Quality Seed Potato Production: Experience From the Highlands of Ethiopia

Utilization of healthy planting material is a key factor to improve potato yields and to reduce the dissemination of pests and diseases. Decentralized, community-based seed production schemes have been established between 2008 and 2012 in six highland districts of Ethiopia. Pathogen-free planting material of selected varieties was multiplied on station and distributed to more than 139 seed producer cooperatives located in major seed-producing areas. More than 3390 seed potato growers were trained on clean seed potato production and postharvest management. In addition, more than 980 development agents from the Ministry of Agriculture were trained. Seed storage capacity was increased by constructing around 110 diffused light stores. ]A total of 2313 t of quality seed was produced and sold to other seed and ware potato growers in different parts of the country. With the use of the improved varieties and appropriate seed production techniques, members of the seed producer cooperatives obtained yields of 32 t/ha while the national average yield is only 8 t/ha. Experiences to date indicate that the training of farmers on the use of healthy seed tubers and other aspects of integrated disease management is crucial for sustaining the availability of clean and healthy seed tubers. Further capacity building at cooperative level is needed to strengthen business and leadership skills of farmer cooperatives to create small-scale, self-sustained seed-production enterprises. The number of farmers and cooperatives involved in seed production is expanding rapidly. To ensure that minimum seed quality standards are maintained an informal seed inspection system applying the concept of quality declared seed is currently being piloted.