Tropentag 2021, September 15 - 17, hybrid conference, Germany "Towards shifting paradigms in agriculture for a healthy and sustainable future"

Improvement of Crucial Aspects of Cereals Value Chains in Ethiopia

¹Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia
²Debre Markos University, Agricultural Economics, Ethiopia
³Arsi University, Ethiopia

Abstract

Cereals are source of food and income for Ethiopian farmers. Despite the high cereal production potential, a number of constraints impede the crop cereal sector's and value chain's development. Unbalance of supply and demand in cereal markets have been the source of major concerns for the Government of Ethiopia and its development partners. Increase in cereal price presented serious challenges to the implementation of country’s food security programs. Knowledge sharing, training, follows up of interventions, and partner linkages contribute to improve the skill and knowledge of value chain actors and service providers, including women. Availability of improved technologies (varieties and farm implements) results in expansion of cereal production areas. Farmers’ group seed enterprise can multiply and be source of improved varieties for smallholder farmers. Farmer to farmer exchange, strengthen existing cooperatives and farmer groups can make up the market for improved different option can be used depending on the stage of development. Small village shop keepers can be effective suppliers of agro chemicals. Hence, the government and other concerned bodies should focus on productivity increasing technologies in the study area in order to boost productivity and thus increase cereal market supply. In addition, to solve the marketing problem, the promotion of value-added practices and the formation of cereal seed enterprise and strengthening of cooperatives are suggested. This Project seeks to contribute to food and nutrition security, and create shared wealth and jobs through improving cereal value chain in Ethiopia. The specific objective is to strengthen linkage between smallholder farmers and input suppliers and increase productivity, on a sustainable basis, the income of rural producers, entrepreneurs that are engaged in the production, processing, storage and marketing of cereals.

Keywords: Cereals, demand and supply, Ethiopia, value chain

Contact Address: Yazachew Genet Ejigu, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, e-mail: yazachewgenetgmail.com