BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
Countries have been striving to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that is also known as the Global Goals, which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure food security by 2030. SDG also calls for zero hunger, poverty eradication, and adaptation to climate change.
To achieve zero hunger, eradicate poverty, and mitigate and adapt to climate change, it is common knowledge that seed is the main input for increasing crop, fruit, and vegetable production, productivity, and development. Because improving the quality of seeds can improve the yield potential of the country which is imperative to economic growth and agricultural development.
Currently, researching and transferring improved seeds and technologies become a serious requirement for agricultural development, particularly for an agrarian-based economy like Ethiopia. Despite the release of several improved seeds, especially improved crops, animals, fruits, and vegetable varieties, there has been limited use of improved seeds by the majority of farmers.
Among others, the unavailability of improved and quality seeds at the right place and time coupled with a poor promotion system has been the crucial factors accounting for the limited use of improved seeds which further contributes to low agricultural productivity. Poor availability and promotion of improved seeds are due to the inefficiency of the seed systems of the country.
Taking these facts into account, the government of Ethiopia has given due attention to crop, fruit, and vegetable production and development. This as a result increases the need for improved seeds across the country. Besides, researching, developing, and supplying good quality seeds of improved varieties among smallholder farmers aiming at agricultural production and productivity increase, nutritional enhancement, drought resilience, and improving income generation.
Hence, to promote export and ensure food security in Ethiopia, the government with the concerned stakeholders has prepared policies and programs that include the 10 years’ national development plan. Although the policies and interventions increase productivity among smallholder farmers, the link between Universities-farmers is the most important strategy for promoting and providing improved seeds to the users.
Because the dissemination of improved seeds passes through complex organizational, institutional, and individual processes since it requires the development, multiplication, processing, storage, distribution, and marketing of seeds in the country. Hence, the involvement and efforts of higher institutions in developing and multiplying improved seeds could be a guarantee to obtaining the quantity and quality of seeds that the users needed.
Haramaya University School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences head Mr. Arebo Feyissa said that a new paradigm is needed to transform the agriculture sector and ensure food security which safeguards access to nutritious food at all times.
The agriculture sector needs a new way of thinking that will make possible what has not been possible until today. In this case, promoting and disseminating improved seeds are imperative to the sustainable development of food systems, ensuring regenerative use of natural resources, enhancing ecosystem services, and addressing the need for more socially equitable decision-making by combining traditional and scientific knowledge, he explained.
Asosa Agricultural Research Center Director General Tesfaw Melkamu noted that, the center has been introducing improved varieties to the farmers to improve productivity. However, much remains to be done; the center has been carrying out training and technology transfer activities for farmers which improve their productivity.
The director explained that, the center is working to get better results by adapting the best varieties of sorghum, corn, and soybeans to the farmers that are suitable for the local climate and produce better yields.
Haramaya University Research and Extension and Publication Director Dr. Chanyalew Seyoum said that University has been working to solve the shortage of improved seeds that the farmers face currently. The University, in its main campus, sub-researches centers, and farmers’ demonstration centers, have been supporting the framers by providing improved seeds either by selling at a lower cost or for free.
In addition to research, learning, and teaching activities, the University has been providing community services and technical and advisory support to the farmers from land preparation to market linkage. Accordingly, for the 2021/2022 farming seasons, the University has distributed improved, disease-resistant, and higher-yield productive seeds to the communities namely Gudane Potato over 1400, Melkass two Maize170 quintals, Muyira one Sorghum 180 quintals, Common Bean includes Ayenew 43 quintals, Tinike 38 quintals, Awash 41 quintals, as well as wheat 180 quintals.
It also works in dairy farming, selling heifers-calf at reasonable prices, pottery farms, and so on. Despite its land limitation problem, the university plans to increase the provision of improved seeds for the 2022/23 farming season. Hence, Potato from 1400 to 3000 quintals, Maize to 150 quintals, Sorghum from 180 to 200 quintals, Bean to 50 quintals, and wheat 80 quintals, he added.
The university has also provided different types of improved seeds to the communities free of charge. Among others, 700 quintals of potatoes to 5,000 households, 3,000 quintals of wheat to 21 woredas for drought-affected areas in Eastern Hararge, and more than 4,000 quintals of corn and teff have been distributed to the farmers which cost over 24 million birr.
The improved seeds are good at adapting to the local climate, have better yields, and disease resistance while being a model farmer, living in the surrounding area, and being trusted and selected by the concerned parties, as well as women and elderly people are criteria to get improved seeds for free. He stated that the university also provides improved seeds for those with land for urban agriculture.
Demand and supply mismatch, sustaining the technology, focusing on campaign tasks, and preserving the improved seed for the next farming season are challenges observed every year. Hence, he urges the private sector and investors to increase their participation in the multiplication and distribution of improved seeds. This significantly supports the university to concentrate on research and promotion tasks.
Indeed, disseminating improved seeds is important to the enhancement of crops and animal production and productivity as well as fruit and vegetable development. Improved seeds are necessary sources to increase export, create jobs, and ensure food security. Therefore, the Universities with the concerned stakeholders who have knowledge and skills should work to enhance the knowledge of improved seeds including multiplying seeds, improving agricultural technology, identifying which area can be cultivated, and so on. Higher institutions should also provide support and monitor the cultivation of improved seeds.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER 2022
