Scaling Agroecological Practices for Sustainable Wheat Production in Ethiopia
By combining farmer training, seed co-financing, and partnerships across government and business, the Private Sector Incentives and Investments project is helping Ethiopian wheat producers adopt agroecological practices that restore soil health and support more resilient livelihoods.
Wheat producers in Ethiopia’s Doyogena district face mounting pressure from soil degradation, expensive fertilizers, and limited access to quality seeds. Continuous wheat cultivation within cluster farming systems has made it difficult to introduce crop rotations, while weak market connections leave smallholders with few incentives to change established practices.
To address these barriers, the Private Sector Incentives and Investments (PSii) project, under the Agroecology-TRANSITIONS program, brought together producers, extension services, research institutions, and private businesses. Through jointly designed packages of agroecological practices, the project sought to connect sustainable production with the institutional support and market opportunities needed for wider adoption.
Scaling agroecology required addressing practical constraints alongside farmers’ concerns. Producers accustomed to growing wheat year after year were initially reluctant to introduce legumes. Compost application also proved difficult on cluster plots located far from households, where transportation costs and uncertainty over shared labor and materials limited its feasibility.
The project used multi-stakeholder platforms to build trust and coordinate action among producer organizations, district agricultural offices, seed suppliers, and processors. Demonstration fields helped farmers assess complementary practices, including faba bean–wheat rotations, site-specific fertilizer application, soil conservation, and integrated home gardens. This approach allowed participants to identify options suited to their farming conditions.
Since June 2023, PSii has organized five training and awareness sessions, using capacity development as a platform for partnership building. Activities reached 585 producers and local officials through training and field demonstrations. Nutrition sessions in October 2024 connected legume production with household diets, covering post-harvest management, balanced meals, and the nutritional benefits of legumes.
Further advocacy events in April and May 2025 brought together 40 producers from the Adoye and Selam clusters and 14 experts. Discussions explored how legumes could support soil health, conserve water, and diversify income. To address seed costs, a 50:50 co-financing arrangement between the project and producers supported the distribution of 1,500 kilograms of haricot bean seed to 20 producers across 15 hectares. Vetch seed was also provided for 10 hectares.
Alongside these activities, the project mapped private sector actors and supported connections between producers, processors, and buyers. Engagement with research institutes sought to improve access to certified faba bean seed, while district officials helped build local support for the approach.
Early results point to growing acceptance of diversified production and stronger institutional ownership. Participating producers reported improved soil quality and more stable yields, although these observations do not yet establish quantified impacts. Demonstrations also showed how several crops could be cultivated on a single plot.
“From this single plot of land, I can raise three different types of crops and utilize them, and my neighbors can benefit from this valuable practice as well,” said Degefe Dalelo, a producer from Doyogena district.
Agricultural officials from neighboring districts have expressed interest in replicating the approach, while seed suppliers, millers, and fertilizer providers have begun exploring related business opportunities. These developments offer a foundation for wider adoption, with continued progress depending on reliable seed access, viable market incentives, and sustained coordination. The experience highlights how locally adapted practices, shared investment, and practical learning can help create the conditions for agroecological transitions.
Read the full Enabling Environment Success Story here.
Compiled by the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) program, the “Enabling Environment Success and Failure Stories” is a collection of accounts that chronicles both the successful and unsuccessful efforts in creating a supportive environment for scaling agrifood system innovations. Through compelling narratives that highlight specific challenges, key players, and outcomes, this series is designed to demonstrate how CGIAR actively influences and strengthens these environments to achieve a wider, more impactful reach.