It is believed that the ongoing efforts to increase production and productivity of the agricultural sector in Ethiopia will increase the demand for select seeds. To meet this demand, research on select seeds and the number of select seed producers and distributors will increase.
Previously, the Ethiopian Select Seed Organization has been working to produce and develop select seeds. However, recently, following the increase in demand, regional states have also established their own select seed producers and distributors. Higher education institutions have also been engaged in research, multiplication and distribution of select seeds. There is also evidence that select seeds are being cultivated in farmers’ fields.
Among the universities that are effective in their select seed production and preparation, Medewelabu is particularly effective in researching and developing select wheat seeds.
The University is conducting research on wheat, as the area where wheat is widely grown is the area where it is located, and the university’s information indicates that it is studying the demand for wheat seeds among farmers. It has currently completed preparations to provide two wheat seeds to farmers.
According to Tilahun Gemechu, Coordinator of the University’s Integrated Agricultural Research Center, in addition to its teaching and learning activities, the University prioritizes the agricultural sector in its research activities. The University is close to the West Arsi, West Borena, and East Bale areas where extensive agricultural activities are carried out; and it conducts research focused on the agricultural sector.
The center conducts research to develop new agricultural technologies and varieties to improve the production and productivity of farmers. It conducts research on input consumption and diseases that may be a bottleneck in productivity.
Tilahun mentioned that the work done in the past five years by focusing on wheat crop research has resulted in the development of new wheat varieties. Seed multiplication work will be carried out to address the shortage of local quality seeds.
In connection with the cluster farming program, nine districts from West Arsi, Bale and East Bale zones will be selected and the necessary seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs will be provided to the farmers. This will help to expand cluster farming and educate the farmers about the use of technology. In this way, it is carrying out exemplary works on 180 hectares of land every year.
The University will issue a license to conduct research on the shortage of select seeds and multiply seeds on its own farmland and in farmers’ fields to make the necessary seeds available to farmers.
He noted that it is working especially on providing seeds and professional support to irrigated wheat growing areas; it will also conduct its research on farmers’ fields. It will develop the select seeds for the lowlands in East Borena, and for the highlands in East Bale. The research center at the University’s main campus in Bale Robe will conduct research on various crops and animal feed in addition to wheat.
The research results will be disseminated to farmers, and that awareness programs will be organized to familiarize them with the technologies and benefit from them.
He pointed out that one of the University’s main activities in wheat is the development of new varieties. A single variety requires 6 to 12 years of research; and he also announced the release of a variety that was discovered through research conducted by the University in the past.
The University will undertake extensive work to alleviate the shortage of select wheat seeds for farmers by adapting and multiplying new varieties released by other research centers, as well as by breeding and packaging the multiplied ones.
According to the Center’s Coordinator, the University has completed preparations to make two types of select wheat seeds available to farmers. One of these varieties is called Boku, which was released from the Sinana Agricultural Research Center but has not yet reached the farmers. The select seeds have been multiplied in the farmers’ fields and made available to others.
The farmers in three zones and nine districts will be provided with seeds and other necessary inputs and professional support so that they can distribute the seeds they have obtained to the local farmers. This select seed was obtained by multiplying it on 180 hectares of farmers’ fields, he said.
Another newly released select seed is called Medewelabu, which is prepared to be multiplied on the University’s farm and distributed to farmers. About 1000 quintals of select seeds have been multiplied and packaged at the University’s farm and are ready to be distributed.
Tilahun said that seeds become more productive and give good results when farmers’ field experience is increased; effective work has been done by organizing farmers in kebeles to multiply seeds.
The select wheat seeds obtained at the University have been tested at the research center; they will be tested in different agro ecologies in the farmers’ fields and put into practice. There is a wheat irrigation development project called Wel Mel in the Bale Delomena area; so they have started activities to multiply the select seeds on three hundred hectares of land.
“The seed multiplication work will continue; we are developing new varieties; we are also multiplying the varieties we have and distributing them to farmers,” Tilahun explained; indicating that work is underway on a disease-resistant and highly productive variety.
The activities underway at the research center are showing promising outcomes. It has been confirmed that the variety can produce more than 60 quintals per hectare in different agro ecologies. This seed has been tested in the university’s agricultural fields and in farmers’ extensive fields; the farmers are also eagerly awaiting the select seeds.
As to him, the University is working with great care on the quality of the select seeds. The Federal Agricultural Authority and the Oromia Agricultural Resources Control Authority are monitoring the quality process of the select seeds, and only the select seeds are allowed to be put on the market when approved. The institutions have been monitoring the process from the preparation of the land when the seeds are multiplied; only the seeds that have passed the quality process are provided to the farmers.
The University’s work is to provide the select seeds by testing new improved varieties in small areas and on the farmers’ fields. Therefore, most of the farmers increase their production and productivity and provide quality products for the industry. Others work more on selling the select seeds at better prices and solving the problem of seed supply.
Apart from wheat, the University also works on locally produced spice products. It especially provides the farmers with better varieties for export such as sesame, masho and black cumin. Arrangements are also being made to allow farmers to rotate planting of varieties that improve soil fertility and resist disease.
Dirriba Tesfaye, Seed Multiplication Coordinator at Medewelabu University, said; “The University has focused on wheat, which is in high demand in the area where it is located. Wheat is grown in large quantities in the area because the agro ecology is suitable.”
Citing a demand survey conducted in the area, he said that farmers have a strong desire to cover their fields with wheat using the select seeds. The University entered this work based on the farmers’ needs.
The coordinator explained that the select wheat seeds that have been multiplied by the University and are ready to be distributed to farmers are superior to the existing seeds in terms of yield and disease resistance. They are also better varieties that are well adapted to the environment.
The new select seed multiplication trial by the University was carried out on 25-hectares. This select seed yields 40 to 60 quintals per hectare. The select seed would be distributed to farmers pending approval of the relevant authorities.
The select seeds are being tested and certified; the University will make these select seeds available in the districts where they are already used, as well as in collaboration with the zonal agricultural bureau.
According to him, the University is also obliged not only to multiply quality seeds but also to develop new varieties through research. Since technology begins with the development of seeds, if a seed is released, it may be affected by diseases and its productivity may decrease; it will not be used for more than three or four years; new seeds need to be replaced.
In this regard, he mentioned that the University is also conducting research on fertilizers, pesticides, etc. that are compatible with the newly emerging wheat, and is developing and implementing technology that is appropriate for the time.
Most farmers in this area use crops of the same species. This harms soil fertility and does not protect against diseases; farmers should be aware of this and work on using varieties that increase soil fertility, Dirriba said.
BY BACHA ZEWDIE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 21 MAY 2025
