CROP DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
Objective
To provide expertise and services on crop development and cooperatives.
Functions
- To provide inputs on crop development policies, legislations, standards and rules;
- To develop crop development strategies, programmes and implementation;
- To promote sustainable agriculture;
- To build capacity of RS and LGAs in crop development; and
- To provide inputs on cooperative development policies and legislations.
This Division will be led by a Director and will have three (3) Sections as follows:-
- Crop Promotion, Agricultural Inputs and Cooperatives Section;
- Plant Health Services Section; and
- Agricultural Marketing Section.
1.1.1 Crop Promotion, Agricultural Inputs and Cooperatives Section
This Section will perform the following activities:-
- Develop, monitor, evaluate and review implementation of policies, strategies, standards and legislation on agricultural inputs;
- Inspect, monitor and certify quality of seed and crop varieties;
- Facilitate promotion of farm seed production (Quality Declared Seed [QDS]);
- Encourage Private Sector Participation in seed production;
- Process and register new seed varieties, seed farms and seed dealers;
- Establish National supply and demand system for Agro-Inputs distribution and utilization;
- Develop Agricultural Inputs Databank;
- Develop, monitor, evaluate and review implementation of cooperative policies and legislations;
- Develop and maintain Government Orchards for multiplication and dissemination of improved varieties of horticultural crops;
- Facilitate promotion of commercial farming including contract farming;
- Provide advice on production of crops based on agro – ecological zones;
- Provide advice on enforcement of crop industry legislation and guidelines; and
- Prepare and enforce implementation of quality standards on production processing of traditional and non-traditional export crops.
This Section will be led by an Assistant Director.
1.1.2 Plant Health Services Section
This Section will perform the following activities:-
- Develop guidelines for crop pest management and monitor its implementation;
- Undertake Inspection and Photo-sanitary Certification;
- Facilitate RS and LGAs to enforce internal Plant Quarantine;
- Prepare strategies and coordinate management outbreak of pests and diseases;
- Coordinate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Bio Control Services;
- Provide regulatory services on registration and sound management of pesticides;
- Control of quality and standards of plant protection substances;
- Enforce Plant Protection Legislation;
- Develop and maintain plant health data bank; and
- Monitor bio-safety and bio-security aspects in agriculture.
This Section will be led by an Assistant Director.
1.1.3 Agricultural Marketing Section
This Section will perform the following activities:-
- Conduct researches on market intelligence for crops grown in the Country;
- Collect and conduct detailed analysis of data concerning storage, marketing and trend of crop prices inside and outside the Country;
- Give special advice to Government concerning decisions on permitting or banning of selling of crops and control of crops to be entered in the country;
- Coordinate all issues which concern Agricultural marketing from farmers;
- Provide advice to the Government concerning quality way of understanding and using agricultural marketing opportunities for crops produced within the country and giving recommendations which will assist farmers to access domestic and foreign markets
- Coordinate promotional activities of farmers to add value to their crops with the aim of accessing markets;
- Be a Data Harmonization Centre for agricultural markets and price and provide link between the Ministry and various domestic and foreign institutions concerning markets for farmers’ crops; and
- Coordinate all issues concerning with markets and prices of crops which are produced by domestic farmers.
This Section will be led by an Assistant Director.