Cereal value chain development: Interventions and lessons
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The document discusses interventions and challenges in the cereal value chain in Ethiopia, highlighting knowledge gaps, particularly in seed multiplication and women’s limited roles. It notes the need for improved availability of inputs like seeds and fertilizers, alongside training and better market linkages for farmers. The findings emphasize that enhancing knowledge sharing and access to improved varieties can lead to increased cereal production and empower value chain actors.
Cereal value chain development: Interventions and lessons
- 1. Cereal value chain development interventions and lessons Knowledge management Value chain interventions and capacity development Input supply interventions Initial diagnosis • Farmers and traders recognized the domestic market potential for selected cereals (rice, wheat and teff) • In the past, extension services focused heavily on cereal production which has resulted in knowledge gaps in ‘new’ areas such as seed multiplication • Role of women in cereal production was mainly limited to weeding, harvesting and sale of small quantities while major Bread wheat seed packaging and supply to sales were done by men farmers by farmers • Insufficient uptake of improved varieties, lack of labour/animal traction, fluctuating rainfall and limited use of fertilizer and The use of audiovisuals for skills other inputs resulted in low production/productivity of existing development on cereal production cereals • Production and availability of seed for improved varieties was limited • Poorly developed input supply system for fertilizers, seeds, and agro chemicals often resulted in delayed availability and/or lack of critical inputs Private seed protection service • Linkages between producers and other value chain actors were limited Field day demonstration on bread wheat production Value chain actors, service providers and linkages Production interventions Credit Microfinance institutions Promoting upland Cooperatives Private industry rice production Additional ICT supported information/knowledge via Ethiopian Agriculture Portal (EAP) Knowledge / Skill Input supply/ www.eap.gov.et National research services Ministry of Agriculture Consultants Cereal Cooperative shops Private enterprises Specialized farmers producers Promoting NGOs Cooperatives Public enterprises Ethiopian Seed enterprise Targeting Students Conservation tillage for efficient labour cost Market Cooperative s Export traders Ethiopian Seed enterprise Processing / Marketing Targeting women and farmers with entrepreneurial skill willing interventions to invest Lessons and challenges • Knowledge sharing, training, follow up of interventions, and partner linkages contribute to improving the skills and knowledge of value chain actors and service providers, including women • Availability of improved (preferred) varieties results in expansion of cereal production areas. E.g. upland rice, Teff ( Kuncho) and non sprouting wheat varieties (HAR 604‐ Galema, and HAR 3730‐Gassay) Market access and linkages • Conservation tillage contributed to wider adoption of cereal crops because it had limited need for animal traction and reduced the labor burden on women • Farmers (individually and in groups) successfully multiplied improved seed varieties. Supply of basic seeds for crops such as wheat and upland rice varieties remains a challenge • Farmer‐to‐farmer exchanges, cooperatives, farmer groups and the OoA make up the market for improved seeds. Different options can be used depending on the stage of development • When credit is available, cooperatives were ready and able to sell improved seeds and fertilizer • Small village shop keepers were effective suppliers of agro‐chemicals for conservation tillage Promoting threshers and rice polishers for • Agrochemicals had a negative effect on apiculture production. Some farmers tried to mitigate the negative impacts better quality grain/seed by using ‘less harmful’ chemicals and better timing of application. This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution‐Noncommercial‐Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.