Technology Multiplication and Seed Research Directorate (TMSRD) is a crucial part of SWEARI focused on multiplying Early Generation Technologies (EGT) like seeds and livestock, and conducting research to boost agricultural production in the region. High-yielding varieties can greatly enhance crop output, so increasing smallholder farmers’ access to quality EGT is essential for improving food security.

To promote agricultural changes, EGT must be accessible to farmers sustainably. Institute has worked to adapt and share various agricultural technologies, leading to increased production levels. However, Ethiopia’s agricultural productivity still remains low compared to its potential. Continuous improvement in human resources and facilities is planned to enhance EGT multiplication and seed research efforts, helping to meet GTP objectives and uplift farmers’ lives.

Activities

Major activities  

Multiplication of early generation improved technologies and carries out research on seed and seed related activities. 

 Specific activities 

• Multiplication of improved crop varieties (Cereals, pulses, oil and fiber crops, horticultural crops, Stimulant crops, Essential oils, medicinal and bio- energy crops).
• Multiplication of improved livestock breeds (improved poultry breeds, dairy breeds, fishery breeds and forage crop varieties)
• Multiplication of improved natural resource research outputs (bio-fertilizers)
• Prototype multiplication of locally developed farm implements
• Human power and capacity building
• Seed research and quality control 

Future directions  

In the past, despite the availability of technologies, their impact on the livelihood of the poor farmers/pastoralists in the country was quite low. One of the most important gaps frequently mentioned is that lack of adequate amount of EGS in required quantity and quality. As a result, a substantial number of farming community didn’t get seeds of improved varieties. Besides, the research system as a whole was considered to be less responsive to the existing sense of urgency due to the long time span normally required for technology generation and multiplication. Addressing these gaps is critical in realizing the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) of doubling agricultural production and productivity. Therefore, TMSRD has revised its multiplication and seed research approach and re-defined its goals. Therefore, technology multiplication and seed research in the future need to be implemented to fill the gap in availability and access to reasonable quantity of early generation seeds and questionable quality seed in produced seeds. In order to increase the productivity of crops, the research centers should have to be mechanized and capacitated in terms of human power and facilities. Moreover, the seed technology and quality research future directions are identified as follows. The issues are categorized in relation to seed production and seed developmental physiology, seed economics, seed processing, knowledge and information, seed storage, seed invigoration, genetic quality of seed, strengthening seed system and capacity building. 

The major research areas to be tackled in the near future are:

• Though we are talking about enhanced food productivity, the issue of enhancing the seed yield is an issue to be tackled. 
• The vigor and viability of the seeds in relation to seed development and maturation is of prime importance. 
• Precision seed technology and innovative techniques, technologies and packaging to enhance shelf life of seed needs to be studied. 
• The effect of climate change on seed production needs to be taken up. 
•  The off-season areas for seed production, mulching technology, mechanism of seed production to cut the cost of seed production needs special emphasis. 
• Strengthening of quality seed Lab needs to be established to address all issues on seed quality. 
• Steps to improve the quality of farmer’s saved seeds with QDS need to be addressed urgently. 
• Preparation of seed production and variety maintenance guidelines/ manual for different crops, laboratory manuals and protocols, seed inspection procedures/manuals for quality control
•  Strengthening community seed system needs special emphasis
• The issue of public-private partnership (PPP) needs to be on the common platform with joint working groups involving various stake holders. 
•  The re-validation of new Ethiopian minimum seed and field standards should be worked at the earliest to have our own seed certification standards. 
• The work on seed physiology, seed priming and second generation seed treatment technologies relevant to the seed industry needs to be worked out.