Stakeholders consulted on proposed regulatory service fees

The Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA) has taken a significant step towards enhancing its services, to this end the authority revised its regulatory service fees. The authority has revised its regulatory service fees, a move that is expected to have a positive impact on the quality and effectivence of agricultural regulatory services in the country. To ensure transparency and inclusivity, the EAA organized a validation workshop to discuss the proposed regulatory service fees with stakeholders. Before proposing the revision of the service fees, the authority conducted an assessment and consulted with key players in the industry. The assessment aimed to take into account the current market rate, as the existing service fees were set thirty years ago.

During the opening speech, Ato Wondale Habtamu, the EAA Deputy DG, highlighted that the current service fees are significantly lower than the market price. He emphasized that for the authority to offer effective and satisfactory services to its customers, it needs to capacitate itself. This can be achieved by collecting fair income for the services provided. Mr. Wondale added that with the revised fees the authority will work hard to provide- more streamlined and efficient service to its customers and other stakeholders in the sector.

The study team presented their findings regarding the proposed new rates for the services provided by the EAA. As per proclamation number 509/2014, the authority is authorized to collect income for the services it renders. In order to revise the service fees, the team looked into experiences from other countries. The team’s efforts were aimed at ensuring that the new rates are fair, reasonable, and in line with industry standards.

The team explained that the proposed service fees were done with careful consideration of various factors. The team took into account transportation costs, laboratory test and input costs, office supplies and printing costs, as well as supervision costs. These factors were thoroughly analyzed to ensure that the fees are reasonable and fair for both the authority and its customers. The team also evaluated other relevant expenses to ensure that the fees are reflective of the actual costs incurred in providing the service.

For instance, for variety registration (NPT/DUS test at six locations), the cost elements include land rent, farm input, labor cost, daily subsistence allowance for EAA staffs traveling for supervision, fuel, and other costs. Summing up all these costs, the team has proposed 266,000 ETB for variety registration. However, participants argued that some of the proposed costs are not clear, and need specific descriptions. In all in all participants acknowledged that the current service fees are very low and most of the proposed service fees seem fair.

It is commendable that the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority is taking proactive measures to enhance its services. The revision of service fees is a crucial step towards achieving this goal. It will not only enable the authority to improve its capacity but also ensure that local and international seed companies, agro-input importers, public seed enterprises, and other industry players receive value for their money.

The revision of service fees is a step in the right direction towards enhancing the quality of services provided by the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority. It is anticipated that this will lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery of the authority, ultimately benefiting the agricultural sector and the country as a whole.

ENSP supported the initiative anticipating that this will lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery, ultimately benefiting the agricultural sector and the country as a whole.

The workshop was conducted on July 31, 2023 at Bishouftu. It was attended by various stakeholders including seed and agr-input importers and distributors, public seed enterprises, Ethiopia Seed Association, Agriculture Transformation Institute (ATI), Ministry of Finance, EAA, ENSP, and other industry players. The participants engaged in fruitful discussions and expressed their opinions on the proposed service fee revisions. The study team and EAA officials took note of all the feedback and assured the stakeholders that their concerns would be considered in the final decision-making process.