By Mekdelawit Deribe and Sukru Esin
July 2020
In the last 30 years, a quiet but far-reaching revolution in our diets has occurred. Globally, we eat more vegetables and fruit. Consumption has increased globally, although not uniformly and sufficiently. This is a positive trend as the WHO attributes 3-5 million deaths a year to diseases related to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. The observed trend, apart from the considerable effect on health and nutrition, has also created a high-value sector in the hands of small producers, especially near main urban markets.
Increased demand for vegetables and fruits has resulted in an increase in demand for seedlings. Soil conditions are not always optimal for seed sowing, and hence, seed loss is a common problem. In addition, due to heavy rains, insects, and cold weather, not all seeds can germinate equally. This is a challenge for homogeneous plant growth. The use of seedlings can alleviate all these issues and also create market opportunities for smallholder seedling farmers.
Starting seeds indoors gives crops more time to mature within the growing season. This is critical, especially in cooler climates or when working with slow-growing plants. Using seedlings results in the best results in places where temperature fluctuates quickly. With seedling production, farmers will also use fewer seeds. A farmer can grow more than one crop in a year with seedlings. Seedlings can also protect seeds from damage by rain, insects, and cold weather and ensure homogenous growth, contributing to increased yield.
Both farmers buying and selling seedlings benefit from the use of seedlings. It’s not always possible for the farmers to have space for seedling growth. Especially, farmers who have large-scale lands and intensive cultivation do not have enough space to grow seedlings. Therefore, buying seedlings is a good alternative for them, opening a market for smallholder farmers who can cultivate and sell their seedlings. Seedling farmer can also increase their profit by using recycled seed.
There is a great opportunity for the seedling market, especially in peri-urban areas near main urban marketplaces. However, there are also risks involved. Harvesting of seeds needs to start earlier than seed sowing. This requires knowledge of area-specific planting calendars for different crops. Growing seedlings also takes time. For at least 4 weeks, farmers have to take care of the infant plants. This period can be up to 8 weeks. In addition, the seedling market is not yet established in many developing regions. However, low-cost, small-scale seedling schemes such as low and high tunnel greenhouses and production units can create jobs, increase yields, and enhance the economic benefits of farmers all around.
