Farmers' participatory onion seed production in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia: achievement, constraints and its implication for the national seed system

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in Ethiopia. It is used almost daily as a spice and vegetable in the local dish regardless of religion, ethnicity and culture. It also plays a significant role as import substitution and hence generates foreign currency to the country. The diverse agro-climatic conditions that prevail in the country permit the possibility of producing onion bulb, seeds and cut flower for local use and export market. Nevertheless, the enormous potential for bulb, seed and cut flower production are not sufficiently utilized mainly due to lack of improved seeds as a result of absence of reliable seed source are not sufficiently utilized mainly due to lack of improved seeds as a result of absence of reliable seed source in the country. As a result, the varieties, which have been released earlier, did not adequately reach farmers and consumers. Hence, in most cases, farmers and the production sectors are relying on imported seeds. However, imported onion seeds have got many associated problems (expensive to resource poor farmers, poorly germinate, adapted, susceptible to common disease, pest and low bulb quality etc.). As a result of these farmers encountered significant losses and forced to diversify their potential irrigable land with other cereal farmers encountered significant losses and forced to diversify their potential irrigable land with other cereals crops. To minimize the gap, participatory onion seed production has been conducted starting from 1994/95 up to 2001 in the central rift valley of Ethiopia. As it is evidenced from the study, the introductions of the program had generally contributed much by introducing onion seed production technology, in improving accessibility and availability of the seed of the accepted onion variety (Adama red) and in empowering farmers for self help development in the study area. In addition, it had brought some changes in the livelihood farmers for self help development in the study area. In addition, it had brought some changes in the livelihood of participant farmers at a household level. The achievements, constraints and its implication for the national seed system are clearly discussed and presented in this paper. The result obtained generally attracted farmers, researchers, NGO's and other development promoters. However, it has not totally solved the acute shortage of improved onion seed in the study areas. The demand for onion seed is significantly increasing from time to time. To bridge this gap, the involvement of the private/ and or government sectors are highly encouraged and supported. For this to occur, policy window that enhance seed production and distribution need to be opened in the national seed system.