The maize seed system in Ethiopia: challenges and opportunities in drought prone areas

This study examines how the performance of the maize seed system in Ethiopia affects small-scale farmers&rsquo; access to, and use of, improved maize varieties. Particular emphasis is given to the drought-prone agro-ecologies of the Rift Valley region and the specific maize varieties developed for and disseminated in this area. <br /><br />The report is based on data gathered in 2005 from focus group discussions with maize farmers across three districts in the Rift Valley; household surveys of a random sample of 60 maize farmers; key informant interviews with public and private sector stakeholders in the maize seed market; and government and industry secondary sources. <br /><br />Findings show that despite extensive varietal development by the public research system, dissemination of improved varieties to farmers remains limited. The authors conclude that this may be partially due to the continued dominance of public sector organisations in the multiplication and supply of seed to farmers, and to the relatively low level of private sector participation. The result of this, they argue, is a seed market characterised by: limited competition insufficient supply of seed relative to demand limited choice in the few varieties that are available excessively high costs of maize seed production It is concluded that without significant structural and organisational change to the maize seed system, these market and institutional failures will continue to hamper smallholder access to improved varieties developed for drought-prone regions such as the Rift Valley.<br /><br />Several recommendations are given for improving the maize seed production and distribution system in Ethiopia. These include: promote greater private investment in the production of maize seed and in the establishment of independent distribution and marketing channels to farmers invest in greater production of breeder/foundation and pre-basic seed production. Possible interventions include increasing production capacity by subcontracting to public and private farms and investing in irrigation to support these farms invest further in reducing the costs of seed certification to make certified seed multiplication by small-scale farmers more feasible by strengthening the decentralised certification procedures and capacity of the staff involved continue to invest in seed-related extension programmes to encourage the adoption of improved maize varieties and provide training to development agents on alternative varieties for agro-ecologies such as the drought-prone Rift Valley area