Ethiopian seed system of improved varieties is skewed to cereals and does not include beans and pulses. These in general are neglected crops from the seed system portfolio. Hence, access to improved seed of beans and its production practice is scanty in the public extension system. However, smallholder farmers in the area are in high need of improving productivity and marketability as beans perform better (fetch better income and cater better food availability), for the erratic weather that prevails in the area. On a more positive note, the Melkassa Agricultural research center confirms that there are improved varieties of beans named bio-fort which have better iron and Zinc content.
Guna seed multiplication and marketing union is a farmer-based organization that specializes in improved seed multiplication business. Guna sources basic seeds from research centers, multiplies and puts it into the regional seed supply system. As expected, Guna Seed business is focused on cereal crops. Following the initiation of Ras-Gaint union to start the productivity improvement from the seed, Guna showed interest to be involved in the multiplication of improved bean seeds.
Melkassa Agricultural Research Center coordinates the national bean research. The coordinator of the center was invited to the diagnosis and design workshop of the beans partnership in Ethiopia. The workshop explored a series of collaborations and opportunities. These included availability of off-shelf bean technologies that can immediately be taken to smallholder farmers to improve bean productivity, marketability, and nutrition.
The workshop revealed that there exist bio-fort varieties of bean-that contain high minerals (Zinc, Iron and others). Processing Shiro from the bio-fort varieties enhances the nutritiousness of Shiro. Shiro of high Zinc and Iron can be used as a weaning food for children and serve as a replacement of mineral supplement for pregnant women.
Initial seeds and its underlining productions techniques have been sourced from the national bean research excellence center. Comprehensive intervention of instilling the improved agronomic practice of improved bean varieties to the supporting organization (Zonal, district and village level bureau of Agriculture) and farmers was provided by the national bean research coordinator. Then, a total of 1.2 tons of improved bean seed of Awash-2, Awash mitin and Tafach varieties have been secured as revolving seed for Guna Seed union via the business champion. An adjacent holding of 10 hectares by 44 smallholder farmers was mobilized for the improved seed multiplication.
In May 2020, training of trainers (ToT) was provided for subject matter specialists (SMS) to cascade the improved bean production practice to smallholder farmers. May was the pick shutdown time to travel and transfer the knowledge. With all the precautionary measures, the ToT was provided for the SMS and cascading was planned for smallholder seed multiplying farmers. Individual home to home mobilization and training of smallholder farmers was conducted to control the spread of covid-19. Further, the SMS planted the improved seeds as per the recommended practice of ploughing, row planting, seed rate, fertilizer application and all other advised agronomic practices together with the smallholder farmers.
Improved seed multiplication was inspected and approved for its qualification for next planting season by the regional seed inspection and quarantine authority. 10 hectares was covered by Awash 2 bean variety and all the 10Ha has been accepted and approved as qualified improved seed. As a result, a total 8 tons certified improved bean seed has been aggregated by Guna Union and is available for the 2021 production season.
Through the whole process, farmers have learnt to identify the root productivity hampering factor and scouting readily available solutions. This will enable the farmers tap into existing institutions to coordinate, co-invest, and co-develop their capacity so as to sustain inclusive businesses that serve the needs of the vulnerable groups.
