Improved Rice Seed Production and Marketing: Challenges and Opportunities; the Case of Fogera District of Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia has the potential to increase rice production and productivity, though the present availability of quality seeds falls well below present demand due to many constraints associated with seed production, marketing and delivery system. Consequently, the study has focused to assess the major constraints and opportunities of seed production and marketing for improved rice varieties. For this study purpose, 151 households were randomly drawn from three randomly selected Kebeles in probability proportional to size method in Fogera district of Ethiopia. The research results revealed that rice production is constrained by seed production and marketing bottle-necks; these includes, serious problems in accessing seed and fertilizer at planting time, lack of seed credit access and fair price of fertilizer, poor delivery systems of inputs, lack of access to farmers club and fair seed price. However, willingness of the households to adopt new rice varieties, training about the new varieties and fair grain prices were among the opportunities to the households. Therefore, to solve these problems, decision makers should pursue policies and investments to boost agricultural production and productivity, particularly with respect to the food staple crops like rice that are critical in reducing poverty. Hence, access and availability to improved production technologies orchestrate through production, marketing and delivery of improved seeds.