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 ooperation between ICARDA's Seed Unit and ESE is not confined to research. Ethiopia is also a partner in an extensive training program which ICARDA coordinates. Since 1990, a "train-the-trainers" approach has been built in to the program. Like many of the Seed Unit's activities, it receives strong support from the German development organization, GTZ, and DGIS of The Netherlands. An excellent example of just how the successful "train-the- trainers" model should work was a follow-up course in economics of seed production, held recently in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
A record number of 32 senior officers from across the country (selected from diverse backgrounds of agricultural economics, agronomy, finance and marketing) participated in this course, which was held jointly with the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE), ICARDA's main collaborator in seeds in Ethiopia.
Besides formal presentations, the participants and resource persons were given specific tasks by the General Manager of ESE, Dr Ato Aberu Dagnew. In his keynote speech, Dr Ato Aberu told the course participants to examine critically operations of ESE with a view to making practical recommendations on two areas which he considered as priority for the enterprise: developing a market-oriented strategy that is based on real demand for seed; and ensuring the participation of smallholders in the production and marketing of seed.
A two-day workshop session was included in the course to deliberate these issues in working groups. There was also a field visit to the Gonde-Iteya Basic Seed Farm some way from Addis Abeba. The General Manager
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expressed his full satisfaction with the outcome of the course and commended everyone for their efforts and dedication; this was reflected in the high quality of recommendations made. The participants, too, evaluated the course as very useful.
As an expression of this satisfaction, ESE hosted a closing dinner for all, to which some members of the board of management of the enterprise were invited.
At this occasion, ICARDA's cooperation and contribution towards strengthening the seed sector in Ethiopia were highly commended in the speeches made.
ICARDA Seed Economist Dr Sam Kugbei acted as the facilitator, assisted by two key local staff, Ato Ketsela Shewarega and Mrs Abeba Fikru, who attended the course held last year at the Center's Aleppo headquarters.
ICARDA provided training materials and contributed towards the cost of participation. Domestic costs, including transport and other course expenses were borne by ESE, as part of a close collaboration between the two organizations.
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