Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T02:18:12.623Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

TRACING THE SEED: SEED DIFFUSION OF IMPROVED POTATO VARIETIES THROUGH FARMERS’ NETWORKS IN CHENCHA, ETHIOPIA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 August 2016

YENENESH TADESSE ,
CONNY J.M. ALMEKINDERS ,
ROGIER P.O. SCHULTE  and
PAUL C. STRUIK
YENENESH TADESSE*
Affiliation:
Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, NL-6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, NL-6706 KN Wageningen, the Netherlands Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. Y35 Y521, Ireland
CONNY J.M. ALMEKINDERS
Affiliation:
Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, NL-6706 KN Wageningen, the Netherlands
ROGIER P.O. SCHULTE
Affiliation:
Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. Y35 Y521, Ireland
PAUL C. STRUIK
Affiliation:
Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, NL-6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
*
Corresponding author. Email: yeneneshtadesse@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

There are many prerequisites for potato production to meet its full potential as a food security crop for subsistence farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. One of these is the introduction of improved varieties. Traditionally, the introduction of new varieties is by government agencies or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). To understand the diffusion of seed tubers (seeds) of new potato varieties in farmer networks, we analysed social factors influencing the sharing of seed of improved potato varieties amongst farmers in Chencha, Ethiopia. We interviewed 166 farmers and analysed 146 seed transactions. We used seed flow mapping to visualize seed sharing amongst farmers. We found that the social networks of farmers are differentiated by wealth, gender and religion, and that this differentiation affects the dispersion of new varieties through the farming communities: Wealthier farmers shared seed tubers most frequently and poor farmers did not share seed at all. Seed sharing was influenced by, but not restricted to, gender and religion categories. Most sharing was with relatives (as gifts) and neighbours (in exchange for labour). There weas no equal access to seed for all households because of (i) the targeting of the better off farmers by the NGO (ii) differences in frequency of sharing and (iii) terms and motivation of the transactions. Our results show that wealthy farmers most effectively multiply and share the seed of new varieties with medium wealthy and poor farmers. This study shows that for the introduction of new technologies into a community, its dynamics of social differentiation need to be understood.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 53 , Issue 4 , October 2017 , pp. 481 - 496
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abay, F., De Boef, W. S. and Bjørnstad, Å. (2011). Network analysis of barley seed flows in Tigray, Ethiopia: Supporting the design of strategies that contribute to on-farm management of plant genetic resources. Plant Genetic Resources 9:495–505.Google Scholar
Aistara, G. (2011). Seeds of kin, kin of seeds: The commodification of organic seeds and social relations in Costa Rica and Latvia. Ethnography 12:490–517.Google Scholar
Almekinders, C. J. M., Louwaars, N. P. and de Bruijn, G. H. (1994). Local seed systems and their importance for an improved seed supply in developing countries. Euphytica 78:207–216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
APHRD 282 (Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Directorate). (2009). Crop variety register, Issue No. 12, June, 2009, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
Bekele, B., Abate, E. and Asefa, A. (2013). Viruses and bacterial wilt disease of potato in western Amhara. In Seed Potato Tuber Production and Dissemination: Experiences, Challenges and Prospects, Proceedings of the National Workshop on Seed Potato Tuber Production and Dissemination, 12-14 March 2012, 241–255 (Eds Woldegiorgis, G., Schulz, S. and Berihun, B.). Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute.Google Scholar
Berihun, B. and Woldegiorgis, G. (2013). Potato research and development in Ethiopia: achievements and trends. In Seed Potato Tuber Production and Dissemination: Experiences, Challenges and Prospects, Proceedings of the National Workshop on Seed Potato Tuber Production and Dissemination, 12-14 March 2012, 35–44 (Eds Woldegiorgis, G., Schulz, S. and Berihun, B.). Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute.Google Scholar
Coomes, O. T., McGuire, S. J., Garine, E., Caillon, S., McKey, D., Demeulenaere, E., Jarvis, D., Aistara, G., Barnaud, A., Clouvel, P., Emperaire, L., Louafim, S., Martin, P., Massol, F., Pautasso, M., Violon, C. and Wencélius, J. (2015). Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions. Food Policy 56:41–50.Google Scholar
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, 2nd ed.. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Cromwell, E. and Tripp, R. (1994). Proximity is a plus: The economics of farmer seed production and distribution in developing countries. In Proceedings of the ILCA/ICARDA Workshop on Seed Production by Smallholder Farmers. Addis Abeba. 13-15 June 1994, 15–23 Addis Abeba: ILCA.Google Scholar
CSA (Central Statistical Agency). (2014). Agricultural Sample Survey Report on Area and Production (Private Peasant Holdings in Meher Season). Addis Ababa: Statistical Bulletin.Google Scholar
Fafchamps, M. and Lund, S. (2003). Risk-sharing networks in rural philippines, Journal of Development Economics 71 (2):261–287.Google Scholar
Gildemacher, P., Kaguongo, W., Ortiz, A. O., Tesfaye, Gebremedhin, W., Wagoire, W., Kakuhenzire, R., Kinyae, P., Nyongesa, M., Struik, P. C. and Leewis, C. (2009). Improving potato production in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. Potato Research 52:173–205.Google Scholar
Grisley, W. and Shamambo, M. (1993). An analysis of adoption and diffusion of Carioca beans in Zambia resulting from an experimental distribution of seed. Experimental Agriculture 29:379–386.Google Scholar
Hirpa, A., Meuwissen, M. P. M., Tesfaye, A., Lommen, W. J. M., Oude Lansink, A. G. J. M., Tsegaye, A. and Struik, P. C. (2010). Analysis of seed potato systems in Ethiopia. American Journal of Potato Research 87:537–552.Google Scholar
Hirpa, A., Meuwissen, M. P. M., van der Lans, I. A., Lommen, W. J. M., Oude Lansink, A. G. J. M., Tsegaye, A. and Struik, P. C. (2012). Farmers’ opinion on seed potato management attributes in Ethiopia: A conjoint analysis. Agronomy Journal 104:1413–1424.Google Scholar
Hoang, L. A., Castella, J. C. and Novosad, P. (2006). Social networks and information access: Implications for agricultural extension in a rice farming community in Northern Vietnam. Agriculture and Human Values 23:513–527.Google Scholar
Jones, R. B., Audi, P. A. and Trippa, R. (2001). The role of informal seed systems in disseminating modern varieties: Example of pigeon pea in semi-arid area of Kenya. Experimental Agriculture 37 (4):539–548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kolasa, K. M. (1993). The potato and human nutrition. American Potato Journal 70:375–384.Google Scholar
Labeyrie, V., Rono, B. and Leclerc, C. (2014). How social organization shapes crop diversity: An ecological anthropology approach among Tharaka farmers of Mount Kenya. Agriculture and Human Values 31:97–107.Google Scholar
Louwaars, N. P., de Boef, W. S. and Edeme, J. (2013). Integrated seed sector development in Africa: A basis for seed policy and law. Journal of Crop Improvement 27 (2):186–214 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGuire, S. J. (2007). Vulnerability in farmer seed systems: Farmer practices for coping with seed insecurity for sorghum in Eastern Ethiopia. Economic Botany 61 (3):211–222.Google Scholar
McGuire, S. J. (2008). Securing access to seed: Social relations and sorghum seed exchange in eastern Ethiopia. Human Ecology 36:217–229.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGuire, S. J. and Sperling, L. (2016). Seed systems smallholder famers use. Food Security. DOI 10.1007/s12571-015-0528-8.Google Scholar
Rubyogo, J., Sperling, L., Muthoni, R. and Buruchara, R. (2010). Bean seed delivery for small farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: The power of partnerships. Society and Natural Resources, 23:285–302.Google Scholar
Samberg, L. H., Shennan, C. and Zavalet, E. (2013). Farmer seed exchange and crop diversity in a changing agricultural landscape in the southern highlands of Ethiopia. Human Ecology 41:477–485.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seboka, B. and Deressa, A. (1999). Validating farmers’ indigenous social networks for local seed supply in Central Rift valley of Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension 6:245–254.Google Scholar
Sperling, L. and Loevinsohn, M. E. (1993). The dynamics of adoption: Distribution and mortality of bean varieties among small farmers in Rwanda. Agricultural Systems 41:441–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sperling, L. and McGuire, S. (2010). Understanding and strengthening informal seed markets. Experimental Agriculture 46:119–136.Google Scholar
Subedi, A., Chaudhary, P., Baniya, B. K., Rana, R. B., Tiwari, R. K., Rijal, D. K. and Jarvis, D. I. (2003). Who maintains crop genetic diversity and how?: Implications for on-farm conservation and utilization. Journal of Culture and Agriculture 25 (2):41–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tadesse, Y., Almekinders, C. J. M., Schulte, R. P. O. and Struik, P. C. (unpublished data). Understanding farmers’ potato production practices and use of improved varieties in Chencha, Ethiopia: implications for technology interventions.Google Scholar
Woldegiorgis, G., Gebre, E., Bedane, K. and Kassa, B. (2001). Country Profile on Potato Production and Utilization in Ethiopia. National Potato Research Programme Report. Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Addis Ababa.Google Scholar