Prospects and Challenges in Seed Sector Development: Lessons from Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopian seed system aim to enhance efficiency and satisfy the farmer's seed demand for reliable supply of a range of improved seed varieties of assured quality at an acceptable price. To ensure this goal different actors (operators, supporters, and enablers) are involving in seed value chain. Currently, the seed demand and supply in Ethiopia in general and Hararghe zones in particular is a paradox. Although seed supply does not meet the demand of farmers, significant amount of seed leftover every year at unions and primary cooperatives stores. The objectives of this study were to analyze seed production and utilization trends and assesses institutional and technical capacity of actors across seed value chain in Eastern Ethiopia. The outcome of the assessment revealed that limited availability and access of basic seed for seed production; limited infrastructural and technical capacity of seed producers; fragmented land for seed production; weak internal seed quality inspection; poor post-harvest seed processing and value addition; weak external seed quality inspection and certification services; lack of market information and linkage; poor coordination and collaboration among actors; and natural disasters are some of the key challenges affecting seed business. For seed marketing and distribution the existing conventional seed marketing system in which government plays a dominant role is inefficient to satisfy farmer’s seed demand. Our result also revealed that direct seed marketing system cannot address all farmers located over wider agro-ecologies due to geo-location, limited volume, limited infrastructure facilities and diversity. It is recommended that defining clear roles and responsibilities of different actors in the seed value chain and working according to the agreed responsibilities; strengthening institutional and technical capacity of research centers and unions for continues supply of early generation seed and certified seeds, respectively and enforcement of seed regulatory functions to ensure transparency and accountability.