A major barrier to scaling Push–Pull Technology (PPT) in Ethiopia is the limited availability of affordable, high-quality desmodium and brachiaria seed. Reliance on imported seed significantly increases costs, limiting farmers’ access and slowing adoption. While PPT has proven effective in reducing pest pressure, suppressing striga, improving soil health, and providing high-quality livestock feed, uptake remains constrained by weak local seed supply systems and limited awareness of its broader benefits.
This project addresses these challenges by establishing sustainable local seed systems, strengthening partnerships with seed producers, and building farmers’ capacities through training, demonstration sites, and extension support. It also introduces a renewed communication strategy that reframes PPT around tangible farmer benefits, including increased fodder production, reduced crop losses, and income opportunities from forage seed production.