ASSESSMENT OF FORAGE EARLY GENERATION SEED PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY IN ETHIOPIA Mesfin Dejene, Million Gebreyes, Kindu Mekonnen, Melkamu Derseh January 2025 To cite this report Dejene, M., Gebreyes, M., Mekonnen, K., Derseh, M. 2025. AICCRA Report: Assessment of Forage Early Generation Seed Production and Supply in Ethiopia. Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA). Acknowledgments Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) is a project that helps deliver a climate-smart African future driven by science and innovation in agriculture. It is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and supported by a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. This study report is further supported by the African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), Mixed Farming Systems (MFS), and Ukama Ustawi (UU) Initiatives. About AICCRA Reports Titles in this series aim to disseminate interim research on scaling climate services and climate-smart agriculture in Africa and stimulate feedback from the scientific community. Cover photo: © Brook Makonnen/ ILRI Disclaimer This report has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions stated herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of AICCRA, donors, or partners. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – Non-commercial 4.0 International License. © 2025 Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) Partners REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) i ABOUT THE AUTHORS Mesfin Dejene is a Senior Researcher and Program Leader at Holetta Research Center, Ethiopia. Million Gebreyes is a Social Scientist at the International Livestock Research Center (ILRI). Kindu Mekonnen is a Senior Scientist on Crop Livestock Systems at the International Livestock Research Center (ILRI) and Activity Leader at Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA). Melkamu Derseh is a Scientist on Animal Nutrition, Livestock Genetics, Nutrition and Feed Resources the International Livestock Research Center (ILRI). . REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) ii CONTENTS Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 Methodology ..................................................................................... 2 Presentations of Findings .................................................................. 2 Demands for EGS from major forage seed suppliers by forage species .. 2 Past and Current Forage EGS Production Capacity of NARS and Other Seed Enterprises .......................................................................... 3 Key constraints in EGS production, packaging, and distribution among potential forage seed-producing entities ........................................ 10 Action areas to improve forage EGS production, packaging, and distribution ............................................................................... 11 References ...................................................................................... 13 REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 1 INTRODUCTION The livestock sector is an integral part of farming systems in all parts of Ethiopia and significantly contributes to rural livelihoods, the national economy, and foreign currency earnings. However, the productivity and economic contribution of the livestock sector is much below its potential due to various technical and nontechnical constraints (World Bank 2017). Among the technical constraints, poor or inadequate feed supply, seasonal variability of feed gaps, the high cost of purchased feed resources, inefficient feed management, and imbalanced feeding to livestock have been identified as the major production constraints limiting the realization of the full potential of livestock resources in Ethiopia (Shapiro et al. 2017; Balehegn et al., 2020). Available estimates indicated that all animal species faced 9% feed deficiency as DM, while metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) deficiencies are 45% and 42%, respectively, suggesting a lack of good quality feeds in the country (Shapiro et al. 2017). Concentrate ingredients or compound feeds are generally either not accessible or in short supply and most often expensive for wider use as a supplement in a low-quality forage-based diet of ruminants. Animal feed can contribute up to 70% of the total cost of animal production (Bediye et al., 2018). The most critical steps to achieving higher livestock productivity are improving the availability of good quality animal feed resources in all production systems and employing the best handling and feeding practices. Cultivated forages can play a key role in sustainably increasing livestock productivity in both meat and milk, translating to increased incomes for livestock producers (Paul et al., 2020; Dey et al., 2022). So far, over 80 improved forage varieties of different grasses, legumes, and browse species have already been officially released and/or registered through the National Agricultural Research Systems for diverse agroecology of Ethiopia. However, the average adoption rate of these varieties was still less than 10%, and their contribution to the national feed resources was less than one percent. Though improved forages have the potential to increase productivity and address the problem of livestock feed shortages, poor access by dairy/feedlot farmers and the high prices of the improved forage seeds and planting materials continue to contribute to low forage cultivation and utilization (Osiemo et al., 2024). In addition, the limited awareness and knowledge about the availability, cultivation, and management of improved forages among producers and the unavailability or the slow development of functional forage seed markets are also hindering adoption (Dey et al., 2022; Florez et al., 2024; Tekalign, 2014). This study aimed at identifying strategic entry points for strengthening linkage 1) backward with Early Generation Seed (EGS) production systems, and 2) forward with forage biomass consumer anchor businesses in dairy and fattening. REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 2 METHODOLOGY Data on demands for forage EGS, which encompasses breeder seed, pre-basic and basic seed from selected forage seed producers, were collected through an interview in person and through telephone and email using a pre-developed EGS demand assessment tool. Breeder seed is the seed of first generation produced under the supervision of the plant breeder. Pre-basic seed is the progeny of the breeder seed, while basic seed is the progeny of pre-basic seed and is usually provided to certified seed producers and suppliers (Atilaw et al., 2017). The key informant interviewed constituted persons knowledgeable in the seed enterprise and included forage seed companies, particularly the secretary of the Ethiopian Forage Seed Producers and Marketing Association, as presented in Annex 1. Data on past and current forage EGS production capacity and supply of NARS (Forage EGS varieties produced and supplied at EIAR centers from 2018/19 to 2023/24) and other seed enterprises were collected using the pre-prepared checklist. The data was gathered through key informant interviews and secondary data collection via email. This report also borrowed information from the EIAR quarter reports (database) from 2018/19 to 2023/24 and from relevant literature. PRESENTATIONS OF FINDINGS Demands for EGS from major forage seed suppliers by forage species The Ethiopian Forage Seed Producers and Marketing Association (EFSPMA) exists to represent the commercial private seed sector. It has about 14 members registered for forage seed production in Ethiopia, but only 10 are said to be active (Annex 1). Out of the 10 active members, a total of 7 private seed enterprises— namely Anatoli, Eden, Kifle, Mengistu, Simon Sitotaw, Mulualem, and Tadesse— participated in the study. Their separate and aggregated quantified demands for forage early generation seed (EGS) and planting materials, categorized by forage types, were determined. According to the interviewed seed enterprises, the total quantified demand for pre-basic and basic seeds (26,392 kg) and planting materials (3,000) of various forage species is projected for the upcoming planting season (Table 1). Increased demand for forage EGS is expected, as the other seed enterprises from the Amhara, Southern, and Tigray regions were not included in the current study. In addition, recently, Anatoli imported more than 100 and 250 quintals of Alfalfa basic seed from Italy and Pakistan, respectively. One of the reasons mentioned was due to the limited availability of Alfalfa EGS from the research system in Ethiopia. Generally, there are no functional linkages between the research system and seed enterprises. Lack of information about the recently released varieties, the responsible center for EGS supply, and the absence of seed demand at a varietal level in the seed marketing system have remained a major hindrance. A mechanism should be developed for information exchange regarding demands for EGS by variety and EGS supply among major stakeholders. For instance, digital platforms could be a viable solution, enabling forage seed producers to efficiently share their demand and supply information for EGS. REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 3 Table 1. Demands for forage early generation seed (EGS) or planting materials by forage species (responses by potential private seed enterprises) S/no. Forage species Unit Quantity (kg or planting materials) of forage EGS demands for the coming planting time (June, 2025) Total Anatoli Eden Kifle Mengistu Simon Sitotaw Mulualem Tadesse 1 Oat kg 5000 500 35 250 3000 2 8787 2 Vetch kg 3000 300 105 250 900 200 4755 3 Lablab kg 950 150 200 400 10 50 1760 4 Cowpea kg 800 200 - 250 10 100 1360 5 Alfalfa kg * 75 10 100 10 50 245 6 Rhodes grass kg 400 150 35 100 400 100 1185 7 Megathyrsus kg 640 100 500 100 1340 8 Sudan grass kg 1500 400 2000 10 200 4110 9 Phalaris kg 100 - 200 300 10 Pigeon pea kg 800 100 - 600 10 100 1610 11 Tree Lucerne kg 50 - - 60 50 160 12 Fodder beet kg 100 - 30 100 230 13 Desmodium kg 150 - - 100 250 14 Sesbania kg 100 100 - 50 50 300 Total, Kg 13590 2075 175 840 8660 50 1002 26392 15 Desho grass #* - - 1000 1000 2000 16 Napier grass #* - - 1000 - 1000 Total #* - 2000 1000 3000 *Number of cuttings or root splits of vegetatively propagated plants Past and Current Forage EGS Production Capacity of NARS and Other Seed Enterprises Adopting improved forages can sustainably increase livestock productivity, but a formal seed system should ensure the regular supply of EGS. The Ethiopian formal sector is made up of institutional operations such as research institutions, public seed enterprises, registered seed cooperatives and registered private seed enterprises involved in the seed value chain – i.e. development of improved varieties, multiplication, processing, storage, and distribution to farmers, which is subject to official control based on laws and regulations. In contrast, unregulated seed operations largely characterized by localized efforts of seed selection, multiplication, use, and exchange between farmers and/or farming communities without any oversight or standards are collectively called the informal seed system (MoA, 2017). The availability of EGS (basic and pre-basic forage seed) to certified seed producers is critical to the seed system’s performance (Kalsa and Dey, 2022). Variety development and release have been primarily the role and responsibility of the Government. So far, a total of 82 varieties of various grasses REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 4 (39), herbaceous legumes (29), browse trees/shrubs (12), and mulberry (forage for silk-worm) (2) have been officially released/ registered for production and use in Ethiopia (EAA, 2022) (Table 2). Public research institutes are the major source of EGS. Breeders at respective research centers are responsible for multiplying and maintaining a certain quantity of breeder seeds of these varieties. For varietal development across various research centers, tropical and subtropical forage seeds, germplasm planting material, and accessions of herbaceous legume, grass, and fodder tree species were primarily sourced from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa. Table 2. Released or registered forage varieties in Ethiopia Species Annuals Perennials Total 1 Grasses 16 23 39 2 Herbaceous Legumes 23 6 29 3 Browse trees - 12 12 4 Mulberry 2 2 Total 39 43 82 The Quantity of pre-basic and basic seeds and planting materials of various grass-legume and browse varieties produced and supplied by various research centers under the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) during the last six years (2018/19 to 2023/24) are presented in Tables 3 - 5. A total of 118,361 kg of pre-basic and 18,778 kg of basic grass seed, more than 41 million pre-basic root splits/cuttings of elephant grasses, Desho grass and Urochloa grass and seedlings of tree Lucerne varieties, and about 7965 kg of pre- basic and 1740 kg of basic herbaceous legume seeds produced and supplied by various research centers under EIAR during the period between 2018/19 and 2023/24 (Tables 3-5). Among the supplied early-generation seeds (EGS), oat varieties accounted for the largest share, contributing approximately 97% of the total pre-basic seeds and 94% of the basic seeds produced. This was followed by Rhodes (2.29% and 5.85%, respectively) and Panicum and Phalaris grass varieties. This is primarily attributed to the higher demand for oats EGS compared to other species. For instance, oats EGS contributed about 99% and 100% of the total sold pre-basic and basic grass seeds. Besides having a shorter life cycle, annual forage crops like oats require relatively simple management practices present fewer technical problems for seed production, and exhibit higher productivity compared to perennial ones (Tolera et al., 2019; Turner et al., 2019). REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 5 Table 3. Forage EGS of grass varieties produced at EIAR centers during 2018/19 to 2023/24 Year Center Forage species No. of variety (ies) Seed Class (Pre- basic/ basic) Amount produced (qt) Amount Sold (qt) If sold, to whom? 2023 /24 Kulumsa Oat 3 Pre-basic 81.0 80.0 MoA, BoA, farmers , NGO’s Debre Zeit Oat 1 Pre-basic 8.0 2.0 ILRI Holetta Oat 4 Pre-basic 15.4 13.9 NGO’s, Private seed enterpri ses, farmers , ILRI , investor s Holetta.Pa we, Tepi, Werer Rhodes grass 1 Pre-basic 5.41 2.04 Holetta Panicum 1 Pre-basic 0.25 0.0 - Pawe Megathyrs us 1 Pre-basic 0.12 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 110.2 97.9 Holetta Oat 5 Basic 32.2 17.3 ILRI 2022 /23 Holetta Oat 5 Pre-basic 109.3 105.0 Private seed enterpri ses, NGO’s, farmers , MoA, Debrezeit Oat 1 Pre-basic 7.0 0.0 - Holetta.Pa we, Tepi, Assosa, Werer Rhodes grass 1 Pre-basic 4.5 0.0 - Holetta Panicum 1 Pre-basic 0.25 0.0 - Pawe Megathyrs us 1 Pre-basic 0.25 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 121.3 105.0 Kulumsa Oat 1 Basic 32.5 62.5 BoA, farmers , NGO’s Holetta Oat 6 Basic 32.9 0.0 - Sub-total Basic 65.4 62.5 2021 /22 Kulumsa Oat 4 Pre-basic 237.6 27.1 MoA,Bo A, farmers , NGO’s Holetta Oat 3 Pre-basic 160.0 160.0 Private seed enterpri ses, NGO’s, REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 6 Year Center Forage species No. of variety (ies) Seed Class (Pre- basic/ basic) Amount produced (qt) Amount Sold (qt) If sold, to whom? farmers , MoA Debre Zeit Oat 1 Pre-basic 9.0 0.0 - Holetta.Pa we, Tepi Rhodes grass 1 Pre-basic 2.64 0.0 - Pawe Megathyrs us 1 Pre-basic 0.69 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 409.93 187.1 Debre Zeit Oat 1 basic 15.0 10.0 MoA Werer, Assosa, Debremar kos Rhodes grass 1 Basic 8.58 0 Sub-total Basic 23.58 2020 /21 Kulumsa Oat 3 Pre-basic 280.0 274.9 Arsi zone OA,DOA , NGO’s Holetta, Pawe Rhodes grass 1 Pre-basic 3.5 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 283.5 274.9 Holetta Oat 1 Basic 3.5 3.5 NGO’s, farmers Assosa, Debremar kos , Tepi Rhodes grass 1 Basic 2.4 0 Sub-total Basic 5.9 3.5 2019 /20 Kulumsa Oat 3 Pre-basic 144.0 132.4 DOA Holetta, Pawe, Werer Rhodes grass and Megathyrs us 3 Pre-basic 7.0 0.0 - Holetta Phalaris 1 Pre-basic 1.0 0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 152.0 132.4 Holetta Oat 1 Basic 60.7 60.7 Private seed enterpri ses, NGO’s, farmers 2018 /19 Holetta Oat 3 Pre-basic 100.0 96.0 Private seed enterpri ses, NGO’s, farmers Kulumsa Rhodes grass, 1 Pre-basic 5.0 5.0 NGO Kulumsa Panicum 1 Pre-basic 2.7 2.0 NGO Sub-total Pre-basic 107.7 103.0 Basic 0 0 Grand total Pre-basic 1183.61 900.34 Grand total Basic 187.78 154.0 REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 7 Year Center Forage species No. of variety (ies) Seed Class (Pre- basic/ basic) Amount produced (qt) Amount Sold (qt) If sold, to whom? Average Pre-basic 197.3 150.1 Average Basic 31.3 25.7 Oats Rhodes Phalaris Panicum Table 4. Forage EG planting materials of grass and browse varieties produced at EIAR centers during 2018/19 to 2023/24 Year Center Forage species No. of variety (ies) Seed Class (Pre- basic/ basic) Amount produced (root splits/ cuts/ seedlings) Amount Sold (root splits or cuts) If sold, to whom? 2023 /24 Debre Zeit, Holetta, Kulumsa, Wondo Genet Desho grass 3 Pre- basic 7,090,000 84,000 Gewane TVET college Holetta, Kulumsa, Wondo Genet, Werer Napier grass 3 Pre- basic 1,300,000 0 - Debre Zeit, Melkassa Urochloa grass 3 Pre- basic 4,040,000 0 - Sub-total Pre- basic 12,430,000 84,000 2022 /23 Debre Zeit, Holetta, Kulumsa, Wondo Genet Desho grass 3 Pre- basic 4,375,000 500,000 Farmer Holetta, Kulumsa, Wondo Genet, Werer Napier grass 2 Pre- basic 1,150,000 0 - Holetta Tree Lucerne 1 Pre- basic 5,000 0 - Sub-total Pre- basic 5,530,000 500,000 REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 8 Year Center Forage species No. of variety (ies) Seed Class (Pre- basic/ basic) Amount produced (root splits/ cuts/ seedlings) Amount Sold (root splits or cuts) If sold, to whom? 2021 /22 Holetta, Kulumsa, Wondo Genet Desho grass 3 Pre- basic 4,500,000 0 - Holetta, Kulumsa, Wondo Genet, Werer Napier grass 2 Pre- basic 700,000 0 - Debre Zeit, Melkassa Urochloa grass 1 Pre- basic 350,000 0 - Sub-total Pre- basic 5,550,000 0 2020 /21 Holetta, Kulumsa, Wondo Genet Desho grass 3 Pre- basic 3,000,000 0 - Desho grass Napier grass Urochola grass The production of pre-basic seeds and planting materials of grass varieties increased from 10770 kg in 2018/19 to 40,993 kg in 2021/22 (Table 3) and nearly tripled from about 4.65 million root splits/cuttings in 2018/19 to 12.43 million root splits/cuttings in 2023/24 (Table 4). Although the volume of EGS production varied among centers and varieties, about 76.1% of pre-basic and 82.0 % of basic seeds of grass varieties produced in each year was sold to government and non-government institutions such as MoA, BoA, zonal/woreda office of Agriculture, NGO’s, ILRI, and farmers, and private seed enterprises (Table 3). In contrast, from the total planting materials produced during the last six years, only a small proportion (1.4%) of the root splits was sold to farmers or government institutions (Table 4). Relatively, less volume of pre-basic and basic seeds of herbaceous legume and fodder tree varieties supplied (7965 and 1740 kg, respectively) from 2018/19 to 2023/24 (Table 5) compared to grass EGS production during the same year (Table 3). Among the total legumes EGS produced, only about 2.56% of pre-basic and 22.99% of basic seeds was sold to NGO’s, BOA and ILRI. Generally, most of the forage EGS produced from the research system was sold to government and non-government institutions than private seed enterprises, REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 9 indicating the weak linkages between seed enterprises with the research system. In line with this, a number of reports widely stated that government and NGOs buy and distribute the seeds to smallholder farmers at subsidized price or free of charge. This has been practiced for many years through projects supported by the government, development agencies and NGOs. This does not translate into a consistent demand from customers since farmers are reluctant to purchase seed at a market price, and resulted marketing and profitability challenges for the private sector and hindering forage seed market development (Ejeta et al., 2023; Tolera et al., 2019; Turner et al., 2019). This issue requires attention at the policy level if a sustainable and financially viable production model is to emerge (Turner et al., 2019). Recently, Ejeta et al., (2023) has showed examples of more direct connections between seed producers and forage users, which could provide alternative mechanisms of seed supply and help to establish a viable seed market. Public seed enterprises are also registered for forage seed production and supply, but the Somali Seed and Forage Enterprise is the only enterprise that is highly engaged in forage seed production (Karta and Dey et al., 2022). According to the key informant discussion, the Ethiopia Seed Enterprise (ESE) has been producing basic seeds of oats, cowpea and lablab varieties including certified seeds of oat varieties until 2016/17. The enterprise also has a huge potential for supplying forage EGS of various species listed above or more. However, due to unavailability of demands for forage seed, currently ESE is not active in forage seed supply. Similarly, Key informant discussions with researchers from the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) also indicated that, the demands for forage EGS are low, unpredictable and inconsistent. However, there is demand for these seeds as shown by the potential private seed enterprises listed above in Table 1, indicating the weak linkages between seed enterprises with the research organizations in aspects of EGS supply and that needs to be strengthen. If that demand existed, the research stations would maintain their varieties and supply EGS seed on request to feed a commercial multiplication and marketing chain (Turner et al., 2019). Moreover, the seed requests came from government institutions, NGO’s and farmers and some seed enterprises including the tender seed marketing system among other actors down the seed chain were by species not by varietal level, indicating the limited awareness and knowledge and the weak enforcement of the seed regulations. In 2023, a seed proclamation was formulated by EAA under its plant regulatory function to supply improved varieties and quality seed in the required amount and quality to producers. The implementation of seed certification for quality seeds of improved forage species is week (Dejene et al., 2024). As a result forage seed quality was still a concern, as there was no quality control. Regardless of the obsolete varieties, generally, from the 39, 29 and 12 registered grass, legume and browse tree varieties in the registry book (EAA, 2022), only 22 (56.4%), 9 (31.0%) and 1 (8.3%), are used for pre-basic and basic seed production. In addition, breeder seed of different grass, legume and fodder tree varieties also produced and maintained under most of the EIAR and regional research centers. This highlights, there is a need to create awareness and demand for the other varieties. REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 10 Table 5. Forage EGS of Herbaceous LEGUMES and BROWSE varieties produced at EIAR centers during 2018/19 to 2023/24 Year Center Species name No of variety (ies) Seed Class (Pre- basic/basic) Amount produced (qt) Amount Sold (qt) If sold, to whom? 2023/24 Debre Zeit, Holetta Vetch 3 Pre-basic 9.0 0.0 Debre Zeit Lablab 3 Pre-basic 24.0 0.0 - Debre Zeit Alfalfa 1 Pre-basic 0.3 0.0 - Holetta Tree Lucerne 1 Pre-basic 0.5 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 33.8 0.0 Holetta Vetch 2 Basic 6.2 4.0 ILRI 2022/23 Debre Zeit, Holetta Vetch 3 Pre-basic 9.5 0.0 - Debre Zeit, Werer Alfalfa 2 Pre-basic 0.605 0.04 Private enterprise Holetta Tree Lucerne 1 Pre-basic 0.5 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 10.61 0.04 Holetta Vetch 2 Basic 6.2 0.0 - 2021/22 Debre Zeit, Holetta Vetch 3 Pre-basic 13.3 0.0 - Holetta Tree Lucerne 1 Pre-basic 0.25 0.0 - Debre Zeit, Werer Alfalfa 2 Pre-basic 0.39 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 13.94 0.0 Debre Zeit Vetch 1 basic 5.0 0.0 2020/21 Holetta Vetch 2 Pre-basic 3.5 0.0 - Holetta Tree Lucerne 1 Pre-basic 0.4 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 3.9 0.0 2019/20 Holetta Tree Lucerne 1 Pre-basic 0.3 0.0 - Holetta Vetch 1 Pre-basic 2.8 0.0 - Holetta Tree Lucerne 1 Pre-basic 0.3 0.0 - Sub-total Pre-basic 3.4 0.0 2018/19 Kulumsa, Holetta Vetch 2 Pre-basic 14.0 2.0 NGO, BoA Grand total Pre-basic 79.65 2.04 Grand total Basic 17.40 4.0 Key constraints in EGS production, packaging, and distribution among potential forage seed-producing entities ▪ Lack of breeders by training across many research centres. ▪ Public research centres focusing only on a few forage EGS supply mainly on oats partly due to the limited skill in forage seed production across the research system ▪ Lack of incentive to EGS production and weak infrastructure and resources such as seed stores, and finance by public research centres. REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 11 ▪ Less demands for forage EGS due to lack of awareness and the poor linkage between the research system with the seed enterprises ▪ Inability to forecast the demand /market for forage EGS. ▪ Unlike food crops, forage seed marketing along the value chain is based on species not at varietal level and this has remained the major challenge ▪ Free or subsidized price distribution of forage seeds by NGO’s and government institutions ▪ Poor implementation and little attention from the seed regulatory system, partly due to capacity gaps associated with the limited human and physical resources. ▪ Limited promotion and marketing of forage seeds, particularly in raising awareness and connecting the forage seed industry with livestock output markets. Action areas to improve forage EGS production, packaging, and distribution ▪ Strengthening forage variety development breeding programs, and EGS seed multiplication skills through training and enhancing the availability and access of forage genetic resources. ▪ Strengthening the linkages between the research system with the seed enterprises ▪ improving the infrastructure like seed stores and financial resources of the research system towards improving forage EGS supply ▪ Early generation seed multiplication schemes at research institutes level should be demand-driven or market oriented through employing a holistic value chain approach. ▪ Need to create awareness and demand for the improved forage varieties, and their production, and management practices though various mechanisms. ▪ Enhancing the implementation capacity of the seed regulatory body across the value chain by enforcing a comprehensive quality assurance system, particularly for forage early generation seed (EGS) supply. This should include variety-specific labelling and the provision of required information on the seed bags. ▪ In response to the tender system, alternative mechanisms/models of seed supply should be developed that strongly link producers and users REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 12 ▪ The involvement of the private sector forage seed production should be promoted and supported through the establishment of seed- forage/feed-livestock output marketing linkages. ▪ Additionally, efforts should be made to establish national and local innovation platforms among stakeholders relevant to forage EGS production, and marketing including forage and feed development and marketing. REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 13 REFERENCES Atilaw, A., Alemu, D., Bishaw, Z., Kifle, T., and Kaske, K. 2017. Early Generation Seed Production and Supply in Ethiopia: Status, Challenges and Opportunities. Ethiop. J. Agric. 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