Effects of improved seed systems on farmer productivity: Evidence from maize and wheat farmers in Oromia and Central Ethiopia
Key Points
- Impact statement: This brief provides new evidence that improved seed use is associated with higher productivity, while also highlighting persistent challenges related to seed affordability, timely delivery, and the long-term reliability of seed supply systems in Ethiopia.
- Improved seed technologies contributed significantly to higher crop productivity and better agricultural performance among participating farmers: 56% of farmers said their yields were much higher than yields with local seed varieties, and 41.3% said they were slightly higher. For wheat, yield substantially increased from 2,043 kg/ha under local varieties to 3,259 kg/ha under improved varieties, representing about a 60% productivity gain.
- These findings can be useful for implementers designing interventions for sustainable agricultural transformation efforts in Ethiopia and similar contexts.
Abstract
Improved seed is recognized as a key strategy to increasing agricultural productivity. This brief examines whether access to improved maize and wheat seed in Oromia and Central Ethiopia was associated with adoption, productivity gains, and farmer satisfaction. The analysis draws on a cross-sectional survey of 426 farmers who accessed improved seed primarily through cooperative unions and related channels, supplemented by key informant interviews with seed system stakeholders.
Our analysis shows high adoption of improved seed among surveyed farmers and substantial reported increased yields: 56 percent of farmers said yields were much higher, and 41.3 percent said yields were slightly higher than with local seed. For wheat, average productivity increased from 2,043 kilograms per hectare under local varieties to 3,259 kilograms per hectare under improved varieties—about a 60 percent gain. At the same time, farmers reported continuing challenges related to timely delivery, affordability, and confidence in the long-term reliability of seed supply. These findings suggest that interventions to promote improved seed can contribute to productivity gains, but sustained impact in Ethiopia will depend on seed distribution systems and integration with other farmer support services. We support future research exploring other aspects of effort to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen household food security.
© 2026 RTI International. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
