Title
Community based seed production
Description
Shortage of improved seed varieties is one of the major challenges undermining smallholder productivity in Ethiopia. Currently, only 20% of the demand is met from with the country. In response to this, Self Help Africa assisted the establishment of EDGET Seed Production and Marketing Cooperative Union which produces certified seeds and supplies to farmers in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPR). Quota-based seed marketing systems is a critical challenge, and currently, the Regional Bureau of Agriculture allocates quotas and instructs cooperatives to sell seed to a specifc district based on quota share. Districts often tend to be opportunistic, however, and fail to take the full amount of seed they might have committed to buy, thus reducing sales by the cooperative and risking financial losses. In partnership with Ministry of Agriculture district and regional offices, agricultural research institutes, the seed quality control agency and other stakeholders, CDAIS is supporting the EDGET Cooperative Union to establish enforceable contracts with districts for seed marketing. The aim is for increased dialogue with regional policy makers, and the drafting of new directives for improved and unrestricted seed marketing systems, and their passing into law.
Aim
Increasing dialogue with regional policy makers, drafting new directives for improved and unrestricted seed marketing systems and their passing into law
Location
Southern nations, Nationalities and People’s region, Gurage Zone, Butajira
