From the Field Ethio-Seed: A Hub to Democratize Seed Systems in Ethiopia
A digital tool designed to enhance Ethiopia's seed system by improving information exchange between seed producers and consumers is strengthening and democratizing seed systems. Training of trainers were recently conducted to share the tool among key stakeholders to strengthen their capacities, make better informed decisions and continue improving the platform.
By Melkamu Beyene Ababu and José Luis Urrea-Benítez
As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a partnership between the Ethiopian Government, CGIAR centers and national and international universities bore fruit, leading to the creation of a digital platform to address the challenges faced by Ethiopia's seed system. The Ethio-Seed Hub Platform aims to improve the exchange of seed-related information, connecting seed producers with seed consumers in Ethiopia. With timely and accurate data on seed production and demand, the platform provides opportunities for informed decision-making for both private and public stakeholders.
Its implementation is managed by the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, with software developed by experts from Addis Ababa University. The system was designed following an extensive seed mapping study conducted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Wageningen University and Research (WUR), and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). The software was developed using an agile approach, engaging key users from regulatory bodies, seed companies, national and regional research systems, and farmer unions.
The platform provides comprehensive information on each seed variety, including release reasons, nutritional benefits, drought resistance, and suitable agro-ecological zones, empowering farmers to make informed decisions. Users can track seed processing locations and identify available farmland, thus enhancing transparency and accountability in the seed production and distribution process. The platform also features a database that displays seed availability by crop type, variety, class and stage, offering near real-time information on seed status, including producers, importers, processing centers, distribution channels, and responsible parties.
Additionally, it facilitates near real-time seed demand collection for regions, zones and 'woredas', allowing for accurate demand aggregation and supply analysis. The platform seamlessly integrates with other systems, such as the Farm Management Information System at EIAR, ensuring smooth interoperability. The rich data captured will support advisory services and leverage AI and data science to predict seed yields and forecast demand by integrating climate and soil data, thereby helping certified seed producers anticipate needs and plan effectively, reducing the risks associated with climate variability and enhancing agro-advisory services.
To learn more: Smarter Fertilizer: AI-Powered Recommendations Boost Wheat Yields in Ethiopia
To ensure the platform’s usability, it is continuously validated through workshops that gather crucial feedback from end users. The Ethio-Seed Platform serves as a critical resource for all stakeholders in Ethiopia's formal seed system, addressing challenges related to limited information, accessibility and transparency that have limited agricultural productivity.
Following a prominent pre-launch workshop - officially opened by Her Excellency Dr. Sofia Kassaw and attended by officials including Dr. Feto and Dr. Firew - the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) recently organized three training of trainers (ToT) sessions in the cities of Hawassa, Adama and Addis Ababa, focused on the utilization of the Ethio-Seed Hub System. The training aimed to equip users from various institutions with the necessary skills to utilize the system before its nationwide rollout.
Participants of the Workshop in Adama. Photo Credit MoA Communication Directorate.
Over 135 participants from regional agriculture offices, federal entities such as the MoA seed directorate, EIAR, the Ethiopian Public Seed Enterprise, regional agriculture research institutes, public seed enterprises, unions, seed distributors, and private seed companies took part in the training. Attendees included ICT professionals, seed experts and officials. The sessions were led by Dr. Melkamu Beyene and Aminu Mohammed from Addis Ababa University, in collaboration with ICT experts from MoA and EIAR.
Participants from over 20 organizations successfully completed the training across 12 regional states and the two city administrations (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa). This hands-on training enabled users to test and explore all aspects of the system. After mastering the platform, trainees piloted it with real data, resulting in the registration of 789 seed varieties, 53 seed producers, 90 processing sites, 71 farmlands, 2 importers, 3 cooperative unions and 14 regional bureaus of agriculture. Additionally, 53 producers,12 regional states and 2 city administrations submitted their seed production and demand data. Feedback from discussions and post-training surveys indicated that participants were pleased with the Ethio-Seed Hub’s development, appreciating its user-friendly interface and the completion of essential features for rollout. All participants committed to using the system to report seed demand.
Participants also identified areas for improvement in future system updates, including the addition of offline access and reporting features. They requested further technical support to facilitate additional training sessions. Looking ahead, the official launch for the Ethio-Seed system will be planned in the coming few weeks to launch the rollout.
*Melkamu Beyene Ababu is Assistant Professor of the School of Information Science and Director of the Addis Ababa University Library. Edited by José Luis Urrea-Benítez, Science Communications Specialist of the Alliance.
