Improving access to agricultural inputs

Written by ALAZAR SHIFERAW

Agricultural inputs have tremendous role in improving agricultural productivity

Ethiopia‘s move toward ensuring food security is heavily dependent on the agriculture sector. Agricultural productivity and yield increment in turn depends on the adoption and adaptation of improved agricultural technologies and techniques by the rural farmers. Multifaceted approaches to improve agricultural productivity are needed to reverse the existing poor livelihood status of farmers in particular , and citizens at large.

Hence, the role of agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, improved farm tools in bringing the much needed agricultural productivity is paramount. Therefore, sufficient supply of these inputs along with delivery of efficient extension service would enable the country to produce high yields and increase hence improve over all agricultural productivity. However, insufficient inputs supply and lack of awareness about the significance of agricultural inputs have have been responsible for the low agricultural production in some parts of the country.

The national strategy road map for poverty reduction realizes that poverty reduction in Ethiopia is impossible without significant growth in crop yields. Thus, improving farmers’ access to fertilizers, improved seeds supply, agricultural credit and other inputs is a matter that is given due emphasis.

In connection with the supply of agricultural inputs The Ethiopian Herald recently made an exclusive interview with Eastern Manager of Agricultural Inputs Supply Enterprise, Belayneh Aseged. He said that the main purpose for the establishment of the Enterprise was to import the required agricultural inputs demanded by the Ethiopian farmers and supplying them across the country. Creating agricultural inputs market stabilization and carrying out other related activities have been the enterprise’s major duties since its establishment too.

He further said that the majority of Ethiopian farmers have been using traditional ways of agricultural practices. And this practice has contributed to the decline in agricultural productivity so far. To improve these problems, governmental and non-governmental organizations have made efforts to bring about changes in Ethiopian farmers agricultural production system.

Today the Enterprise has been responsible for the disbursement of improved agricultural technologies like fertilizers, high yielding varieties of seeds, pesticides, farm tools, etc. As a result, farmers who have utilized agricultural inputs and participated in the extension package programme have become successful in increasing agricultural yield. However, the task of improving agricultural productivity at national level requires the collective action of different stakeholders. In this regard agricultural input suppliers are one of the actors that are responsible for delivering agricultural inputs according to the demand of the farmers.

As of its establishment, it has been carrying out various reforms to facilitate and create conducive atmosphere to the country’s agricultural input needs. To expand inputs supply accessibility, the Enterprise has opened various market centres in the country. Among the market centres, Adama, as it has been nearby the port , it imports fertilizers, and performs multifaceted duties, such as importing, storing, distributing among others activities, he said.

Belayneh further said that centering at Adama, the Enterprise has imported and supplied agricultural inputs, mainly DAP and UREA fertilizers to farmers for many years. In the last fiscal year alone, the Enterprise imported 1,146,756.58 DAP and 575, 890.57 quintals of UREA and distributed them to agricultural unions, farmer cooperative unions, private investors, small scale farmers and state farms. The Adama centre is serving as a dry port.

Last year’s nationwide agricultural performance appraisal report indicated that there was agricultural inputs usage gaps among beneficiaries. Due to such gaps agricultural products failed to show increments as it was intended.

As part of the effort to help ensure farmers food security, the Enterprise has also supplied vegetables seeds. Vegetable seeds are different as they are imported from various countries. ‘We import them from Denmark and the Netherlands among others.”

Presently, the farmers have enough awareness about the importance of vegetables and they are also aware of which vegetable variety benefits them more. If farmers use irrigation scheme, they can produce more and ensure food self sufficiency. The Enterprise distributes vegetable seeds, specifically carrot, beetroot , cabbage, lettuce, salad, onion and tomato.

The Enterprise has also supplied spraying tools and chemicals which are used for pest control.

The Enterprise’s efforts which aimed at promoting those vegetable seeds among farmers have become successful. “ Since our agricultural inputs are free from any alteration, farmers prefer to buy the inputs from the Enterprise,” he said.

Although the distribution processes are going well, there are issues related to import and export that need to be addressed,” Belayneh said.

The Enterprise created many job opportunities to local people. However, the local administration needs to support the centre. Sometimes, when vehicles load and unload goods, drivers are asked about 250-300 birr of labor cost with out their will.

Besides, the Enterprise needs to have big stores. At present it has only seven small stores, which can accommodate about 90,000 quintals of fertilizers. Sometimes the Enterprise rents stores.

Given the critical role agriculture plays in its economy, Ethiopia still needs to do its homework in terms of enhancing agricultural production and productivity.

To bring sustainable agricultural development and ensure food self sufficiency various actors engaged in the agriculture sector need to act synergistically.

Personal, situational, socioeconomic, institutional and organizational factors greatly afect input demand supply positively or negatively. The existence of strong linkage among actors within the system has a vital importance to transfer knowledge and provide of agricultural inputs and services in an efficient and effective manner.

Assessing other informal types ways of enhancing the supply of inputs and services to assist farmers is another alternative that need to be carried out. Besides, filling policy related gaps, channeling efficient and effective credit service, releasing and supplying of new seed varieties, provision of appropriate quarantine services to shopped and imported crop varieties, and giving of due attention to seed biodiversity particularly to endemic and indigenous crop varieties need to be given due emphasis. Expansion of public and private seed multiplication farms, supported with irrigation facilities to be the focus area to improve agricultural productivity.

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