Emergency Seed Aid is widely implemented as a means to link disaster relief
with development. However, there are still very few critical evaluations
of seed aid, nearly all of which are of single interventions. This is
especially problematic, as seed aid intervenes at the heart of farming
systems, and poor aid can actually increase long-term vulnerability. This
report evaluates impacts of emergency seed assistance over many years in
Ethiopia. A result of two year’s research, it draws upon the perspectives
of many implementers, seed suppliers, and farmer recipients of aid, as well
as analysing policy influences on seed aid. It has a practical aim,
developing tools and guidelines for improving seed aid policy and practice,
in Ethiopia and elsewhere.
The full report is:
Sperling, L., Deressa, A., Assefa, S., et al. 2007. Long-Term Seed Aid in
Ethiopia: Past, present and future perspectives. Project and report funded
by IDRC and the USAID - Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. Ethiopian
Institute of Agricultural Research, International Center for Tropical
Agriculture, and Overseas Development Group, Addis Ababa and Rome.
The full text can be found at:
http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/11954879961Long_Term_Seed_Aid_in_Ethiopia-
_full_report.pdf
Full Abstract
This report evaluates impacts of emergency seed assistance over many years
in Ethiopia. It details recommendations for improving seed aid practice,
and policy guidelines for supporting seed security. Seed aid is a
significant area of humanitarian practice, intended to help vulnerable
farmers recover from crises. However, poorly-conducted aid can increase
farmers’ vulnerability, so it is surprising that seed aid has received
little critical attention. This report is one of the most comprehensive
critical assessments done of seed aid, taking a long-term view in Ethiopia,
which has received aid earlier, and longer, than almost anywhere else.
Work over two years and four regions sought different stakeholders’
perspectives: implementers (government/NGOs); seed supply providers
(formal sector and local seed/grain traders); and farmer recipients of
aid. Seed aid history was documented and analyzed alongside diverse
contemporary interventions, while policies shaping seed aid in practice
were also analysed. Selected findings: seed aid has occurred for 34 years
in Ethiopia, receiving over US$ 500m. Aid targets diverse goals – acute
emergency response, chronic stress, development promotion – which are
poorly-distinguished on the ground. Seed aid lacks specific policy
guidance and is shaped more by ‘developmental’ policies (i.e. modern
variety promotion), though current technologies are not designed for
chronically-stressed areas. Aid requests are not based upon actual seed
security assessments, but (incorrectly) extrapolated from food needs,
sometimes inflating figures to acquire more modern varieties. Diverse
approaches exist, including Direct Seed Distribution (DSD) and market-based
approaches (vouchers, seed fairs, cash for seed), though their use reflects
implementer philosophy more than farmers’ needs. Local traders are
important in making seed available during stress periods; this report
provides one of the first attempts to analyse their activities here,
highlighting dynamics of seed quality, sources used, volumes traded, and
prices. Finally, sampled farmers received aid repeatedly, though seed aid
made only a modest contribution to their overall seed supply. Farmers’
opinions of different aid approaches provide surprising insights into aid
implementation. Many tools and guidelines are suggested to improve seed
aid policy and practice in Ethiopia, which also apply for other countries.
___________________
Shawn McGuire
Lecturer in Natural Resources
School of Development Studies
University of East Anglia
Norwich, UK NR4 7TJ
tel: +44 (0)1603 - 59 33 75
http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/ssf/dev/people/academic/McGuire
[log in to unmask]
|