by
Per Rasmussen1
Tanzania National Tree Seed Centre
P.O.Box 4012, Morogoro, Tanzania
INTRODUCTION
Planting of trees has, during the last few decades, become a priority in tropical and subtropical regions. Where previously, most plantings were established for industrial purposes, using a limited number of species, the focus in the eighties and early nineties has shifted towards using a larger variety of species in plantings combining trees with agricultural crops. At the same time, past preferences for using a few, well known exotics, have been replaced with a more balanced view, taking into consideration ecological long term stability and biological diversity, and favouring an increased use of indigenous species.
The resulting increase in magnitude and complexity of tree planting programmes has created a rising demand for planting material, in particular seed of a high physiological and genetic quality of both indigenous and exotic species. This has, in many cases, rendered existing seed procurement operations inadequate and a number of countries in the tropical and sub-tropical regions have therefore embarked on national tree seed programmes, or have strengthened existing programmes.
BACKGROUND
In the past, national tree seed procurement in Tanzania was the responsibility of the Lushoto Silvicultural Research Station (LSRS), situated in the West Usambara mountains. In addition to the seed procured by LSRS, significant quantities were procured at the regional and local level by the district and regional forest authorities, and by larger plantation projects. Very little seed was apparently collected by individual farmers. Instead, useful and valuable trees were retained when clearing land for agriculture and, in the case of plantings, wildings were preferred.
During the eighties the quantity and quality of seed supplied form LSRS gradually decreased. This was largely a result of inadequate financing and lack of political priority. The forest service, in want of a centralised supply, had to rely on their local collections, which were carried out without sufficient knowledge of seed sources and proper handling of seed. As a result, the forest service nursery stock, which was given to the farmers free of charge as an incentive, represented only a handful of well known exotic tree species.
In 1989, the Government of Tanzania finalised within the framework of the Tropical Forest Action Programme (TFAP) a master plan for the forestry sector, the Tanzania Forestry Action Plan. The plan proposed a significant increase in tree planting, including industrial plantings, agroforestry plantings, urban amenity plantings, and enrichment plantings in moist forests. Later the same year, the Government commenced the establishment of the National Tree Seed Programme (NTSP) with the technical and financial assistance from Denmark. Technical support and backstopping became the responsibility of the Danida Forest Seed Centre in Humlebaek, Denmark. The NTSP was planned as a national programme with country-wide coverage. Funding was agreed for a first phase of 3½years
THE PROGRAMME
The NTSP has been planned as an integrated tree seed programme, combining seed procurement with components of tree improvement and gene resource conservation, since only by balancing these elements in a programme strategy can a sustainable supply of tree seeds of a high physiological and genetic quality be achieved.
Emphasis during the first phase was on establishing the organization. The country was roughly divided into 7 ecological zones. The intention was for the programme to establish semi-autonomous seed centres in each zone to achieve a decentralized set-up. The decentralized approach was considered preferable due to the size of Tanzania, the poor transport system, and the variation in ecological conditions.
During phase 1, zonal seed centres were established in three zones. The national seed centre was established in connection with one of the zonal seed centres. Each zonal centre was supplied with necessary equipment, materials and vehicles, and personnel was recruited and trained. The zonal centres are capable of carrying out independent seed procurement activities, including seed source management, seed collection, processing, testing, storage and distribution.
Each zonal centre employs three forest technicians. The Field Officer is responsible for all activities in the field, the Seed Officer for all centre based activities, and the Head of the zonal centre is responsible for the administration and management of the centre. In addition, the Head of the zonal centre carries other responsibilities such as nursery development and seed sales. The three officers are encouraged to swap duties from time to time to avoid the development of a rigid hierarchy and to promote a horizontal management system. To carry out the work, each zonal centre employs 15 labourers. Five of these are trained specifically in tree climbing techniques and seed collection, five are trained in seed processing, and the remaining five are engaged in plant production in the zonal centre nursery.
The national centre plans and coordinates activities at the national level. It is responsible for overall programme management and administration, supervision and monitoring, and for training and applied research. The centre is divided into 6 sections:
A National Programme Manager, answering to the Director of FBD, is responsible for programme implementation. Each subject section has a Head of Section and an assistant. Heads are graduate foresters, assistants are forest technicians. The extensive use of forest technicians aims at emphasizing the generally practical nature of a seed procurement programme.
In the zonal centres, seed is stored in airtight containers under ambient conditions. The national centre has two cold stores for long term storage of seed and for storage of species with cold store requirements. Perishable or recalcitrant seed is only collected to fill specific orders and is distributed to customers immediately after processing.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?
At the end of phase 1, the establishment of the NTSP was completed. Four seed centres had been built, equipped and manned. All three zonal centres had established a zonal nursery and at the national centre, an arboretum for indigenous species is under establishment. Managerial and administrative routines are in place and the organization is fully operational. All staff had been trained through on-the-job training, in-house and external training courses, and through participation in international seminars, symposia and study tours. The DFSC, through its base programme and a number of short-term consultancies, helped train staff and provided major technical inputs in the form of recommendations related to construction and equipment purchase and use.
During the first 3 years of operation, the NTSP identified and described some 120 seed sources. Some of these sources are selected, but for the majority of sources a comparative quality assessment has yet to be made. More than 20 tons of seed of more than 60 different species was collected and partly distributed to customers in Tanzania and abroad. Emphasis was placed on indigenous species; the use of such species was promoted during workshops, seminars and direct contact with customers.
Applied seed research aimed at solving problems related to seed procurement was initiated, in particular for indigenous species where very little knowledge is available on handling, pre-germination, treatment, and nursery production. This work takes place in the national centre laboratory of at the zonal centres. Tree improvement activities have, so far, been confined to the management of seed sources and seed stands, in particular for Tectona grandis and Grevillea robusta. One seed stand of Pithecelobium dulce (Madra Thorn) has been established. With respect to gene resource conservation, a valuable, large natural stand of Dalbergia melanoxylon (African Blackwood) was delineated and is being protected through frequent patrolling.
Networking with other seed centres in the region has been a priority and the NTSP is playing a significant role in the SADCC Tree Seed Centres' Network. Collaboration is ongoing with the Kenya Tree Seed Centre and contacts have been established with upcoming seed programmes in the Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
In many cases, seed collection operations have turned out to be prohibitively expensive. This is partly due to the distance from the zonal centre to the seed sources, partly due to high per diem rates for Government employees. At the same time, it has never been the intention that the NTSP should provide all the seed needed for tree planting in Tanzania. Collection of seed of species with little or no improvement potential, which are easy to handle and to propagate, and which are easily available, should be left to the users.
This calls for an extension effort, a task best carried out by the already existing extension services within agriculture and forestry. Training of non-NTSP staff has been to date limited to the participation by such staff in two national workshops on priority species and seed procurement and a symposium on seed sources. In addition, a limited number of non-NTSP staff has participated in various NTSP training courses.
Seed has been sold to the domestic market as well as abroad. Domestic customers include forestry projects with a tree planting component, but also NGO's, regional and district forest services, state enterprises, private companies and, to a lesser degree, private individuals. The majority of external sales has gone to West Africa, but seed has been sold also to Australia and Latin America. Seed of Tectona grandis constitutes the bulk of the export. The NTSP issues a quarterly seed catalogue, technical notes, research notes, seed leaflets, and a periodic forestry newsletter. The publications are free of charge and anyone interested can be placed on the mailing list upon request. Presently, some 5 900 kg representing 57 different species are available in stock.
FUTURE STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
A second phase of 3 years duration is planned. Critical points in the planning process have been:
how to ensure long term financial and institutional sustainability, and
how to ensure a truly decentralized approach in order to reach the target groups (the end users of seed).
Concerning long term sustainablibity, it has been proposed that the NTSP should become a semi-autonomous Department directly under the Ministry (FBD), responsible to a Board of Trustees. The Chairman of the Board would be the Director of the FBD, to ensure the vial linkage to practical forestry. Under this proposed new set-up, the NTSP would be allowed to have its own independent personnel policy, and revenue generated from sale of seeds and services (such as training courses), could be partly or fully rechannelled to activities of the NTSP, to ensure the financial viability of the programme.
To ensure a decentralized approach, it has been proposed that future programmes in other zones in Tanzania should be strictly demand driven and the magnitude and complexity of the operations should depend on such demand. Such an approach can result in fully fledged zonal seed centres, provided there is demand for seed, however, a zonal seed centre could also, in its simplest form, consist of an agent (liaison officer), trained and supplied with simple tools and equipment, and collaborating and assisting ongoing activities in the zone.
In order better to reach the target group, an extensive training programme combined with the production and dissemination of extension material, is proposed. The NTSP should assist in subjects such as seed source identification and management, seed collection and handling, and seedling production.
The plans for a second phase of the project will be completed this year and, if approved, this phase will commence in January 1994. Development of the NTSP is given a very high priority by the Tanzanian Government and is considered a prerequisite to the continued development of the Tanzania Forestry Action Plan. It will be interesting to follow the development of changes in strategy and approach in response to new needs and challenges.
Figure 1. Drying teak seed in the drying yard of Morogoro Zonal Tree Seed Centre.
Forest Genetic Resources Information no. 21. FAO, Rome (1993)
Manuscript received June 1993
1. Per Rasmussen has since moved to the Indonesia. Tree Seed Sources Development Project, Indonesia.
