Identification of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed sources and farmers’ seed production practices in northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are involved in multiple seed sources to access both local cultivars and seed of improved varieties. The present study was conducted in Baso Liben district, Northwest Ethiopia with the objectives to identify the existing seed sources, factors affecting the use of improved bread wheat seed, and to assess practitioners’ (farmers and experts) suggestions to improve the existing bread wheat seed sources. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 108 farmers and five local experts using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions, respectively. The data were analyzed both using descriptive statistics and line-by-line examination of the FGDs’ transcripts. Results were revealed that the presence of formal and informal seed sources where farmers can access bread wheat seed. Farmers accessed the seed through different mechanisms including those that were farm-saved from the previous cropping seasons (41.5%), from neighboring farmers (11.4%), from relatives (7.5%) and from formal seed suppliers (39.6%). Yield advantage, disease tolerance, market value and food quality were found the most common criteria in making decision to use improved bread wheat varieties. The study confirms both formal and informal seed sources are playing vital role in improving the seed access to the farmers. Hence, the importance of informal seed sources should be well-considered in policy development. Moreover, the government and development partners need to develop a mechanism to integrate both the formal and informal seed systems to improve the seed availability.