Abstract:
The use of improved seed varieties is considered as one of the important interventions to transform agricultural sector in Ethiopia. To this end, improving the performance of the seed system is crucial to use improved crop technologies. The major actors in the country's seed system are the public and private seed sectors. In this regard, the role of private seed sector is well recognized within the national seed system. Accordingly, the contribution of the private actors in the national seed system is increasing
from time to time. However, there are different constraints that the private seed sector in the country is
facing currently. Therefore, the seed sector is one area of reform for improved crop production in particular and agriculture in general.
This document is an assessment study commissioned by Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to the Ethiopian Seed Association and the overall objective of this assignment was to identify, analyse and document major policies, laws, regulations, administrative practices, governance and institutional setups that constrained private seed sector investment in Ethiopia and identify evidence based
alternative solutions to improve the supply of certified seed to small holder farmers in Ethiopia. In order to achieve the objectives of the study both primary and secondary data collection methods were used such as document review, private seed sector survey, key informants interview, focus group discussion at federal and National Regional States (Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR and Tigray).
