Introduction

Evaluation of new tobacco varieties with good traits such as higher yields and diseases resistance from other countries is of importance in order to bring quick results in meeting customer’s demands. It is through collaboration with other tobacco research institutions such as Tobacco Research Board (TRB) Kutsaga, Zimbabwe, or seed companies such as DDV Seed Services (PTY) Ltd, Cross Creek Seed Inc (USA), ProfiGen (Brazil) etc, TORITA is working in partnership for supplying male sterile, good quality, and GMO-free seeds to the farmers through their contracted tobacco buyers. Our services for evaluation of new tobacco varieties are clearly itemized below.

Procedures for new tobacco evaluation, release and registration

In Tanzania procedures for variety evaluation, release and registration are guided through the two Acts, ‘New Plant Variety Protection Act 2002’ and the “Seeds Act 2003”. They are both operational as a step forward in implementing the Legal Agreement for the registration of new varieties. Tanzania Government, under the Ministry of Agriculture, established“National Performance Trial (NPT)” section at TOSCI head office in Morogoro which takes care of all the technical aspects related to variety release.

Procedure for evaluation of new tobacco variety, registration and release

The followings are the procedures to be followed.

First year

(i)A client submits a request to TORITA to evaluate new variety by including a report of three seasons pertaining yields from the original country of registration and other agronomic merits as demanded by TORITA

(ii)A client shall be given a control number to pay evaluation fees in the local currency equivalent to $ 4000 per variety.

(iii)TORITA starts evaluation trials in not less than three sites for determination of a variety distinctness, uniformity, stability and yields

Second to the third year

TORITA continues on evaluation trials in not than three sites of different geographical locations for distinctness, uniformity, stability and yields in three years.

Third year

(i)TORITA submit to TOSCI applications for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) test,to determine Distinctness (D), Uniformity (U) and Stability (S)

(ii)TORITA apply for National Performance Trial (NPT) to TOSCI supported with:

(i) Two seasons advanced yield trial data,

not less than three recognized sites:

(ii) Sufficient seed sample for conducting NPT

(iii) Any additional information required for determination of the merits of the variety.

(iv) On-farm trial and farmers’ assessment data,

TOSCI will conduct NPT for a minimum of one season at not less than three sites.

Fourth year

TORITA submit to TOSCI request for variety release to the NPT Technical Committee.

NPT-TC Secretary reports

(i) The applicant,

(ii) Recommendations of the NPT Technical Committee to the National

VarietyRelease Committee (NVRC).

(iii) NVRC reviews the recommendations of the NPT-TC and advice the National Seed Committee (NSC).

(iv) For a variety to be recommended for release to the National Seed Committee, a breeder is required to submit to TOSCI an authentic sample for use in subsequent generations. Amount of authentic tobacco sample is 100 g.

(v) Once a new variety is approved by the Minister for Agriculture pursuant to the section 21 of the Seed Act, theDirector Responsible for crop development shall:

(a)register the variety,

(b)Issue certification of registration to the applicant.