<p> FIRST DOCUMENTATION OF INNOVATION SITES LOCAL SEED BUSINESS PROJECT</p><p>Innovation site Region Amhara Location South Wello Zone, Kalu Woreda (Harbu PA)</p><p>INSTITUTIONAL DATA</p><p>Lead organization at the site Name Ethio-Organic Seed action (EOSA) Address P.O.Box 5512 City Addis Ababa State Addis Ababa Country Ethiopia Responsible person for the variety/seed related activities Name Genene Gezu Position Technical Manager E-mail [email protected] Mobile +251-911-795622 Contact person for the innovation site (if different from Project responsible) Name Abdu Mohammed Position Field Assistant E-mail - Mobile 0912053392</p><p>PROJECT ASPECTS </p><p>Project 1 Integrated agriobiodiversity management and seed security program Duration and Started since 2004 and renewed annually. phases Objectives o Objective 1: to promote community based management and enhancement of agrobiodiversity o Objective 2: to strengthen local seed supply systems in order to ensure seed security at community level o Objective 3: to promote market and non-market incentives to improve the socio-economic gains for the farming communities Main activities o Activity 1: Community Seed Banking complex o Activity 2: On-farm management, adaptation trials and participatory variety selection of traditional varieties o Activity 3: Seed multiplication of selected varieties in PVS scheme Role of the Organizing the community, technical services of different type, capacity leading building and training, linking the CBO with relevant local authority and organization involved in advocacy works. Donor(s) Name Country Type of funding /resources USC-Canada Canada Financial support for the implementation of the program activities </p><p>1 Partners Name organization Name contact Role of organization person & Mobile Kalu District Agriculture Fasil Kebede, Technical support and and Rural Development Bureau Head monitoring of the Office 0914310005 implementation process Kalu District Yimer Endris Organizing the farmers and Cooperatives Office 0914714917 legalization of the farmer associations South Wollo Zone Endalkachew Role of organization Agriculture and Rural 0331124120 Development & NGO Coordination Offices Sirinka Agricultural Center Director Involved in seed exchange, Research Center and trainings</p><p>INNOVATION SITES – CHARACTERIZATION</p><p>GENERAL CONTEXT The Harbu site is generally a marginal environment which is characterized by frequent drought stress conditions. It is also marginal for the formal research and development endeavours of the region. The area is largely a sorghum based farming system and hence sometimes referred to as ‘The World/Country’s Heart of Sorghum Diversity’. There is also cultivation of teff, chick pea and different fruits and vegetables in the site. </p><p>FARMERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATION Needy peasant holdings are the primary targets of the program. Men and women farmers organized in an age balanced scheme are members of the legally registered farmers’ association called ‘Harbu area farmers’ conservator and seed producer cooperatives’. Members are gathered from the surrounding kebeles are currently about 230 in number. </p><p>CROPS AND VARIETIES  Sorghum is entry point for the project.  Teff, chick pea, (wheat, grass pea and fenugreek as new introductions), and vegetables are the alternatives both for crop and livelihood diversification.</p><p>SEED PRODUCTION AND MARKETING Desirable varieties out of the huge variability are selected in a participatory variety selection scheme, and interested farmers are producing the desired variety on-farm. In this program, site, the major target is supporting the ever worsening seed security situation of the community rather than marketing of the surplus. </p><p>OPPORTUNITY TO EVOLVE TO LOCAL SEED BUSINESS  Availability of well organized and independent farmers’ association;  Availability of Community seed bank serving as germplasm, seed and grain store; and equally important it functions as center for community empowerment;</p><p>2  Experience of participatory variety selection and farmer-based seed production; and  There are diverse and potential crops and varieties for researching and marketing.</p><p>3</p>