WHAT IS CHEMIPHAR?
Chemiphar (U) Ltd. is an independent analytical laboratory, internationally
accredited according to ISO 17025:2005 by BELAC (Belgian Accreditation
Body) (accreditation no: 167-TEST).
Chemiphar supports Uganda’s farmers and exporters by providing a range
of laboratory services that ensures that national and international standards
and requirements are met. This has been critical, for example, in enabling
Uganda to export its fish products. Chemiphar’s international recognition
has allowed a number of Ugandan products to enter and be competitive in
export markets.
Most recently, Chemiphar, with the support of the Danida ASPS established seed testing and certification
capacity, specifically for agricultural seeds.
Chemiphar has become a member of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), has received its
BELAC accreditation for seed testing (ISO 17025) and is in the process of acquiring full ISTA accreditation.
All seed samples are tested following ISTA rules and procedures. This means that, for the first time in
Uganda, it is now possible for growers, traders, exporters, farmers, development agencies and regulatory
authorities to have the quality of their seeds quickly and independently verified. This should give the seed
sector a much needed boost of confidence.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE SEEDS TESTED?
The physical quality of the seeds is affected by many factors, most
importantly insects and disease, moisture and temperature. At any time
from the harvest of the seeds to their subsequent planting to produce a
crop, less than optimal handling can negatively affect their ability to
germinate and grow into a healthy plant. At all stages along the seed
value chain, problems are experienced, but until now, it has most often
not been possible to identify exactly what went wrong and where and
when the problems occurred.
The only way to know what is going wrong with the seeds you buy/sell,
is to test it at the time of purchase/selling, at the time of delivery in the
field or with input dealers. If, in the field, you don’t have time to send
samples for formal testing, you can do basic visual, cut-test and blotter-paper germination tests. The
methodologies for this are not complicated, but neither are the results as accurate as a formal test.
Even if you need to expedite delivery or use the seed immediately and can’t wait for test results, having your
seed tested, as a matter of routine, can assist you in subsequently identifying the cause of problems that arise
and who should be accountable for that.
THE SIMPLEST WAY TO SAMPLE
1. Clean your hands and roll your sleeves up;
2. Insert your open hand into the seed container or bag;
3. Close and withdraw your hand, taking great care that the fingers
remain tightly closed, allowing no seed to escape;
4. Empty the seeds in your hand into a clean container;
5. For the same seed lot, do this a number of times from different
containers selected at random until you have the amount needed for
testing.
* Use disposable gloves if seeds are chemically treated.
* Sample from different areas of the container(s). i.e. the top, middle, bottom and sides.
PACKING AND LABELLING THE SAMPLE
1. Pack the seeds in a thick clear polythene bag, removing as much air as possible.
2. Tie the bag tightly with a knot or twist the bag, fold the mouth of the bag downwards and tie with a cord.
3. On a piece of paper write the following: name of the seeds, species and variety names/numbers, seed lot
number and date of sampling and attach it to the bag using a string.
SOME OF THE SEEDS CHEMIPHAR CAN TEST FOR YOU
Type of seed
Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Number of days the
analysis takes
12
Amount of seeds to be
submitted in (grams)
1500
Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea)
13
1500
Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan)
13
1500
Millet (Eleusine coracana)
11
300
Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculta)
11
1500
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
13
200
Maize (Zea mays)
10
1500
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)
13
1200
Simsim (Sesamum indicum)
9
500
Green gram (Vigna radiate)
10
1500
Rice (Oryza sativa)
17
1000
Sunflower (Helianthus annus)
13
1500
WHICH TESTS CAN CHEMIPHAR PERFORM AND AT WHAT COST?
Moisture content
13 US$/sample*
Purity
12 US$/sample*
Germination
20 US$/sample*
Parking and markings
10 US$/sample*
Sampling in Kampala
75 US$*
Package price for combined moisture, purity and germination test: 40 US$
*Prices are VAT 18% excluded
WHERE IS CHEMIPHAR LOCATED?
Our physical address:
Plot 224-226, Acacia Road, Mutesasira Zone, Kansanga, Kampala
(off Gaba Road, after Didi’s World, opposite to Olympia Hotel)
Our address and contacts:
P.O. Box 25525, Kampala, Uganda
Tel.: +256-(0)414-268.832
Mob.: +256-(0)712-502.316
Fax: +256-(0)414-268.834
e-mail: [email protected]