Understanding smallholder farmers’ access to maize seed and seed quality in the drought-prone Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abdi, Bedru Beshir; Nishikawa, Yoshiaki

doi:10.1080/15427528.2017.1302031

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The role of seed-producing cooperatives in improving the seed supply and marketing has been given due emphasis in various parts of the country and acknowledged in the seed system strategy of the country [11,14]. Furthermore, experts emphasized the need to integrate the formal and informal seed systems, as both systems have their own specific merits for farmers to access quality seed [43]. Seed systems should be strengthened to increase seed availability to farmers and meet demand [44].…”

Section: Suggestions To Improve the Seed Access Through A Formal Seed...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed in northwest Ethiopia

Yitayew

Sisay²,

Ayalew

2023

Discov Sustain

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Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are involved in multiple seed sources to access bread wheat seed. The present study was conducted in Baso Liben district, northwest Ethiopia, with the objectives of identifying the existing seed sources, factors affecting the use of improved bread wheat seed, and assessing practitioners’ (farmers and experts) suggestions to improve the existing bread wheat seed sources. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 108 farmers and five local experts using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a line-by-line examination of the transcripts of the FGDs. Results revealed that both formal and informal seed sources are available in the study area where farmers can access bread wheat seed. 41.5% of farmers utilized farm-saved seeds from the previous cropping season. The rest was accessed from neighboring farmers (11.4%), relatives (7.5%), and formal seed suppliers (39.6%). Yield advantage, disease tolerance, market value, and food quality were found to be the most common criteria in making the decision to use improved bread wheat varieties. The study confirms that both formal and informal seed sources are important in improving seed access to farmers. Hence, the importance of informal seed sources should be well-considered in policy development. Moreover, the government and development partners need to develop a mechanism to integrate both the formal and informal seed systems to improve seed availability.

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Section: Suggestions To Improve the Seed Access Through A Formal Seed...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed in northwest Ethiopia

Yitayew

Sisay²,

Ayalew

2023

Discov Sustain

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The role of seed producing cooperatives in improving the seed supply and marketing has given due emphasis in various parts of the country and acknowledged in the seed system strategy of the country [11,14]. Furthermore, experts emphasized the need to integrate the formal and informal seed systems as both the systems have own speci c merits for farmers to access quality seed [43]. The seed systems should be strengthened and vibrant to improve the availability of seed to the farming community and meet the demand [44].…”

Section: Willingness Of Farmers To Accept Seed From Formal Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed sources and farmers’ seed production practices in northwest Ethiopia

Yitayew¹,

Sisay²,

Ayalew

2022

Preprint

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Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are involved in multiple seed sources to access both local cultivars and seed of improved varieties. The present study was conducted in Baso Liben district, Northwest Ethiopia with the objectives to identify the existing seed sources, factors affecting the use of improved bread wheat seed, and to assess practitioners’ (farmers and experts) suggestions to improve the existing bread wheat seed sources. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 108 farmers and five local experts using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions, respectively. The data were analyzed both using descriptive statistics and line-by-line examination of the FGDs’ transcripts. Results were revealed that the presence of formal and informal seed sources where farmers can access bread wheat seed. Farmers accessed the seed through different mechanisms including those that were farm-saved from the previous cropping seasons (41.5%), from neighboring farmers (11.4%), from relatives (7.5%) and from formal seed suppliers (39.6%). Yield advantage, disease tolerance, market value and food quality were found the most common criteria in making decision to use improved bread wheat varieties. The study confirms both formal and informal seed sources are playing vital role in improving the seed access to the farmers. Hence, the importance of informal seed sources should be well-considered in policy development. Moreover, the government and development partners need to develop a mechanism to integrate both the formal and informal seed systems to improve the seed availability.

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Towards gender-transformative metrics in seed system performance measurement: insights for policy and practice in Sub-Sahara Africa

Nchanji,

Ageyo,

Puskur

et al. 2024

CABI Agric Biosci

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Context Food insecurity in Sub-Sahara Africa hinges on addressing salient gender inequities within the seed system. While efficient seed system promises reduced systemic inefficiencies to fast-track seed delivery to the smallholder farmers, a dearth of standardized industry metrices to understand the intersectionality of seed system and gender issues exist. Specifically, metrices on guaranteed seed access, reach, benefit, women’s empowerment and ultimate transformation of women, youth and vulnerable people’s livelihoods are less understood. The existing metrices are aggregated at very high levels and limit the ability of policymakers and industry stakeholders to effectively address gender-based inequities for an optimized seed system. Objective Our objective is to challenge the status quo industry metrics used by seed industry players and apply a gender framework that strikes a balance between the needs of women, youth and vulnerable peoples in the system, vis-a-vis the need of public, private, and civil society actors. Therefore, the study seeks to evaluate how seed system metrics can be effectively tailored to address gender gaps for enhanced agricultural productivity and food security in Sub-Sahara African context. It also refines the proposals of Kennedy and Speilman and introduce gender-specific metrices that may hold promise to address women and youth’s challenges within the seed system. Methods A systemic review of current industry metrices was conducted and the newly developed reach, benefit, empower and transform (RBET) framework was applied to synthesize the responsiveness of current seed industry indicators on gender issues. Online databases and repositories with key search words that returned 204 results including some gray literature. Results and conclusion Using common bean seed system as an illustration, the study found critical gaps in measuring seed industry performance, innovation, structure, seed registration and quality control, intellectual property rights using the reach, benefit, empower and transform approach. Thus, a set of gender responsive indicators was suggested to address gender and inclusive matrices that the seed industry often neglects. Using the reach, benefit, empower and transform approach we have included gender responsive indicators meant to close existing gender gaps. Some of these indicators addressed include women participation, trait preferences, seed packaging sizing, seed system leadership, decision-making capacities, labor intensity/drudgery and use of digital platforms such as point-of-sale tracking systems to reach last mile farmers among others. Significance This study uses the newly–developed Reach, Benefit, Empower, and Transform (RBET) Framework together with the already existing Spielman–Kennedy framework. It is timely to inform policymaking process on seed system design, to enhance seed industry performance monitoring, and provide practitioners with the knowledge and missing links in efforts to align the seed system's performance with gender outcomes in a measurable manner.

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Understanding smallholder farmers’ access to maize seed and seed quality in the drought-prone Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Sources of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed in northwest Ethiopia

Sources of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed in northwest Ethiopia

Identification of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed sources and farmers’ seed production practices in northwest Ethiopia

Towards gender-transformative metrics in seed system performance measurement: insights for policy and practice in Sub-Sahara Africa

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