Access to improved seeds and its effect on food security of poor farmers

This paper presents a post intervention assessment of improved seed access beneficiaries in southern Ethiopia. The primary objective of the assessment was to investigate whether seed access really counts on food security or not. Through a multistage stratified sampling, 330 households were selected and qualitative and quantitative data were collected. The findings of the study revealed that significant achievements have been observed as a result of seed access ranging from harvesting higher yield, to improving dietary diversity; intake and meal frequency. Importantly, seed access have reduced months of food shortage; implying their food security situation improved. Among 84.7% of the seed beneficiaries who disclosed improvement of their livelihoods, 27.3%, 37.5% and 41.5% of them respectively have purchased heifers, farm implements; and started saving and about 51.2% became debt free. With respect to annual income, seed beneficiaries earned 41.8 % higher income than non-beneficiaries. Therefore, sustainable access to improved seeds by chronically food insecure people should be ensured in the long run in order to improve food security.