Support for the seed sector

Project description

Title: Support for Ethiopia’s seed sector
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
Country: Ethiopia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)
Overall term: 2012 to 2015

Context

In many of its regions, Ethiopia is characterised by very favourable conditions for agricultural production, and it has plenty of suitable land. The existing potential, however, is far from being fully realised. One of the key factors is the lack of high-yielding plant varieties that are adapted to local environmental conditions. The varieties currently under cultivation are often low quality or disease-prone.

Farmers have limited access to improved seeds. For one thing, agricultural science has not produced enough high yielding varieties that are adapted to the respective locations. Furthermore, the varieties that have been adapted – and certified for Ethiopia – are not available in sufficient quantities in order to cover demand.

Objective

The population’s food security is markedly improved through the use of high-yielding, adapted wheat and barley varieties. Plant breeders develop high yielding and locally adapted varieties for this purpose.

Approach

The support is conceived for a 15-year period. The successful breeding of seed varieties and the reorganisation of the seed multiplication and cultivation methods takes time; improvements are achieved from one season to the next. Wheat and barley breeding programmes will be supported through a German-Ethiopian exchange of experience, training activities for breeders and technicians, as well as field trials focusing on the cultivation of new plant varieties on the grounds of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR).

The promotion and usage of an Ethiopian species and gene bank will play a significant role. These activities will be supported by the German plant gene bank. Private German seed companies provide advisory services and make different plant varieties available for growing trials. The project also promotes farmer groups to generate more seeds and thereby help meet demand over the long term.

Results achieved so far

The project enables the development and distribution of adapted, high-performance seeds. Higher yielding varieties are increasing the harvests of Ethiopian farmers, which is improving their food self-sufficiency as well as their income situation. The sustained increase in the availability of cereals is encouraging trade and also contributing to the stabilisation of prices, which benefits consumers. Through its support for Ethiopia’s gene bank, the programme is also contributing to preserving crop genetic diversity.