Steps in Seed Certification Process

Schedule II crops in Kenya (majority of cereals, pulses and oil crops) as stipulated in the seeds and Plant Varieties Act (Cap. 326) must go through compulsory seed certification, and involves the following activities:-

• Seed allocation panel - This is where potential seed growers are scrutinized. KEPHIS is the Secretariat and is chaired by the Director of Agriculture.
• Application for seed field registration - The seed growers accepted at 4.1.1 have their contracts registered by the company concerned. KEPHIS registration form is filled and forwarded to relevant KEPHIS regional office. These enables the Seed Inspectors time to plan work and identify location of the fields.
• Field Inspection - This is the first step in seed certification.

1. Proof of origin - seed merchants must provide proof of origin of the parental materials of the varieties registered for inspection.
2. Preliminary inspection - To check isolation distances/time periods, hectarages of seed crop, volunteers and offer advice.
3. First, second and third inspection- These are carried out at critical flowering stages when the farmers are detasselling (females), leaving male rows (pollinators) intact for maize. Inspectors make these visits and going through the seed field physically and write inspection report each time. If based on the findings, the results are not in agreement with the seed rules, the seed crop is rejected.
4. Pre-harvest inspections - To confirm that seed (maize) is at physiological maturity and cannot "cook" when heat-dried at seed dryers. 

• Harvesting - Has to be done as per merchant's schedule.
• Transportation - Seed is delivered in registered lorries and a list of the same is given to KEPHIS inspectors to confirm details on varietal purity and trueness-to-type.
• Processing - Seed crops approved in the fields are harvested and processed to remove undesirable contaminants such as weed seeds inert materials, immature seeds, broken and diseased seeds. Processing involves reception, dumping conveyor transportation, sorting at tables, drying at bins, shelling, cleaning, storage in silos, grading and treating with protective chemicals.
• Seed Sampling, lot inspection and testing - The seed lot that meet the gazetted lot inspection standards as per International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) rules are sampled and sealed. Representative samples from the seed lots are sent to Seed Quality Testing Laboratory, Nakuru, for analysis and post control tests. Each seed has maximum quantities that are put into one lot. Seed samples are subjected to both germination capacity and purity analysis upon which certification is issued by official seed tester which certification is issued by official seed tester which is either passed (for sale) or rejected (to be destroyed).
• • Post-Control- Objectives:-

1. To confirm that the characters of varieties are stable in the process of multiplication.
2. To counter-check the thoroughness of field inspection.
3. To address disputes arising from field certification.

• Labeling and Sealing - Upon satisfactory fulfillment of prescribed requirements, every seed lot is provided with a label and a seal. Containers are labeled and sealed in such a way that the seed cannot be removed or changed without damaging beyond repair, either the container, the label or the selling devices.
• Post-certification survey - This involves random inspection of seeds being sold by stockiest and seed merchant to ensure that only certified seed reach the farmers. It also addresses complaints raised by farmers on the seeds sold to them.