and business restructuring and development.

Experience: He has served as managing director of Syngenta East and Southern Africa, as well as the head of large scale farming for Syngenta in Africa.

Mr Watt has also served as chief executive of the African Agricultural Fund’s Inputs platform.

In October last year, he set up Kibeni Agriculture Ltd, an agribusiness consultancy specialising in strategy and business development, due diligence for investment as well as organisational development.
Education: Mr Watt studied agriculture in the UK Kingdom and has undertaken a number of professional business courses over his career.