Seed demand and supply responses

For centuries, efforts to improve, multiply, and distribute teff seed have relied on informal mechanisms, primarily farmers’ own selection of varieties exhibiting desirable yield, taste, color, or stress-resistance characteristics, and farmer-to-farmer exchanges of seed embodying these traits. It wa...

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Main Authors: Spielman, David J., Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145737
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author Spielman, David J.
Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
author_browse Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Spielman, David J.
author_facet Spielman, David J.
Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
author_sort Spielman, David J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description For centuries, efforts to improve, multiply, and distribute teff seed have relied on informal mechanisms, primarily farmers’ own selection of varieties exhibiting desirable yield, taste, color, or stress-resistance characteristics, and farmer-to-farmer exchanges of seed embodying these traits. It was not until the mid-20th century that Ethiopia—like many other developing countries—developed a system based on modern science to breed improved teff cultivars, distribute improve teff seed, and accelerate the contribution of genetic gain to teff yield growth across the country’s smallholder farming systems. Today, these informal mechanisms still account for up to 90 percent of seed supply, with the modern infrastructure accounting for the remainder (Bishaw, Sahlu, and Simane 2008; Sahlu, Simane, and Bishaw 2008). This suggests that there are challenges still to be overcome in enhancing teff productivity—in increasing output per area, maintaining yield gains from prior investments in research, reducing yield variability within and across seasons, and increasing tolerance and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Part of Ethiopia’s challenge relates to the fact that teff is a neglected species (more pejoratively referred to as an “orphan crop”). Teff is not cultivated extensively in any other country and is thus not a destination for public investment in breeding. Teff is not a food security crop of global importance and is thus not a priority crop in the international agricultural research system— unlike rice, wheat, and maize. Teff is, in effect, unable to benefit from research spillovers from public investment in national (until recently) and international plant breeding programs, international exchanges of germplasm, and modern seed supply systems.
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spelling CGSpace1457372025-11-06T04:01:59Z Seed demand and supply responses Spielman, David J. Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework exports seeds teff genetic variation breeding For centuries, efforts to improve, multiply, and distribute teff seed have relied on informal mechanisms, primarily farmers’ own selection of varieties exhibiting desirable yield, taste, color, or stress-resistance characteristics, and farmer-to-farmer exchanges of seed embodying these traits. It was not until the mid-20th century that Ethiopia—like many other developing countries—developed a system based on modern science to breed improved teff cultivars, distribute improve teff seed, and accelerate the contribution of genetic gain to teff yield growth across the country’s smallholder farming systems. Today, these informal mechanisms still account for up to 90 percent of seed supply, with the modern infrastructure accounting for the remainder (Bishaw, Sahlu, and Simane 2008; Sahlu, Simane, and Bishaw 2008). This suggests that there are challenges still to be overcome in enhancing teff productivity—in increasing output per area, maintaining yield gains from prior investments in research, reducing yield variability within and across seasons, and increasing tolerance and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Part of Ethiopia’s challenge relates to the fact that teff is a neglected species (more pejoratively referred to as an “orphan crop”). Teff is not cultivated extensively in any other country and is thus not a destination for public investment in breeding. Teff is not a food security crop of global importance and is thus not a priority crop in the international agricultural research system— unlike rice, wheat, and maize. Teff is, in effect, unable to benefit from research spillovers from public investment in national (until recently) and international plant breeding programs, international exchanges of germplasm, and modern seed supply systems. 2018-07-11 2024-06-21T09:04:57Z 2024-06-21T09:04:57Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145737 en https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896292833 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Spielman, David J. and Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework. 2018. Seed demand and supply resources. In The economics of teff: Exploring Ethiopia's biggest cash crop. Chapter 4, Pp.71-96. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 10.2499/9780896292833_04. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145737
spellingShingle exports
seeds
teff
genetic variation
breeding
Spielman, David J.
Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Seed demand and supply responses
title Seed demand and supply responses
title_full Seed demand and supply responses
title_fullStr Seed demand and supply responses
title_full_unstemmed Seed demand and supply responses
title_short Seed demand and supply responses
title_sort seed demand and supply responses
topic exports
seeds
teff
genetic variation
breeding
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145737
work_keys_str_mv AT spielmandavidj seeddemandandsupplyresponses
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