The Political Economy of Ethiopian Cereal Seed Systems: State Control, Market Liberalisation and Decentralisation

Introduction This FAC Policy Brief examines the political and economic processes governing Ethiopian cereal seed systems by analysing the overall policy context, including the main interests driving seed policy formulation and implementation, and the roles and interaction of the different public and private actors. It also investigates how these interests and interactions are related to the actual performance of the system on the ground. By focusing on three key political economic drivers of change within the seed system – state control, market liberalisation and decentralisation – the article asks: How are seed-related policies and implementation guidelines created? How do ideas about what makes ‘good’ policy and implementation guidelines evolve and change over time? Whose voices and views are taken into account in the policy process? What are the key arguments for the choice of actions? What spaces exist for new ideas, actors and networks, and how can these be opened up? And finally, what urgent national/regional seed policy issues and processes need to be considered for creation of a vibrant seed system within the country? Ethiopia’s seed systems Ethiopia’s informal and formal seed systems play a dominant role in the country’s economy, as the agricultural sector represents about 45 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 85 percent of export earnings, and provide livelihoods for 85 percent of the population (estimated 79 million people). Ethiopian farmers are highly reliant on informal seed provision and local varieties (with no legal certification), which includes seed retained by farmers, farmer-tofarmer seed exchange, and cooperative or Non Governmental Organisations (NGO)-based seed multiplication and distribution. The formal seed system, on the other hand, involves the production and distribution of basic seed by the research system and certified seed by licensed multipliers (e.g. the Ethiopia Seed Enterprise (ESE), regional seed enterprises and private seed companies). Current Ethiopian seed policy thinkers are pushing to ‘modernise’ and strengthen the formal seed system, encouraging the uptake of new seed varieties. Seed policy is also influenced by donors who are interested in strengthening the national seed system through programmes providing technical support and investment.