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Direct seed marketing program in Ethiopia in 2013: An operational evaluation to guide seed-sector reform

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  • Benson, Todd
  • Spielman, David J.
  • Kasa, Leulsegged

Abstract

In 2013 the Bureaus of Agriculture in the regional states of Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia supported a program of direct marketing of certified seed by seed producers to farmers across 31 woredas (districts). This program stands in contrast to the dominant procedure for supplying such seed in which farmers register with local agricultural offices or extension agents to purchase seed for the coming cropping season and then receive seed either directly from these local offices or through local cooperatives. The evaluation shows that competition between entrepreneurial seed producers to capture a substantial portion of the market of farmer-customers for their seed to enable their firms to remain in business will propel wider and more effective distribution of new and improved hybrid maize to more and more farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Benson, Todd & Spielman, David J. & Kasa, Leulsegged, 2014. "Direct seed marketing program in Ethiopia in 2013: An operational evaluation to guide seed-sector reform," IFPRI discussion papers 1350, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1350
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    File URL: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Howard, Julie & Crawford, Eric & Kelly, Valerie & Demeke, Mulat & Jeje, Jose Jaime, 2003. "Promoting high-input maize technologies in Africa: the Sasakawa-Global 2000 experience in Ethiopia and Mozambique," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 335-348, August.
    2. Benin, Samuel & Diao, Xinshen & Fan, Shenggen & Thurlow, James, 2012. "Strategies and priorities for African agriculture: Economywide perspectives from country studies," IFPRI books, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), number Xinshen Diao, June.
    3. MacRobert, John F., 2009. "Seed Business Management in Africa," Manuals 56174, CIMMYT: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
    4. Byerlee, Derek R. & Spielman, David J. & Alemu, Dawit & Gautam, Madhur, 2007. "Policies to Promote Cereal Intensification in Ethiopia: A Review of Evidence and Experience," IFPRI Discussion Papers 42406, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Pelletier, Johanne & Korb, Mira & Alemu, Solomon & Yonis, Manex B. & Lybbert, Travis J. & Stigler, Matthieu, 2026. "Causal Inference with Predicted Outcomes: Correcting prediction error bias in satellite-based impact evaluation," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    2. Khondoker A. Mottaleb & Dil Bahadur Rahut, 2018. "Household production and consumption patterns of Teff in Ethiopia," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(3), pages 668-684, June.
    3. Thijssen, Marja Helen & Subedi, Abishkar & Borman, Gareth Denis & van den Broek, Joep & Hassena, Mohammed & Addo, Rowland & Agbara, Chinedu & Otim, Geoffrey & Kyi, San & de Boef, Walter Simon, 2025. "Policies for integrated seed sector development: insights from case studies in Africa and Asia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    4. Husmann, Christine, 2015. "Transaction Costs on the Ethiopian Formal Seed Market and Innovations for Encouraging Private Sector Investments," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 54(01), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Mengistu, T.W., 2018. "Institutional arrangements and governance challenges in regulating seed quality in Ethiopia," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 276018, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Spielman, David J. & Smale, Melinda, 2017. "Policy options to accelerate variety change among smallholder farmers in South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara," IFPRI discussion papers 1666, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. Bachewe, Fantu N. & Berhane, Guush & Minten, Bart & Taffesse, Alemayehu S., 2018. "Agricultural Transformation in Africa? Assessing the Evidence in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 286-298.
    8. Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane & Berhane, Guush & Minten, Bart & Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum, 2015. "Agricultural growth in Ethiopia (2004-2014): Evidence and drivers," ESSP working papers 81, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Spielman, David J. & Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework, 2018. "Seed demand and supply responses," IFPRI book chapters, in: The economics of teff: Exploring Ethiopia’s biggest cash crop, chapter 4, pages 71-96, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. Paola Mallia, 2022. "You reap what (you think) you sow? Evidence on farmers’behavioral adjustments in the case of correct crop varietal identification," PSE Working Papers hal-03597332, HAL.

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