84
7.3.2 How Were Farmers Convinced About the Superior
Performance of BH661?
In 2012, when the national maize research programme and other institutions
embarked on large-scale popularisation of BH661 across the country, major maize
growing areas—including western and southern Ethiopia—experienced drought, by
coincidence during the main growing season. In most places, the onset of rains was
delayed and ceased well before grain filling, which affected maize yields especially
for late-maturing varieties such as BH660. During that season, the Bako National
Maize Research Center had established several on-farm demonstration plots to
showcase the performance of BH661 against BH660. Local farmers and other
stakeholders from across the country converged at one of the on-farm demonstration
sites in a village called Abakora to witness the superior performance of BH661,
which was planted alongside BH660 on 400 m
2
plot. The participants clearly noticed
the drought tolerance of BH661 and were convinced of its superiority relative to
BH660.
In the same year, demonstration plots established by the SSE in the Hawassa area
were also affected by drought, similarly convincing the Enterprise of the superior
drought tolerance of BH661; thus fast-tracking large-scale seed production and
marketing of BH661 in southern Ethiopia. From similar observations on demonstrations plots throughout the country in 2012, various key stakeholders were convinced
that BH661 was a better option than BH660.
7.4 Outcome of the Replacement Activities
In 2016, nearly 9000 tonnes (Fig. 7.2) of certified seed of BH661 was produced and
marketed by various seed producers in Ethiopia. From the current estimated 55% of
maize area planted to improved seed, seed production of BH661 was sufficient to
cover 360,000 ha (18% of the total maize area, or about 30% of maize area under
improved seed). Improved seed in Ethiopia is produced and marketed by public
seed companies (60% market share), local private seed companies (10% market
share) and multinational seed companies with proprietary hybrids (30% market
share). Public seed companies dominate the market due to incentives from the
Government that include royalty-free licensing of public hybrids and access to
state-owned land for seed production. As a result, hybrid seed price in Ethiopia is
affordable (estimated at less than 1 United States Dollar per kg) to the small-scale
farmer. Credit facilities are also available to the poorest farmers through farmers’
cooperative unions for the purchase of seed and fertiliser, which is repaid after
harvest.
Key to driving the adoption of BH661 was the willingness of seed companies to
produce and market the new hybrid and withdraw BH660. Three key producibility
features of BH661 were critical in driving the adoption of the hybrid by seed
B. T. Ertiro et al.
7.3.2 How Were Farmers Convinced About the Superior
Performance of BH661?
In 2012, when the national maize research programme and other institutions
embarked on large-scale popularisation of BH661 across the country, major maize
growing areas—including western and southern Ethiopia—experienced drought, by
coincidence during the main growing season. In most places, the onset of rains was
delayed and ceased well before grain filling, which affected maize yields especially
for late-maturing varieties such as BH660. During that season, the Bako National
Maize Research Center had established several on-farm demonstration plots to
showcase the performance of BH661 against BH660. Local farmers and other
stakeholders from across the country converged at one of the on-farm demonstration
sites in a village called Abakora to witness the superior performance of BH661,
which was planted alongside BH660 on 400 m
2
plot. The participants clearly noticed
the drought tolerance of BH661 and were convinced of its superiority relative to
BH660.
In the same year, demonstration plots established by the SSE in the Hawassa area
were also affected by drought, similarly convincing the Enterprise of the superior
drought tolerance of BH661; thus fast-tracking large-scale seed production and
marketing of BH661 in southern Ethiopia. From similar observations on demonstrations plots throughout the country in 2012, various key stakeholders were convinced
that BH661 was a better option than BH660.
7.4 Outcome of the Replacement Activities
In 2016, nearly 9000 tonnes (Fig. 7.2) of certified seed of BH661 was produced and
marketed by various seed producers in Ethiopia. From the current estimated 55% of
maize area planted to improved seed, seed production of BH661 was sufficient to
cover 360,000 ha (18% of the total maize area, or about 30% of maize area under
improved seed). Improved seed in Ethiopia is produced and marketed by public
seed companies (60% market share), local private seed companies (10% market
share) and multinational seed companies with proprietary hybrids (30% market
share). Public seed companies dominate the market due to incentives from the
Government that include royalty-free licensing of public hybrids and access to
state-owned land for seed production. As a result, hybrid seed price in Ethiopia is
affordable (estimated at less than 1 United States Dollar per kg) to the small-scale
farmer. Credit facilities are also available to the poorest farmers through farmers’
cooperative unions for the purchase of seed and fertiliser, which is repaid after
harvest.
Key to driving the adoption of BH661 was the willingness of seed companies to
produce and market the new hybrid and withdraw BH660. Three key producibility
features of BH661 were critical in driving the adoption of the hybrid by seed
B. T. Ertiro et al.