COMESA launches digital seed system to harmonize regional trade, boost food security

ZAMBIA – The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has introduced a digital platform and certification labels to standardize the regional seed industry, aiming to eliminate trade barriers and foster a more competitive seed sector across its 21 member nations.

The COMESA Seed Information System (COMSIS) and the operationalization of the seed labelling and certification system were launched in Lusaka, Zambia, on August 6, 2026. The system is expected to increase accessibility to high-quality certified seed in the region and enhance regional agricultural productivity to ensure food and nutrition security.

Officially launching COMSIS, the chief executive of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in East and Southern Africa, Dr John Mukuka, said the system would strengthen regional agricultural markets and increase investment in the sector.

“As member states, we believe that these efforts are critical in steering us towards our common goals: accessible quality seed for our farmers, improved agricultural productivity, and food security in all member countries of COMESA,” Dr Mukuka said.

“Our small-scale farmers cannot achieve increased yields, improved household incomes, and resilience to climate change if our countries do not provide quality and affordable seed.”

Furthermore, by bringing together information on seed varieties, certification, seed producers, and regulatory processes, COMSIS is expected to help governments make informed decisions.

The main barriers facing smallholder farmers today include fragmented markets that limit access to quality inputs, conflicting national seed regulations that complicate cross-border trade, and limited access to reliable information about seed varieties and availability.

The Permanent Secretary for Technical Services in Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. John Mulongoti, said the launch marked a milestone in the implementation of the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Implementation Plan.

In addition, he noted that member states had, for the past decade, been working to harmonize seed regulations across the region.

COMSIS intends to harmonize regional trade regulations by creating a unified regulatory framework that aligns different national seed regulations into a standardized system.

Moreover, the initiative represents a practical solution to ensure that seed traded within the region were traceable, authentic, and of high quality, and always easily accessible to smallholder farmers.

Ultimately, these efforts represent a major step toward economic integration and agricultural stability for the twenty-one member nations (COMESA).

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