For the past 19 years, Wirtu Kechema Seed Multiplication Cooperative in Ethiopia has been involved in the seed multiplication business. As a result, this cooperative has developed seed multiplication techniques and has increased members’ income.
After production, value addition is an important activity to attract more buyers and maintain the quality of the seed. The processing of the seed involves cleaning, grading, treating, packaging, and storing operations. Processing is a value-adding activity that improves the physical purity and health of seed stock by removing various contaminants like undersized and shriveled grains, inert matter, and seeds of other crops.
Spotting opportunities
Board members together with the team of Agriterra cooperative advisors claim to have identified an opportunity to enhance sustainable service provision for members and generate additional income for the cooperative. This involves activating a seed-cleaning machine that has remained idle since the cooperative’s establishment due to the lack of three-phase electricity.
Immediately after the validation of the cooperative assessment of Wirtu Kechema, a contract was signed for the development of an action plan in the framework of the Agriterra Acting Now project. The activation of the seed-cleaning machine was one of the planned actions for 2023.
Agriterra searched for qualified organizations offering machine maintenance and they contacted the Dodola branch of the Ethiopian electric utility service to arrange for three-phase power. Agriterra’s support was both technical and financial.
The seed cleaning machine was serviced and activated after having been non-functional for eight years. From now on, it will be providing seed cleaning services that aim to increase the income of the cooperative. In the meantime, the cooperative has started to package the improved seed varieties themselves and distribute their varieties to the nearby farmers.
Agriterra’s support of Wirtu Kechema seed multiplication cooperative has had the following results:
- The realization of members’ investment ambition by allocating budget and increased trust between board members and members of the cooperative after the seed cleaning machine activation.
- Creation of job opportunities.
- Membership commitment to supply their production to the Wirtu Kechema PC increased.
- New members joining the cooperative.
For more information:
Agriterra
[email protected]
www.agriterra.org