PROGRESS REPORT

46 PROGRESS REPORT PROGRAM LEVEL PROGRESS REPORT 47
Deliverable status and key achievements in primary thematic areas
Key Success Areas
Thematic
Area
Deliverable Status Key Achievements
Of the eight deliverables in the Seed Program area, six
of them have been classified as being “On Track.”
In Deliverable 2: (Seed Proclamation), a revised
national Seed Proclamation that was developed with
the participation of all relevant stakeholders through
a consultative process was passed as Proclamation
number 782/2013 by Parliament in January 2013.
Since then, significant progress has been made to
put in place the associated regulations and guidelines,
including the revision of Plant Breeders Right (PBR)
law number 481/2006, among others. The PBR and
other regulations are in the final stages of ratification
by the Council of Ministers. A directive for a quality
declared seed (QDS) certification system has also been
endorsed by the MoA, and QDS standards for 35 crops
have been ratified by the National Council.
In Deliverable 3: (Regulatory Structures), major
achievements included reforms undertaken in the four
targeted regions (Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray)
and by the MoA. The Amhara and SNNP Regions have
upgraded their regulatory institutions to authority
levels, with the mandate to control the quality of
major agricultural inputs. The MoA also upgraded the
regulatory system to a Directorate level with a main
focus on variety release and protection and on seed
quality control. The Oromia Region has separated
the agricultural input marketing from the regulatory
function, while Tigray upgraded the expert led service
to a Case Team level. All these regions also took key
measures to enhance the capacity of their regulatory
units with major investments in logistics, equipment,
lab rooms and manpower.
Deliverable 5: (Direct Seed Marketing) focuses on an
alternative seed marketing and distribution mechanism
where seed producers (both public and private) are
Areas with Challenges
Of the eight deliverables in the Seed Program area, one
of them (12.5%) has been classified as being “Slightly
Delayed” and one (12.5%) as “Significantly Delayed”.
Although Deliverable 1 (Seed Sector Strategy) is
“Slightly Delayed,” significant progress has been
made in developing a national Seed Strategy, including
discussions with all key actors on three separate
components (formal, intermediate and informal
seed sector). A validation workshop has also been
undertaken with all key stakeholders. However,
the delay in the progress has been caused due to
challenges in the endorsement and release of the
final document in order to begin comprehensive
implementation of the strategy.
allowed to directly market their seed through multiple
channels across selected woredas, similar to agrodealer
programs in other countries. The Direct Seed
Marketing (DSM) project was piloted in 2011 in two
woredas with the marketing of hybrid maize. The
number of pilot woredas has increased to over 80 in
2015 and expanded to include more crops and diverse
seed outlets, including private seed agents. Over
the course of the pilot years, DSM proved to deliver
quality seed in a timely manner with role clarity and
accountability, while reducing carryover seed to less
than 5% in nearly all outlets (compared to a historical
average of nearly 20% in other traditional seed
distribution centers).
Deliverable 6: Community Based Seed Production
(CBSP) refers to farmer groups specialized in seed
production and marketing to address local demands of
niche geographies. Although this deliverable was only
initiated two years ago, early generation seed has been
secured for 60% of targeted CBSPs. Training on the
basics of seed production and marketing has also been
provided to over 5,688 seed producing model farmers
and 298 government officials. In addition, 337 CBSP
leaders have been trained on cooperative governance
and seed business management. Procurement of
tractors, seed cleaning and packaging machines
and other seed production equipment is also well
underway.
More broadly, the survey of deliverable owners and
partners working in the Seed Program has identified
effective planning as well as execution management
as being important contributors to success during
GTP I. In addition, effective stakeholder coordination
and engagement across public, private and nongovernmental
bodies were also seen as important
drivers of success.
Deliverable 7 (Strengthen Capacity of Public and
Private Sector Seed Producers) has been classified
as “Significantly Delayed” due to challenges in the
development of an agreed and structured approach to
implement interventions to build the capacity of public
and private producers. While various investments
continue to be made in order to build the capacity
of various seed producers, greater impact could
be achieved from these interventions with greater
alignment and coordination with other interventions.
More broadly, feedback from all Seed Program
deliverable owners identified dedicated focus from
senior leadership in providing timely guidance and
ineffective monitoring and follow-up of activities
as the two broad issues that require attention for
implementation of Transformation Agenda deliverables
in this program area during GTP II.
Strategies/
Policies/
Regulations
Structures/
Processes/
Systems
Introduction of
Innovative Ideas
Capacity Building
D1: Develop and release
National Seed Sector Strategy
D2: Update Seed Sector
Proclamation & related
regulations/guidelines
D3: Strengthen Federal and
Regional Seed Regulatory
System
D4: Strengthen enforcement
mechanisms for contractual
agreements between seed
value chain actors
D5: Test and expand new
modality for marketing of
improved seeds (Direct Seed
Marketing - DSM)
D6: Strengthen operating
model and build capacity
of Community Based Seed
Production (CBSP)
D7: Strengthen capacity of
public and private sector seed
producers to effectively grow
and scale operations
D8: Undertake genetic
restoration of pre-basic and
basic seed of the key varieties
of four major crops (tef,
wheat, maize, and barley)
Progress to Date:
• National Seed Sector Strategy endorsed by policy makers but
not yet officially released
• Seven areas detailed in the strategy already under
implementation
Completed Results:
1 policy/proclamation revised
• Seed proclamation 782/2013 is under implementation
2 strategies/regulations/guidelines implemented
• QDS directive is prepared and released
• QDS standards for 35 crops released
Completed Results:
5 new institutional process and systems implemented
• Strengthened regulatory system and input marketing
system in all four regions and at federal level
• Establishment of regulatory authority in two regions
Progress to Date:
• Contract templates endorsed by key stakeholders and
contracts entered between several research institutes and
producers for early generation seed
Completed Results:
1 innovative concept/approach scaled-up
• Market based seed distribution system (DSM) being
implemented in over 80 woredas
Completed Results:
374 stakeholder experts trained
• Government experts and DAs at regional, zonal, woreda
and kebele levels trained on CBSP concept
• Model farmers and primary coops trained on improved
seed production
41 institutions strengthened/capacitated
• Institutional capacity of seed enterprises, RBoAs and
higher education institutes strengthened
Progress to Date:
• Two studies completed to evaluate the performance of
selected public and private seed enterprises and develop
recommendations, and program to address capacity
constraints designed
Completed Results:
35 stakeholder experts trained
• Crop scientists and molecular lab technicians from EIAR
and RARIs trained on maintenance of breeder seed
2 institutions strengthened/capacitated
• Debre Zeit and Kulumsa EIAR received capacity building
support to ensure genetic quality of breeder seed
maintained