Community of Practice (CoP) for MLND Management in Kenya

KEPHIS Perspective

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Contents

1. Introduction

2. MLN phytosanitary, diagnostics protocols

and standards

3. Seed certification procedures

4. Import/export procedures

5. Existing MLN surveillance initiatives

6. How MLN Phytosanitary CoP can

possibly help in ensuring MLN free seed

production and distribution

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Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS )

A state corporation in the ministry of Agriculture mandated to offer regulatory services in the

agricultural sector.

VISION: The Lead Regulator And Facilitator Of Globally

Competitive Agriculture

MISSION: To Provide A Science-Based Regulatory Service By

Assuring Quality Of Agricultural Inputs And Produce To Promote Food Security And

Sustainable Development

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Legal Framework Plant Protection Act, Cap 324

The Seeds and Plant varieties Act, Cap 326

Biosafety Act, 2009

Supported by a number of International Instruments such UPOV Convention, OECD seed scheme etc

Agriculture Act, Cap 318

Agricultural Produce (Export) Act, Cap 319

Among Others

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KEPHIS Activities in relation to MLND

Disease surveillance

Phytosanitary Regulation and diagnostics of MLN

- For local and imported/local seed as well as post control testing of maize seed

Centralized regulation of maize seed imports

Seed Certification process

Training and sensitization of stakeholders

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MLN Disease Surveillance

KEPHIS has been involved in field surveys for MLND

MLN Surveillance coordinated by KEPHIS Pest Risk Analysis Team (KEPHIS-HQ)

Surveillance Samples analyzed at KEPHIS Plant Quarantine molecular laboratory and the Molecular lab in Nakuru for MCMV & SCMV

KEPHIS has set up a surveillance and monitoring program for MLND for the previous year (2015)

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Laboratory Diagnostics on MLND

KEPHIS set up capacity for MLND testing in 2012 – using RT PCR and ELISA

Capacity Building on MLND diagnostics done at FERA-UK; January 2013.

Focused on Real-Time PCR assays for seed testing

Conventional PCR protocols for MCMV and SCMV also optimized.

Now testing is being done in three KEPHIS labs

Preparations underway to adopt new methods (LAMP, RPA and Immunostrip)

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MLND Testing at KEPHIS -

Takes two weeks

RNA Extraction

Sample Reception

Sampling leaf material

Pre- germination

One Day

Two Days

One Day

qPCR One Day

7 days

Laboratory diagnostics

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Diagnostics for MLND done in the Molecular lab

Centralized regulation of maize seed/grain imports

Also imports of maize grain has been centralized

All Requests to import maize seed are controlled at KEPHIS-HQ Karen.

Maize seed importers required to send a representative sample to KEPHIS for MLND virus Screening prior to importation.

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Seed import/export Regulation

Only registered seed merchants are allowed to import/export seed

An SR14 (notice to import / export) form is filled to notify KEPHIS of the intention to import or export seed.

A Plant Import Permit is issued for the importation.

Seed can also be imported by researchers for experimental purposes

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Seed Companies Dealing In Maize Seed

Currently there are about 19 seed companies dealing in maize seed in Kenya. These are

1. Kenya seed co,

2. Pannar seed ,

3. Agriseed co,

4. Western seed co,

5. Freshco,

6. East African seed co,

7. Dryland seed co,

8. Pioneer Hibred,

9. KARI seed unit,

10. Olerai ltd ,

11. Elgon kenya Ltd,

12. Monsanto,

13. Migotiyo plantations,

14. Faida seeds,

15. Pollen Ltd,

16. One Acre fund,

17. Crop Africa,

18. Gicheha and

19. Leldet Ltd.

Import regulation and Phytosanitary measures

MCMV is now treated as a regulated non quarantine pest in Kenya. As such, seed samples are delivered to KEPHIS Plant health labs for screening for the two viruses.

A plant Import permit is issued for importation once the lot is declared free from the viruses.

The imported seed is still subject to seed testing in the Seed testing lab in KEPHIS, Lanet (for germination, purity and post control).

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Earlier Interventions by KEPHIS/Stakeholders:

No seed certification standards in the Seeds and Plants Varieties (Seeds) regulations

KEPHIS convened first urgent meeting of stakeholders in 2012

Agreed on a tolerance level of less than 10% seed crop infection (informed by current info at the time)

Seed crop rejected at more that 10% infection and allowed roguing at 10% and less.

First seed crop rejections were in Narok

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Regulatory Interventions during Seed Certification

No Regulatory gazetted standards a yet in the Seeds

and Plants Varieties (Seeds) regulations.

KEPHIS convened a 2nd meeting of stakeholders and

research experts including KALRO crop virologists

when MLND continued to spread

KEPHIS implemented an agreed upon intervention of

1% MLND infection tolerance.

Seed crops rejected at more than 1% infection and

roguing at less than 1% MLND infection.

All seeds iregardless of infection/approval was sampled

for MLND tests at PQBS.

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Latest Interventions by KEPHIS

2014-15 Season

Regulatory standards proposed for inclusion in the amended

Seeds and Plants Varieties (Seeds) regulations.

KEPHIS with agreement of key stakeholders is implementing

“new” field standards.

KEPHIS implementing an agreed intervention of 1% MLND

infection tolerance in the field.

Seed crops rejected at more than 1% infection and

mandatory roguing at less than 1% MLND infection.

All seeds regardless of infection/approval are sampled for

MLND tests at PQBS. Seed sampling done before

processing to allow for disposal of rejected seed as grain

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Latest Interventions by KEPHIS

2015-16 Season

Current interventions cont’

• The use of LAMP to replace PCR

Lower costs, faster sample analysis

• Supporting private laboratories in

MLND testing

participated in Interlaboratory testing with

one private lab in Kenya

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Current interventions cont’ Testing the

LAMP assay

for MCMV

Testing the Immuno–strip and

ELISA assay for MCMV

Inspectors in the field

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A seed Inspector in the field

A devastated seed field

Diagnostics is the KEY to a robust plant health

regulatory system. Without it all others don’t

mean much. 20

Good interplay between sectors in phytosanitary regulation

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THANK YOU