A new web-based platform makes seed procurement easier and more efficient throughout the country.

If tree planters want to buy seeds in Ethiopia, they need to be physically present at the place where the seeds are sold to find out if the seeds are available. In some cases, after going all the way to the seed supplier, the seeds may not be available. Such unnecessary waste of time and energy can now be avoided thanks to the recent launch of the website of the National Tree Seed Network. The website provides information on which seeds can be bought where, not only for seed buyers but also for others who are interested in knowing more about tree seeds in Ethiopia. A workshop launching the website of the Network was held on 4 October 2021, in Bishoftu town.

Deputy Commissioner Kebede Yimam of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission noted that, ‘The networking website for tree-seed actors in the country is important in making the seed sector effective and modern.’

The information technology director of the Commission, Fasika Bekele, presented the Network’s website, which was jointly created and built by the Commission and the Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute with funding from the Provision of Adequate Tree Seed Portfolio in Ethiopia (PATSPO) project, led by World Agroforestry (ICRAF) with funding from the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia.

Explaining the purpose and function of the website, Bekele said the web-based system was launched to facilitate tree-seed supply and use. All necessary data are stored, manipulated and shared via the system. The data on the website can easily be accessed and the system generates various types of reports.

According to Bekele, the system provides information about seed suppliers and consumers, as well as about available tree seeds and their suitable planting zones and the quality of seeds from laboratory tests. Seed suppliers and seed centres can register the name of the tree species and the amount of the seeds they have in stock. Consumers can see the registered seeds and submit the species’ name and order the amount of seed they want. The Commission, as regulatory body, can generate reports and upload data and documents.

According to Bekele, the web-based platform is very useful because it can be accessed from anywhere using the internet; it is user friendly; calculates the amount of sold and available seeds and generates reports monthly and annually. The system brings together the different actors in the seed sector, shortens the seed-consumption chain and enhances data management.

‘Training will be given to the users and administrators of the web-based system,’ Bekele said.

The participants of the workshop appreciated the system and commented that they would help improve it further.

During the workshop, Yigardu Mulatu, head of the EFFRI’s Forest Seed Coordination Unit, told participants that a web-based tree-seed source registry is also being developed. The seed-source registration is being jointly carried out by regional tree seed centres, EEFRI and the PATSPO project. The website would inform users about registered seed sources of various tree species and from where customers can buy the seed.

Representatives of regional tree-seed centres in Amhara, Oromia and South regional states presented to the participants, acknowledging the collaboration with, and the support received from, PATSPO. PATSPO established seed-breeding orchards in the three regions and in Tigray, including providing the furniture, tools and equipment for the centres and training their staff.