Call to Protect Indigenous Seeds to Restore Africa’s Lost Food Security Glory

THURSDAY July 24, 2025

By Mussa Juma

The Tranquility News Correspondent, Ethiopia

Players in the food ecosystem have called on African countries to recognise and protect their indigenous seeds in a bid to restore the lost food security glory on a continent that is already heavily reliant on imported varieties.

The players comprising chefs, policymakers, grassroots leaders, civil society organisations, and journalists recently admired Tanzania and Kenya in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for prioritising their indigenous seeds.

Tanzania, in particular, has notched up a significant step lately, putting in place a national strategy for recognising and protecting indigenous seeds, assuring itself of a long-term food security leadership in East Africa.

During the 2024/25 agricultural season, Mr Hussein Bashe, the Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture, approved registration and use of 13 indigenous seed varieties for various crops.

Going by the Tanzania’s Seed Act, Chapter 308, Sections 12 and 13(3), the approved indigenous seeds, including four varieties of rice, two of beans, and three of papaya, will be laid bare to farmers.

The stakeholders from 23 nations were in the capital of the continent’s union to attend the African Chefs Gathering and Policy Convening on the African Food System Conference.

Dr Million Belay, the Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), said recognising, protecting and promoting indigenous seed varieties was meant for securing Africa’s own food future.

“Africa was a global leader in food production for generations, thanks to traditional agricultural knowledge,” said Dr Belay, noting, however, that the continent had of late become dependent on external inputs, including seeds, undermining its own sovereignty.

In the advent of climate change, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss, Africa, he stressed, must return to its roots by conserving and promoting the use of indigenous seeds and advancing agroecological farming.

The Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Ms Francoise Uwumukiza, hailed efforts Tanzania and Kenya made in registering local seeds, in turn, saying the regional House recognised the value of the indigenous varieties.

Africa was a global leader in food production for generations, thanks to traditional agricultural knowledge,” Dr Million Belay, the Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa.

The former Chairperson of the EALA Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources, said the recognition of indigenous seeds tallied with the AU (African Union’s) directives to safeguard food security across the continent.

“As EALA, we will continue developing policies and legislation that protect indigenous seeds,” pledged Ms Uwumukiza, urging all AU member states to emulate the regional House.

Mr Damian James Sulumo, the Programme Manager with Federation of Farmers in Tanzania and Arusha Farmer Groups (SHIWAKUTA) extended his gratitude to the Tanzania government, explaining:

“This achievement was not easy. We formed a task force on seeds, held discussions with government’s officials and parliamentary committees, and finally penned a historic agreement. This is a great relief to us.”

Besides acknowledging the importance of indigenous seeds, he said, the ministry had in its 2025/2026 budget committed to further carry out research, putting up a special centre in Arusha north of the country.

The SHIWAKUTA Advocacy and Policy Officer, Mr Thomas Laizer, ruled out the possibility of imported seeds transforming agriculture on the African continent, stressing:

“It’s unrealistic. Tanzania is endowed with a rich variety of high-quality indigenous seeds that can significantly boost food production and ensure year-round food security.”

Officiating at the opening ceremony of the conference, Ms Fitsum Assefa Adela, the Ethiopia’s Minister for Planning and Development, said food transcended from nourishment to embody the conference host country’s culture, community, and identity.

“The climate crisis is no longer a distant concern—it is here, affecting our harvests, our livestock, and the very plates of our families. But this challenge also presents an opportunity for transforming our food systems into resilience, sustainability, and equity,” she said.

The minister explained that the Ethiopian government, along with various stakeholders, had taken proactive measures for addressing vulnerabilities, building resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at different levels.

“This means investing in climate-smart agriculture, restoring degraded lands, empowering smallholder farmers—especially women and youth—and promoting sustainable consumption,” she explained.

The SIDA Senior Programme Manager for African Regional Development Cooperation, Mr Ayele Kebede Gebreyes, said the organisation was committed to supporting food security initiatives in partnership with various African countries.Ω