The impact of Ethiopia’s direct seed marketing approach on smallholders’ access to seeds, productivity, and commercialization
The impact of Ethiopia’s direct seed marketing approach on smallholders’ access to seeds, productivity, and commercialization

Author: Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework

Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst

Published: 2021-01-27

Total Pages: 35

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Several factors contribute to the low level of improved variety use in Ethiopia. Among those, on the supply side, is the limited availability of seed in the volumes, quality, and timeliness required by farmers, which is partly a result of limited public and private investment in the sector. Beginning in 2011, the Government of Ethiopia introduced a novel experiment-the Direct Seed Marketing (DSM) approach-to reduce some of the centralized, state-run attributes of the country’s seed market and rationalize the use of public resources. DSM was designed to incentivize private and public seed producers to sell seed directly to farmers rather than through the state apparatus. This study is the first quantitative evaluation of DSM’s impact on indicators of a healthy seed system: access to quality seeds, on-farm productivity, and market participation of smallholders. Using a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences approach, the study finds that DSM led to a 26 percent increase in maize yields and a 5 percent increase in the share of maize harvest sold. DSM also led to improvements in seed availability for all three of Ethiopia’s major cereals: maize, wheat, and teff. However, DSM’s effects on yields and share of harvest sold are not statistically significant for wheat and teff. These crop-specific differences in performance are likely explainable by biological differences between hybrid maize and openly pollinated varieties of wheat and teff that incentivize private sector participation in maize seed markets over wheat and teff seed markets. These differences demand different policies and perhaps even institutional approaches to accelerating adoption between hybrids and OPVs.

Direct seed marketing program in Ethiopia in 2013
Direct seed marketing program in Ethiopia in 2013

Author: Benson, Todd

Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst

Published: 2014-05-27

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In 2013 the Bureaus of Agriculture in the regional states of Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia supported a program of direct marketing of certified seed by seed producers to farmers across 31 woredas (districts). This program stands in contrast to the dominant procedure for supplying such seed in which farmers register with local agricultural offices or extension agents to purchase seed for the coming cropping season and then receive seed either directly from these local offices or through local cooperatives. The evaluation shows that competition between entrepreneurial seed producers to capture a substantial portion of the market of farmer-customers for their seed to enable their firms to remain in business will propel wider and more effective distribution of new and improved hybrid maize to more and more farmers.

Community Seed Banks
Community Seed Banks

Author: Ronnie Vernooy

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2015-05-15

Total Pages: 323

ISBN-13: 1134608608

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Community seed banks first appeared towards the end of the 1980s, established with the support of international and national non-governmental organizations. This book is the first to provide a global review of their development and includes a wide range of case studies. Countries that pioneered various types of community seed banks include Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. In the North, a particular type of community seed bank emerged known as a seed-savers network. Such networks were first established in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA before spreading to other countries. Over time, the number and diversity of seed banks has grown. In Nepal, for example, there are now more than 100 self-described community seed banks whose functions range from pure conservation to commercial seed production. In Brazil, community seed banks operate in various regions of the country. Surprisingly, despite 25 years of history and the rapid growth in number, organizational diversity and geographical coverage of community seed banks, recognition of their roles and contributions has remained scanty. The book reviews their history, evolution, experiences, successes and failures (and reasons why), challenges and prospects. It fills a significant gap in the literature on agricultural biodiversity and conservation, and their contribution to food sovereignty and security.

Socio-Economic Determinants of Maize Production of Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia
Socio-Economic Determinants of Maize Production of Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Author: Murad Mohammed Baker

Publisher:

Published: 2021

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Agricultural sector is a mainstay of farmers' livelihoods in Ethiopia. Maize is a largest crop being grown in Ethiopia; however, currently, yield gaps are the challenges faced by the producers. This study has an objective of identifying the determinants of maize production of smallholder farmers. Data were collected from 200 farmers living in the selected kebeles (communes) of Meta district in the East Hararge zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia. The collected data was analyzed using multiple linear regression model. The result showed that the production of maize was influenced by several factors. Non-farm activity had a positive impact on the production of maize. Thus, the farmers who had money from non-farm sources utilized these additional incomes as inputs to gain more maize production. The cultivated areas of land have a positive influence on the higher yields of maize. The maize crop production of smallholder farmers was negatively affected by Development Agent's office. The study suggests that policy makers should encourage the current maize production by supplying improved seeds and fertilizers, which tend to support improving the smallholder farms.

Farmers' Seed Production of Maize in Kenya
Farmers' Seed Production of Maize in Kenya

Author: Peterson Wambugu

Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing

Published: 2012-08

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 9783847312659

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The informal seed production systems, also referred as local or farmer seed systems, are by far the greatest source of planting materials in most of the developing countries as well as some developed ones. In Western Kenya, about 80% of maize seeds are produced by farmer themselves. While farmers have a wealth of experience in local seed production, accumulated over the years, the quality of farmer produced seeds is in some cases suboptimal. The studies described in this book attempted to assemble information on the current practices of farmers' seed production of maize in Western Kenya as well as constraints therein and subsequently use this information to prioritize research needs. A survey that was undertaken revealed that though farmers had access to improved varieties, majority of them planted their own traditional varieties which they considered more adapted that the improved ones. The identified constraints include late seed harvesting, high striga infestation, poor storage conditions and poor soil fertility. Research to alleviate these constraints was thereafter conducted both on-station and on-farm in selected farmers' fields and houses in a farmer participatory fashion.

Formal and Informal Seed Systems of Maize
Formal and Informal Seed Systems of Maize

Author: Bekele Gemechu Kumi

Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing

Published: 2012-02

Total Pages: 88

ISBN-13: 9783847376392

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a diploid (2n=20) belonging to the tribe maydeae of the Gramineae family. It is believed that the crop was originated in Mexico and introduced to WestAfrica in the early 1500s by the Portuguese traders. It was brought to Ethiopia in the 1600s to 1700s. Currently it is grown over a wide range of environmental conditions through out the world .Seed is a means of dispersal for plant populations, representing continuity and change, and thus adaptation to the local environment. In modern agriculture, seed is a vehicle to deliver almost all agriculture-based technological innovations to farmers so that they can exploit the genetic potential of new varieties.The assessment of formal and informal seed systems of maize is important not only to identify the potentials for future investments on seed sector but also to encourage the existing institutions for quality seed production and supply. This book indicates opportunities of maize seed system and helps the public and private institutions which need to involve in seed production.