Abstract
Seed is a key input for improving crop production and productivity. Increasing the quality of seeds can increase the yield potential of the crop by significant folds and thus, is one of the most economical and efficient inputs to agricultural development. Generation and transfer of improved technologies are critical prerequisites for agricultural development particularly for an agrarian based economy such as of Ethiopian. In Ethiopia, for instance, a unit increase in GDP derived from agriculture has a potential of reducing poverty annually by 1.66% as compared to 0.73% poverty reduction expected from non-agricultural sector. Agriculture, particularly crop farming, has a greater effect on both the rural and the urban poor who spend more than a half of their incomes on food. When there are different seed sources available and farmers get access to them there is high probability of adoption of improved varieties .An enhanced seed availability though formal or informal or both sources will improve smallholder farmer’s access to seed and enhance improved variety adoption. In practice, whenever a farmer is talking about getting a new seed it implies that she or he is deciding to adopt a new variety. The ultimate goal of a farm household in a risk prone agro-ecology is to obtain seed with characteristics suitable to farmers’ agro-ecological and socio-economic condition. Similarly, seed is pivotal in the improvement of food security and farm household livelihood.
Highlights
Seed is a fundamental input in crop farming
In Ethiopia, for instance, a unit increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) derived from agriculture has a potential of reducing poverty annually by 1.66% as compared to 0.73% poverty reduction expected from non-agricultural sector
Despite the release of several technologies, of improved crop varieties, there has been limited use of improved seeds by the majority of farmers (CSA, 2010).Among others, unavailability of quality seeds at the right place and time coupled with poor promotion system, is one of the key factors accounting for limited use of improved seeds, which further contributing for low agricultural productivity
Summary
Seed is a fundamental input in crop farming It has played a critical role in agricultural development since humans domesticated the first crop around 11,000 years ago. Seed is an essential agricultural input and access to quality seed is of crucial in improving farm household food security in agrarian nations in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and elsewhere. Seed is a medium though which a new crop technology is transferred to farmers It is the carrier of genetic message for different characteristics embodied in a variety. An enhanced seed availability though formal or informal or both sources will improve smallholder farmers access to seed and enhance improved variety adoption. Governments have been pursuing strategies for improving food crop productivity by using improved varieties and application of accompanied agronomic practices, inputs through parastatal agencies seed production and supply (Government of Ethiopia (GoE), 2001). A formal seed system that functions adequately feeds informal seed system and they are noted to be complementary (Almekinders et al, 1994)
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