Kephis automates seed certification process

The country has shifted from manual to automated seed certification system to ensure farmers get value for money.

The new system will ensure faster registration of seeds, faster input of seed inspectors results and ease the registration of crop varieties.

Simeon Kibet, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service acting managing director, said the automated system is a clear way of assuring seed quality.

Speaking to the Star on Monday, Kibet said the seed certification process involves three stages, including variety descriptions. It also involves field inspections which ascertain the trueness to type of the crop variety, and seed testing which assures the seed purity and germination.

“South Africa and Zambia have automated their seed certification processes while Kenya has operated on manual inspections since the inception of Kephis in 1997," he said.

"The organisation has for the last two years started the development of the automated seed certification system, which is now at the piloting stage with Kenya Seed Company in Kitale and Bubayi Limited. KSC specialises in all kinds of seed crops while Bubayi focuses on beans. The automation was based on lessons learned from the two African countries.” 

He said that from May 2020 to April 2021, growers and seed crops will be registered online, inspections will be requested online and data captured in real time. Data will be processed automatically through the system and will be accessible to merchants online.

“From March 2021, all seed players will be incorporated into the system and Kephis will register all growers and all seed crops online as well as new inspections. Companies will therefore be able to follow the progress of all their seed certification activities online,” he said.

Simon Maina, the acting general manager for Quality Assurance, said good progress has been made towards the registration of crops.

“By November 2020, we also expect to have applications for National Performance Trials and Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) tests,” he said.

Kephis Kitale regional manager Ephraim Wachira said this would create efficiency in the seed certification process by reducing the time spent by inspectors entering inspection data in computer databases and writing reports.

“Seed companies will be able to track in real time the progress of certification of their seeds. The system will therefore save clients time and money they would have used to travel to the nearest Kephis office to apply for licences. However, inspectors will still be required to inspect seed sellers’ premises physically to ensure that seed is stored and handled well to maintain high seed quality.” 

Kephis and Trade Mark East Africa, who have financed the automation, have engaged stakeholders in Nairobi, Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Kisumu, Tana River and Baringo counties.

Edited by A.N