Strategies and Innovative Approaches for Food Legumes Seed Delivery in Ethiopia

Abstract

Seed is the only vehicle in crop technology promotion, adoption and impact enhancement. Legumes play an important role in food and nutritional security of smallholder farmers and sustainability of farming systems in Ethiopia. The national agricultural research systems (NARS) in partnership with the international agricultural research centres (IARCs) have developed several improved varieties and integrated crop management technologies for legume production in the country. Currently about 201 legume varieties have been released by NARS from the federal and regional agricultural research institutes. However, the adoption of improved varieties and agronomic management practices are constrained by lack of information, skills and knowledge and inadequate availability, access and use of inputs by most farmers. The paper reviews the status, challenges and opportunities of the legume seed sector and suggests strategies to enhance seed delivery within the Ethiopian context.