Senate moves to unlock farmers' fast access to drought-hardy seeds in new Bill
The Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill aims to address what it describes as major inefficiencies in the existing approval process, which can take up to four years to certify a single seed variety.
A new proposal before the Senate could unlock faster access to improved seed varieties for Kenyan farmers by offering a shorter and more flexible approval process through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
The Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, seeks to introduce a parallel registration system that would run independently from the current Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) process, which is often slow and bureaucratic.
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The Bill aims to address what it describes as major inefficiencies in the existing approval process, which can take up to four years to certify a single seed variety.
“This Amendment seeks to address the inefficiencies in the current seed approval process, which has led to significant delays, averaging four years and hindered farmers’ access to quality and climate-resilient seed varieties,” the Bill states.
Through the proposed law, seed developers would be allowed to apply for certification directly through KEBS, provided they meet the required quality, germination, and purity standards.
The KEBS-administered system would assess applications and issue approvals within six months, significantly reducing the waiting period for innovators and farmers.
“There is established a standards-based seed registration system to be administered by the bureau for approval and registration of seed varieties that meet minimum quality standards,” the Bill reads.
Olekina says the proposed framework will not only increase farmers’ access to quality seeds but also encourage agricultural innovation, support food security, and promote sustainable growth in the farming sector.
Under the Bill, applicants must prove that the seed is free of harmful weeds and seed-borne diseases, provide technical data showing compliance with minimum standards, and show that the applying entity is a registered seed merchant under KEPHIS.
A physical sample of the seed must also be submitted for reference, and the seed must be genetically different from any other registered variety.
Upon examination, KEBS will either reject or approve the application. If approved, a certificate of registration valid for five years will be issued.
The Bill notes that only varieties shown to be climate-resilient, previously tested, or intended for quick release in response to environmental challenges will qualify for registration through the new route.
This also includes seed varieties for niche or low-risk markets, such as urban farming or speciality crops, which do not need broad ecological testing.
Nineteen crop types have been listed as eligible for this streamlined registration, including Sudan grass, pigeon peas, cereal rye, oats, lupins, chickpeas, barley, canola, linseed, grain sorghum, and wheat.
Others are fava beans, millets, dry and green beans, lablab, mung beans, sunflowers, and Rhodes grass.
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Olekina believes the shift to a dual-approval model will remove unnecessary delays, improve efficiency, and help Kenyan agriculture become more adaptable in the face of climate change.
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