Professional Assessment of Crop Variety Registration Processes at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology

The efficiency and rigour of the crop variety registration process at NACGRAB determines the speed with which improved varieties reach farmers and the quality assurance underpinning public confidence in the seed system, and a professional assessment of current processes is necessary for identifying reform priorities. This study professionally assessed the crop variety registration processes at NACGRAB, Ibadan, examining procedural adequacy, timeline efficiency, scientific rigor, and stakeholder accessibility. A programme assessment methodology was employed, drawing on documentary review of the Seeds Act and NACGRAB operational guidelines, analysis of variety registration applications and approval timelines from 2019 to 2023, structured interviews with 12 NACGRAB officials, 8 plant breeders, and 6 seed company representatives, and comparative review of variety registration systems from Kenya (KEPHIS) and Ghana (PPRSD). Assessment showed that mean time from application to final registration was 4.2 years for public institution varieties and 3.7 years for private company varieties, significantly exceeding the UPOV-recommended 3-year target. Backlogs were identified in DUS trial completion and Value for Cultivation and Use testing. Documentation requirements for SME seed companies were rated as prohibitively complex by 71.4 percent of company respondents. Access to DUS trial field sites was inadequate for legume and root and tuber crops. The study recommends process digitisation, fast-track registration pathway for varieties with prior CGIAR evaluation data, and SME-specific simplified documentation packages.

Keywords: variety registration, NACGRAB, seed system, crop variety, assessment