Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research
Open Access

Access, Supply System and Utilization of Improved Seed varieties in Debub Omo Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Kutoya Kusse^* and Kebede Kassu ^*Correspondence: Kutoya Kusse, Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Jinka Agricultural Research Center Socio-economics Researchers, SNNPR, Jinka, Ethiopia, Email:

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Introduction

Ethiopia is predominantly an agrarian country with the vast majority of its population directly or indirectly being involved in the production of crop and livestock. Hence, agriculture plays a vital role in Ethiopian economy. Agriculture in Ethiopia contributes about 45% of the GDP, 85% of the total exports and more than 85% of employment [1]. But, still the sector is not yet adequately commercialized to bring about rapid change in production in line with increasing population pressure. The problem is not that Ethiopia is poorly endowed with agricultural resource; instead the problem is that new technologies have not been permitted to make any inroads into Ethiopian agriculture [2].

Agriculture in Ethiopia is caught in a low input-low output trap, due in part to low levels of investment, low technology application, and low capacity. The solution needs to involve a structural change, for which major capacity development is needed, including a quantum change in human capacity, input supply, technology adoption, and provision of infrastructure. Specially, in order to increase the production and productivity of agricultural output, the use of modern agricultural technologies are vital, out of which fertilizer and high yielding variety of crops are the most important technologies to increase the level of crop production [3].

Seed is among the most key input for improving crop production and productivity [4,5]. Increasing the quality of seeds can increase the yield potential of the crop by significant folds and thus, is one of the most economical and efficient inputs to agricultural development [3]. Ever since seed was considered an important vehicle to extend intensified production techniques in developing countries, the supply system has received considerable attention.

Generation and transfer of improved technologies are critical prerequisites for agricultural development particularly for an agrarian based economy such as of Ethiopian. Despite the release of several technologies, particularly of improved crop varieties, there has been limited use of improved seeds by the majority of farmers, yet for some important crops the area covered with improved varieties is estimated to be less than 5% [6]. The unavailability of quality seeds at the right place and time coupled with poor promotion system, is one of the key factors accounting for limited use of improved seeds, which further contributing for low agricultural productivity [3].

A sustainable seed supply and utilization system will ensure that high quality seeds of a wide range of varieties and crops are produced and fully available in time and affordable to farmers and other stakeholders. However, in Ethiopia like in many developing countries farmers have not get seed on time and with expected quality due to a combination of factors, including inefficient seed production, distribution and quality assurance systems, as well as bottlenecks caused by a lack of good seed policy on key issues such as access to credit for inputs. This review paper is aimed to give an overview about the access, supply system and utilization of seed in Debub Omo Zone of Southern Ethiopia.

General objective of the study

To assess access to improved seed, supply system and utilization in major agricultural and agro pastoral areas of Debub Omo Zone, Southern Region.

Specific objective

1. To assess access to improved seed Varieties in Debub Omo Zone.

2. To identify seed supply system in Debub Omo Zone.

3. To assess seed utilization system in Debub Omo Zone.

Methodology

Description of the study area

South Omo zone is one of the 14 administrative zones found in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Regional State in Ethiopia. It is located at 4°27-6°26' north and 34°57'-37°49' east bordering Gamogofa and Keffa zones; Konta and Besketo special districts to the north; Konso and Derashe special districts to the east; Borana zone to the southeast; Kenya to the south; Sudan to the southwest, and Bench Maji zone to the west. The total land area of the zone is 22,360.76 km² and lies at an altitude ranging from 380 to 3,300 m.a.s.l. [7].

The study was implemented in the major agricultural and agro pastoral woreda’s of Debub Ari and Bena-tsemay of Debub Omo Zone of SNNPR. From each woreda, two kebeles were selected purposively and secondary update data gathered from the respective Woreda offices depending on the utilization of seed. Debub Ari woreda is one of the eight woreda’s in Debub Omo zone with an area of 1,520 km² and is located at 50.67'-6 0.19' N and 360.30'-360.73'E and has a human population of 219,708. The woreda is bordering with Semen Ari woreda in north, Mago national park in south, Salamago woreda in west, Malle woreda in east and Bena- Tsemay woreda in south east. The administrative center is Gathering, which is located 798 km from the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa and 17 Km from Jinka th capital of Debub Omo Zone. Whereas Bena-tsemay is also one of the woredas in Debub Omo Zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region of Ethiopia. It is named after Banna and Tsamai people who are living at this woreda. Part of the Debub Omo Zone, Bena-tsemay is bordered on the south by Hamer, on the west by Selamago, on the north by Bako Gazer and Malle, on the northeast by the Dirashe woreda, on the east by the Konso woreda, and on the southeast by the Oromia Region; the Woyito River separates it from Konso woreda and Oromia Region. Western part of this woreda is included in the Mago National Park. The administrative center is Key Afer. Bena-tsemay was part of former Hamer Bena woreda [8].

Source and method of data collection

Primary data was collected from the field survey of seed using agriculturalists and agro pastoralists to assess the access, supply system and utilization of improved seeds through household interview by using structured questioner, focus group discussion (FGD) and by using checklist. Whereas secondary data were gathered through general discussion, from concerned bodies of agriculture and natural resource management office.

Sampling techniques and sample size

The study used multistage sampling technique, first the study districts were selected purposively based on their seed utilization practice. Also the study kebeles from each district were selected purposively in relation to their seed access, supply and utilization. Then the number of sample household respondents from each kebele selected according to the criteria given from the region to cover the total number of a given sample respondents representing the zone. Based on these criteria from each kebele a total 10 sample respondents were determined. Finally each sample household was selected by simple random sampling and a total of 40 sample households were covered during the survey.

Data analysis

Simple descriptive statistical tools like percentages, means, and standard deviations in the process of analyzing socio economic variables, seed access, and supply and utilization systems by using (SPSS Computer Software version 16).

Results and Discussion

Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of respondents

Data were collected on demographic characteristics of the sample survey households to provide information on some of the key variables for the study area. The variables analyzed in this section were household heads’ sex, education level and marital status. The results of the study in Table 1 indicate that 95.0% of sample households were male headed households. The remaining 5.0% of sample households were female headed households. In terms of marital status 97.5% of sample households were married and only 2.5% of households were single. While that of educational level 22.5% were illiterate, 2.5% able to read and write, 30.0% first cycle, 32.5% primary school, 10% secondary school and the rest 2.5 were diploma and above. In general the Zone has eight woredas and among these eight woredas two of them are agriculturalist, two agro pastoralist and four pastoralist woredas. According to the survey about 97.5% of the respondents responded that their source of income was from farming activities that means rearing of animals and cultivation of crops, While 2.5% were none or off-farm activity.

Table 1: Sex, Educational Level, Marital Status and Major source of income of Sample Respondents.

The result in Table 2 shows that, the age of sample respondents categorized in to four intervals, this intervals are respondents of age ≤ 25 accounts 10% of the total respondents, those with age between 26-35, 36-45 and 46-55 were 47.5%, 37.5% and 5% respectively. According to family size 30.0% of the respondents have family size of ≤ 5 and 62.5% were those having family size 6-10 and 7% of them have family size of >10 according to their category.

Table 2: Age category and Family size of sample respondents.

Total land holding and experience in improved seed utilization

Land is the single most important factor of production in the study area. However, increasing population pressure in densely populated areas is commonly mentioned as the cause of landlessness problem. Currently, both constraints and restrictions on transfer and large scale farming are systems existing and there are some indications of underutilization of land. For instance complains that those commercial farms are not productive as expected and even some are not operational.

According to the result of this survey the total land holding of the study households were a minimum 0.38 hectare, a maximum of 4.00 hectare with an average of 1.73 and Standard deviation of ± 0.99 (Table 3). Also experience of farmers in input utilization is another important factor to adopt and become eager to improved seed utilization and production improving technologies, so the result of this study shows that the study farmers have a minimum of Zero years of experience in improved seed utilization, a maximum of 17.0 experience with a mean of 6.72 and Std. Deviation of ± 3.85 in the study area. In relation to the respondents idea in the study area, they do not get improved seed varieties of their interest they want at a needed time, quality and amount, this is due to the far away of suppliers store from farmers house, a complexity of chain to get the improved seed and other related factors. For this reasons trend of improved seed utilization decreases from time to time in the study area due to the factors like:- no supply on a needed time, no supply on the required amount, high price, limited financial capacity to purchase, long distances to get, poor seed quality and erratic rainfall distribution. So, farmers use a single seed for long period of time or locally available seeds without replacing it and the production and productivity decline from time to time.

Table 3: Total land holding and experience in improved seed utilization.

Access to improved seed

Farmers can access to seeds from different sources; from office of agriculture; or purchase from local market or from other farmers in the form of gift or exchanging with grain or other crops seed and also from NGOs. More of the time the main source of seed for farmers in the study is purchasing from market, which is the first option, from agricultural office as second option and exchange grain by seed is the last option. Agriculture is the dominant economic sector of which the crop sector contributes much for food security and seed plays an important role in increasing crop production in the study area and for its having productive land. Its agriculture is characterized by the use of inadequate production technologies that in a variable climate produces important fluctuations in crop yields, uncertainties, and food insecurity. The farmers do not have access to improved seeds and they widely use the local varieties since the improved seeds are very expensive [9].

Stakeholders involved in seed production system and their roles

In Ethiopia, the formal seed sector comprises both public and private organizations, including the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC), the Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR), Regional Agricultural Research Institutes (RARIs: Research organizations operating within the regional states), Universities, the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE), Pioneer Hybrid Seed Ethiopia (PHSE), several small-to medium scale private seed farms and the farmers. Other relevant stakeholders are the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD), the Bureaus of Agriculture and Rural Development (BOARDs: the regional state extension bodies), farmers’ cooperative unions (FCUs) and NGOs [10]. Whereas, informal seed production sector is usually defined as the seed production activities undertaken by farmers, mostly small scale farmers (Table 4). Informal seed production system is local one and farmer based system, when the farmers produce the seed locally, sell it on the local markets, exchange it and also give for other farmers as a gift.

Table 4: The formal seed system and its stakeholders.

Source and type of improved seed varieties under use in the study area

Seed is a key input for improving crop production and productivity. Increasing the quality of seeds can increase the yield potential of the crop by significant folds and thus, is one of the most economical and efficient inputs to agricultural development [11]. The Ethiopian agricultural sector has an important opportunity to further develop the seed production sector. Generation and transfer of new technologies are critical prerequisites for agricultural development particularly for an agrarian based economy such as Ethiopia in general and study area in particular. Seed, especially that of improved varieties, is an essential input for increasing crop productivity. This suggests the need to place much emphasis on sustainable and efficient seed production systems. As indicated in Table 5 above maize varieties used in the study areas were BH-661, BH-660, MH-140 and Melikassa, from this varieties only MH-140 seed variety is from Mekele seed enterprise, while the others BH-660 and BH-661 are from Oromiya seed enterprise. The sorghum varieties widely used in the area are Abshir and Teshale in which, both of them are from Southern seed enterprise. The well-known barely variety used in the area is Denfe and its source was from Oromiya seed enterprise, Common bean (Hawassa Dume and Nassir) in which both of them were from Southern seed enterprise, while Teff (Quncho-37), Cabbage (Kaben hagen), Irish Potato (Digalo) all of them are from Southern seed enterprise. Like as other seed varieties the seed variety of sesame used in the study area is Humera-1 and its source was from Humera seed enterprise.

Table 5: Source and type of improved seed varieties under use in the study area.

Improved seed supply system

The bodies involved in seed supply systems are the governmental line departments, NGOs, private seed enterprises and farmers themselves in collaboration with national and regional research institutes through extension services in order to enhance improved seed availability, adoption of new varieties and building capacity at the community level to ensure sustainable supply of quality seed at an affordable price. Seed supply systems in Ethiopia can be divided into two broad types: the formal system and the informal system [3]. Both systems are operating simultaneously in the country in general and in the study area in particular it is too difficult to demarcate between the two. There is however, a fact that the formal system is the original source of improved seeds in the informal system. The formal seed system is called formal because it is mainly government supported system and several public institutions are also involved on it. It also includes private producers, cooperative unions and private seed companies. The producers and companies are legally licensed to produce seed of food and cash crops. There are also some licensed seed traders that import and market vegetable seed of exotic varieties [12,13].

The major actors of the formal system are: National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE) and private seed companies specializing on specific crops like Pioneer. Recently, regional seed enterprises (RSE) were also established as public seed enterprises (such as Oromiya Seed Enterprise f(OSE), Amhara Seed Enterprise (ASE), and Southern Nations nationalities and Peoples Region Seed Enterprise (SRSE) and entered into the formal system. All actors have inter-dependent roles in the system and inefficiency of one actor will automatically affect negatively the performances of the rest of the actors. NARS (EIAR and RARIs) is responsible for variety development and supply of initial seed, and ESE and RSEs are playing key roles in mass production of improved seeds. MOA is also involved in variety release, multiplication, certification, and distribution of seeds in the country. Private seed growers and other farmer institutions such as unions and cooperatives are also playing key roles in multiplication and distribution of different classes of seeds. Legal institutions such as variety release procedures, intellectual property rights, certification programs, seed standards, contract laws, and law enforcement are also an important component of the formal seed system of any country. They help determine the quantity, quality, and cost of seeds passing through the seed system [3].

Informal seed systems include farmer-saved and exchanged seed of important food crops, comprising both local and improved varieties that have been accessed through the formal distribution system [13]. The seed production-distribution chain in the informal seed system is short and simple, without any regulation the smallholder farmers is saved on-farm and exchanged among farmers and borrowed or purchased locally, so the informal seed system is (either self-saved seed or farmer-to-farmer seed exchange). There are five key features distinguish the informal from the formal system. These are, the informal system is traditional, semi-structured, operate at the individual community level, uses a wide range of exchange mechanisms, and usually deal with small quantities of seeds often demanded by farmers [3,12].

The majority of farmers in the study area show a tendency of depending on the informal system due to the following key reasons, primarily, it is relatively cheaper and readily available in the farmer’s villages just at the time of seed is needed. Secondly, it allows use of seeds after testing on primary adopter farmers and lastly, it is more reliable and its sustainability is more guaranteed than the formal system [3].

Supply chains of improved seed

Seed is among the most key input for improving crop production and productivity [4]. Seed was considered as an important agricultural input to extend and intensified production techniques in developing countries, the supply system has received considerable attention. The base for the supply chain of seed system is the demand of the farmers for a type of improved seed varieties. According to this study the major actors playing an important role in the seed supply chain system and their functions are identified as follows.

• Research institutes or centers and universities → Ethiopia seed enterprise (ESE) and regional seed companies → Cooperative unions → Users(farmers)

• Research institutes or centers and universities → Users(farmers)

• Seed producers (state farmers, cooperatives, private farmers and small holders) → Ethiopia seed enterprise (ESE) and regional seed companies → Cooperative unions → Users(farmers)

• Private companies → Users(farmers)

• Private companies → Ethiopia seed enterprise (ESE) and regional seed companies → Cooperative unions → Users(farmers)

• Private companies → Cooperative unions → Users(farmers)

First the demand of each kebeles found in the woreda is collected for a particular improved seed varieties through each kebele extension agents, then the woreda sum up the demands of each kebele and have planned based on the summation of the demand, then the plan of woreda submitted to zonal, the zone collects the demand of each woreda and sum it up and submitted to regional bureau of agriculture and natural resource. Finally each region submitted its demand to the minister of agriculture; based on each regions demand the minister of agriculture gives permission to concerned seed multiplying bodies. National research system-headed by the Ethiopian institute of agriculture research (EIAR) and comprised of a range of federal research centers, regional research centers, and agricultural universities and faculties is charged with developing improved varieties and materials needed to produce and multiply certified seed for onward sale to farmers. On behave of the study area; Jinka Agricultural Research Center plays the great role in production and dissemination of many crops improved seed. Regulatory function, such as, varietal release reviews and seed certification are performed by various department of the MOARD [14].

Improved seed production and multiplication is carried out by the ESE, which relies on its own farm and to a limited extent, private sub-contractor, state farms and cooperatives- to bulk up seed that is supplied to the regional extension and input supply system, more recently, state owned regional seed enterprise have also emerged in Oromia, SNNP and Amahra. Improved seed is supplied to Ethiopia small holders primarily through regional, state run extension and input supply systems that operate with a degree of guidance from the federal MOA and MOARD. This regional system is made up of regional bureaus of agriculture and rural development (BoARDS), their woreda offices, and extension agents (developing agents) working in the kebele (peasant association level. These organizations collaborate closely with farmers’ cooperatives and regional credit and saving institution in both supply inputs and disbursing credit.

Communication and capacity building

Currently, the agricultural extension policy is to reach at a quota of a specific expert for a particular expertise per Kebele Administration and now at least one expert is available at each Kebele Administration. Meanwhile, due to financial constraints, poor transportation and lack of incentives to motivate extension agents, extension services are relatively ineffective. The problem is aggravated particularly in remote Kebele Administrations where addressing villages is impossible due to lack of all-weather road. This will lead to inadequate extension information which in turn will result in low adoption rates and intensity of improved seed use. Extension can raise awareness among farmers regarding the merits of the improved seed being introduced and work towards improving the ability of farmers to control the quality of seed. Reported that in areas where extension officers are present, it becomes easy to organize the farming community into groups for training and other events thereby there will be a possibility of delivering technical trainings to farmers through responsible stakeholders such as agricultural extension officers. In order to accelerate synergy between technology and community participation, special emphasis was placed on building farmers’ capacity to use improved seed and increase production and productivity to enhance food security. Systematic and timely training programs on seed utilization were developed, and logistics planning was used to attain the objectives. A peripatetic training strategy was adopted for attaining maximum coverage in the given time.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Seed is a key input for improving crop production and productivity. Increasing the quality and quantity of seeds can increase the yield potential of the crop by significant folds and thus, is one of the most economical and efficient inputs to agricultural development. Agriculture in Ethiopia in general and study area in particular is caught in a low input-low output trap, due in part to low levels of investment, low technology application, and low capacity. Land fragmentation and access to improved seed is also one important factor for low production. Farmers in the study area widely use improved seeds which are locally available in markets than improved seeds from formal systems. This is due to the long chain in the supply system, limited access of needed quantity at a timely manner are the main factors hindering farmers to use formal seed systems from formal suppliers. The two broad seed supply systems identified are the formal and informal system, in which formal systems is government line departments includes National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE) and private seed companies specializing on specific crops like Pioneer. Recently, regional seed enterprises (RSE) were also established as public seed enterprises (such as Oromiya Seed Enterprise (OSE), Amhara Seed Enterprise (ASE), and Southern Nations nationalities and Peoples Region Seed Enterprise (SRSE) and entered into the formal system. From this enterprises Oromiya seed enterprise, Southern region seed enterprise, Humera seed enterprise and Mekele seed enterprise are the major seed suppliers for farmers in the study area.

Based on the finding of the study the following recommendations were given to improve seed accessibility. Ensure the availability, distribution and access to quality seeds to address food insecure and poor people at affordable price. Supply of seeds at a right time with needed quantity and quality. Strengthening the extension system and motivating the extension agents working on kebeles. Improving access to infrastructures and credit services is also an important factor to improve the farmer’s access to improved seeds.

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