5. Improving seed potato quality in Ethiopia: a value chain perspective

Abstract

In Ethiopia, use of low-quality seed potatoes by the majority of potato growers is associated with underdevelopment of the seed potato value chains. Three seed potato systems are present in Ethiopia: the informal seed system, the alternative seed system and the formal seed system. This chapter analyses the performance of seed potato value chains with respect to their ability to supply quality seed tubers to seed potato systems, by using the chain performance drivers enabling environment, technology, market structure, chain coordination, farm management, and inputs. Information obtained from literature review, secondary data and key informants' interviews were used for the analysis. In the informal seed system, seed potato value chains suffered from a poor enabling environment such as a low quality technical support and lack of a seed quality control system; use of sub-optimal storage and transportation technologies, sub-optimal farm management practices; and little use of inputs. In the alternative seed system, main constraints were the lack of a seed potato quality control system, poor farm management practices, little use of inputs by seed potato growers, and a distorted seed potato market that resulted from involvement of institutional buyers. Chains in the formal seed potato system were characterised by little involvement of the private and public sectors in the production and supply of seed potatoes. Based on the analysis, improvement options for the three seed systems were identified.

Assessment of production practices of smallholder potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farmers in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia

“…It is a crop that can be used to improve food security and cash income in Ethiopia. Because it is high yielding ability in a short season, presence of suitable agroecological zones within the country, the availability of labor for its production on large areas of land, and the accessibility of a potential market with considerable added value for its produce [11]. According to FAOSTAT [12], area under potato cultivation was about 51,698 ha in 2005/6 that produced 509,716 tonnes of tuber yields; currently, in 2014/2015, area under potato crop has increased to 67,362 ha and its productivity is about 921,832 tonnes in Ethiopia.…”

How Kenyan Potato Farmers Evaluate the Seed: Implications for the Promotion of Certified Seed Potato

“…Although poor yield due to low use of quality seed potato has been reported by researchers for decades (Gildemacher et al 2009;Kaguongo et al 2014), improving the quality of seed potato that smallholder farmers plant continues to represent one of the most important challenges of the potato sector in most developing countries (Demo et al 2015;Gildemacher et al 2009;Hirpa et al 2016). Increasing the availability of, and access to, quality seed potato sounds like a logical and straightforward pathway to improve production, available food, and income among smallholder farmers-as is advocated by many (Chindi et al 2017;Devaux et al 2021;Hirpa et al 2016;Okello et al 2017). This approach is in reality a difficult one to realise.…”

“…Various interventions have therefore supported alternatives to increase the availability of quality seed potato (Demo et al 2015;Gildemacher et al 2011;Komen et al 2017;Schulte-Geldermann et al 2014). This involves the socalled quality declared seed (QDS) whereby the seed is not formally certified, but quality assured through the reputational identity of the producer or producer group (see Hirpa et al 2016;Louwaars and de Boef 2012;Schulz et al 2013).…”

Potato seed system in Ethiopia: challenges, opportunities, and leverage points

“…Limited availability and access to basic seed for EGS producers that mainly depend on research centres is identified as one of the key problems resulting in a lack of early generation planting materials (G2 and G3) affecting seed business and hindering the extensive production, marketing and utilization of quality seed by farmers, private actors, cooperatives, or groups. Consequently, the informal seed system remains the major supplier (98%) of potato seed (Hirpa, 2010), and alternative seed systems such as quality-declared seed (QDS) and farmer-based seed production, have emerged to address the seed quality and quantity gap (Hirpa et al 2016;Schulz et al 2013). Poor level of use of postharvest technologies for seed potato storage usually leads to physical damage, reduced sprouting capacity, and decreased market acceptance of seed potatoes.…”