Ethiopia-Netherlands Seed Partnership
Guiding Seed Sector Transformation in Ethiopia
The mission of the Ethiopia-Netherlands Seed Partnership is to enable the private sector in Ethiopia to deliver farming men and women high quality seed of improved varieties much needed for food security and nutrition, and climate resilience
Latest news and updates
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Vegetable seed import: A growing trend in both import volume and government spending
The use of quality seed is essential for production and marketing of vegetables in Ethiopia. So far, large proportion of the vegetable seed is imported while the remaining proportion is produced domestically. Locally produced seeds include low yielding local varieties of some vegetables and relatively high yielding improved ones which have been released by publicContinue reading “Vegetable seed import: A growing trend in both import volume and government spending “
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Officials and senior experts visited the Netherlands and Germany: Lessons brought home
The Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA), a recently established authority in charge of regulating the agricultural sector, is now being led by a new management team that need capacity building and exposure. It is very critical for the authority to explore how regulatory system in other countries operate in order to bring lessons and new ideasContinue reading “Officials and senior experts visited the Netherlands and Germany: Lessons brought home“
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Developing Forage Value Chain: A potential strategic option to address livestock feed problems
The practice of growing forage crops for sale is not yet an established culture in Ethiopia. There are a few improved forage seed producers on the one hand while a number of dairy farms demanding forages, on the other. In between, however, there are no commercial actors who grow forage crops for sale. Because ofContinue reading “Developing Forage Value Chain: A potential strategic option to address livestock feed problems”
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Revisiting Seed Science and Technology Curriculum to Respond to Market Demand
In Ethiopia, seed businesses usually struggle to find skilled human resources in seed science and technology, as well as seed business management. The existing curriculum, which was developed some years ago, need to take into consideration new developments in the seed sector. Recognizing the need for more trained human resources in seed science and technology,Continue reading “Revisiting Seed Science and Technology Curriculum to Respond to Market Demand“
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The first ENSP Newsletter published
The purpose of the ENSP newsletter is to provide relevant information on the latest developments and current issues in the Ethiopian seed sector and the partnership supportactivities.The first issue highlight the major activities that have been taken place between January and June 2022. It has covered the transition that in progress for crop variety testingContinue reading “The first ENSP Newsletter published”
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Vegetable Seed Import in Ethiopia: A Scoping Study Highlights
The conducive environment for vegetable production and the high quality of imported vegetable seeds has increased the demand for imported vegetable seeds in Ethiopia. The varieties that companies import must be registered. However, the registration process is very challenging for vegetable seed companies. In order to assess the import trend of vegetable seed, map currentContinue reading “Vegetable Seed Import in Ethiopia: A Scoping Study Highlights”
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Bringing Phytosanitary Services in to Focus
The phytosanitary service has been given little focus in Ethiopia for long. Due to various reasons the service provided is not to the level expected in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and quality of service. Often there are complaints from the service users. One of the reasons for the gap is believed to be the levelContinue reading “Bringing Phytosanitary Services in to Focus “
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Transition in Progress: Reclaiming responsibility for crop variety testing
Ethiopian seed proclamation and seed regulation specify that variety testing, both Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability(DUS) test and Value for Cultivation and Use/National Performance (VCU/NPT) Trials, must be carried out by an impartial authority. In reality, the MoA has not taken up variety testing as impartial organization, rather research institutes that also generate the varieties doContinue reading “Transition in Progress: Reclaiming responsibility for crop variety testing”
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Establishment of an Agricultural Authority and its Relevance to the Seed Sector
Regulating the seed sector started with the start of variety approval by NCIC in 1982, which was more consolidated since 1992. Yet regulation was only in place in 1997 that included the different aspects of seed from variety release to seed marketing. Until 2004, activities related to seed regulation was under the Ethiopian Seed Agency,Continue reading “Establishment of an Agricultural Authority and its Relevance to the Seed Sector”
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Improving the Capacity of Lab Analysts: to enhance seed quality control and assurance
Despite the efforts of many seed sector actors and partners, the results fell short of expectations, notably in terms of ensuring the production and availability of improved seeds to farmers. There are a lot of challenges which continue to limit the sector’s performance to respond effectively to the growing demand for improved seeds.
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Strengthening Ethiopian Seed Sector Needs Coordinated Effort
Ethiopian Seed Association held its annual general assembly on 7-8th of April 2022 at Desalegn Hotel Addis Ababa. A competitive seed system for farmers’ long-term supply of high-quality seed was the theme of this year’s assembly. In his welcome speech, Mr. Melaku Admasu, the board chairman, discussed the status of the association, its accomplishments, andContinue reading “Strengthening Ethiopian Seed Sector Needs Coordinated Effort”
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Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia and Four Projects Launched
WUR and Ethiopian partners launched new projects. The launch of SWR Ethiopia is officially marked today at the launch event held at Hilton Addis Ababa Hotel, Ethiopia. Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia (SWR Ethiopia) is an international NGO based in Ethiopia. SWR Ethiopia is affiliated to Wageningen University & Research. Its mission is to leverage transformation inContinue reading “Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia and Four Projects Launched”
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Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia launches new project portfolio
This week, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Ethiopian partners are launching several new projects that focus on improving Ethiopia’s food system. The projects are part of the portfolio of the newly established Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia. Do you want to know more about the projects and/or SWR Ethiopia, please visit: https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Research-Institutes/centre-for-development-innovation/show-cdi/Stichting-Wageningen-Research-Ethiopia-launches-new-project-portfolio.htm
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Promoting the phytosanitary service, which is underutilized and overlooked
The provision of high-quality phytosanitary services will bolster efforts to make the seed sector more business-friendly. However, the governance of Ethiopia’s seed sector is marked by a lack of stakeholder integration, regulation, coordination, and investment incentives.
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Strengthening seed regulatory services require a coordinated effort
Building the capacity of the regulatory structure is critical for effective and efficient seed regulatory services provision to respond to the sector’s specific needs in a more systematic and coordinated manner.
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Celebrating and learning from ISSD Ethiopia-supported seed seed sector transformation
This important moment was held as a pre-event to the Conference on Guiding Seed Sector Transformation in Africa. Watch the recording now.
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Case study: Ethiopian success forms lessons for others to follow
This case study highlights key elements of the approach towards facilitating systemic change in the Ethiopian seed sector. It shares lessons learned with those who strive to guide sector transformation elsewhere.
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Watch the story of transformative seed sector collaboration in Ethiopia
With lessons to inspire policymakers and practitioners alike, this film tells how Ethiopian and international partners have guided Ethiopia’s seed sector transformation.
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Seeds & Services: Partnership projects support Ethio-Dutch cooperation on seed business
RijkZwaan & Enza Zaden, two leading Dutch seed companies are increasingly active in Ethiopia. ISSD Ethiopia created Partnership Projects to guide learning on how partners can maximise mutual benefits
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International business: Directive facilitating seed export from Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s continuing seed sector transformation is creating new opportunities. A new Directive lays a path for seed exports to flourish. Joep van den Broek maps the origins of this important milestone.
ENSP - Ethiopia-Netherlands Seed Partnership 
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