Scope and Status of Vegetable Seed Production in Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper reviewed the scope and status of vegetable seed production in order to assess the current vegetable seed supply, production, distribution scenario and production potential. Adaptation and demonstration of improved vegetable technologies have shown the potential of producing different types of vegetable in different agro climatic regions in the country. It is important to identify suitable production belts and establish model seed multiplication scheme with strong collaboration of research, farmers/growers, seed distributors, vegetable producers and the extension sector. It is important to encourage private sectors that are interested in the horticulture seed industry. In many Asian countries the seed are commercially handled in which the market share of the private sector is more than 80%. It is important that variety development program be linked with the seed system. In additions, the economics of seed production be considered to assist farmers for decision. For efficient, economic and sustainable seed supply, seed production should be decentralized into major crop production zones with active participation of both public and private sectors. At the same time, the local seed supply should be organized using both local and improved varieties through secondary seed multiplication scheme. Improved seed production and distribution are predominantly carried out in the public sector; the scope of the formal seed supply systems is limited in developing countries like Ethiopia. Though there is huge potential; horticultural crop production and multiplication of improved variety of the seed is a great bottle neck problem. Lack of varieties and inadequate breeder and basic seed supply for effective seed production, limited technical and managerial experience and material resource absence of specialized seed farms in adequate coverage of economically important crops and lack of independent quality seed control system specially the foreign seed should be addressed by the responsible seed center.