The Ethiopian seed industry - SeedQuest

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solution for the current seed quality
problem. The Agency should start
certification of seed produced by the public
and private sectors and enforce the
regulation to build farmers’ confidence.
Distribution
1. Inefficient seed marketing and
distribution system: The seed marketing and
distribution centers are mainly concentrated
in Arssi, Bale, Gojam, Sidamo and Wollega.
The number of seed marketing and
distribution centers should be increased to
cover major production areas and located
strategically to minimize price differences
arising from transportation costs. Although
current efforts of ESE in expanding
marketing centers are encouraging, private
dealers should be licensed to handle seed
marketing and distribution. Moreover, seed
distribution by farmers’ service cooperatives
should be encouraged at grass root levels.
2. Absence of sales promotion: The
awareness of the Ethiopian farmers on the
use of improved seed needs to be improved.
A sales promotion unit should be
strengthened within the marketing system. A
strong agricultural extension program is also
required to promote use of improved seed,
especially for newly released varieties.
3. Low quality seed offered for sale: In the
past, the quality of seed offered for sale has
been inferior and sometimes less than
farmers’ own seed in terms of physical and
physiological quality. Breeder, basic and
certified seed should be properly controlled
and premium prices paid for contract
growers to encourage production of quality
seed.
4. Low grain price. During the last five
years, particularly after the implementation
of new agricultural extension package, there
has been a tendency of increased production
of cereal crops. Such increased production
tends to depress the grain price compared to
high cost of agricultural inputs. This
influences farmers’ decision to use inputs,
particularly seed. A mechanism should be
devised to implement the floor grain price as
indicated in the national seed policy
whereby farmers can sell their products at
reasonable prices.
‘Focus on Seed Programs’ is a series of country reports published
by the WANA Seed Network Secretariat, Seed Unit, ICARDA, P.O.
Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria; Tel: ++963-2213433; Fax: ++963-21-
2213490; E-mail: Z.Bishaw@cgiar.org
Focus on Seed Programs
2001: Ethiopia