Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 1
Program for Emergency Seed Support (PESS) 
Federal Award Number - 720FDA20GR00095
Performance Baseline Data Report
September 29, 2020 
1. Prevailing Conditions
The project areas are currently classified as Crisis (IPC Phase 3) but with indications that from 
October 2020 to January 2021, the food security situation will improve and the area will be 
classified as stressed (IPC Phase 2)1
. The project area is persistently food insecure due to factors 
such as environmental degradation, soil fertility problems and other socio-economic factors. The 
COVID-19 positive cases continue to increase, and this poses a serious challenge for the 
communities to attain food security. According to FEWSNET August 2020 report, the travel 
restrictions due to COVID-19 and declining economic activities have lowered migratory and local 
labor activities which consequently has decreased the cash income of poor households (HHs).2
Moreover, the movement of cross border agricultural laborers, who generally move to eastern 
Sudan, have been limited due to border closures. The same report forecasts that the border closures 
will continue from October to November 2020.3 This will result in a significant decline in income 
for poor HHs that rely on labor migration for their livelihoods. In-country restrictions have also 
disrupted domestic labor migration. All of these limitations have caused serious impact on the food 
security of the poor HHs. As of September 20, a total of 4,696 COVID-19 tests were conducted in 
all woredas of the zone. 161 people tested positive for the virus and, of that, 140 people have since 
recovered. The pandemic has limited the mobility of local people for labor selling and commodity 
trading. In addition to this, it has restricted social interactions among community members.
2. Methods and Data Sources
A mixture of methods (both quantitative and qualitative) were employed to collect adequate, 
quality data. 
HH Survey: A HH survey was conducted in the eight targeted woredas. From the total of 28,743 
direct beneficiary HHs, 400 randomly selected HHs (323 male headed and 77 female headed HHs) 
were interviewed using Open Data Kit tools. Fifty beneficiaries from each woreda were 
interviewed. The enumerators for this survey included university graduates, government and 
project staff who currently reside in the operational areas of the project. To triangulate and enrich 
the findings of the HH survey, a Participatory Learning and Action approach was undertaken to 
collect qualitative information through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informants 
interviews (KIIs).
Focus Group Discussion: One male and one female FGD were undertaken in each of the eight 
woredas through selecting one representative kebele from each. Semi-structured discussion 
checklists were used. Each focus group consisted of six to eight participants. While conducting the 
FGDs the facilitators used the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) including facemasks 
and hand sanitizer. The facilitators and the discussants also remained physically distanced from 
one another to safeguard each other during the discussion. A total of 16 FGDs (2 in each woreda) 
were conducted in eight purposely selected kebeles and a total of 121 discussants (60 men and 61 
1 Ethiopia Food Security Outlook August 2020 to January 2021, FEWS NET August 2020
2
Ibid.
3
Ibid.
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 2
women) participated from eight woredas. The FGDs with knowledgeable people were conducted 
with respective woreda and randomly selected kebele food security task force members. In total 
35 (24 male and 11 female) people participated in the discussions. 
Key Informants Interviews: One on one key informant interviews were also carried out with 
respective woredas crop production experts. The total number of key informants interviewed was 
seven (all men).
Secondary Document Review: Relevant food security and agricultural production government 
documents, such as food security assessment reports of the 2019/20 Meher production seasons and 
crop production periodic progress reports, were reviewed from each woreda and zone.
3. Location and Timing
Both the HH survey and the qualitative assessments were conducted in all eight targeted PESS 
woredas in Waghimira Zone, Amhara Region. The woredas include Sekota Zuriya, Tsagbiji, 
Gazgibila, Abergele, Ziquala, Sehala, Sekota Zuria, and Dahana. The HH survey and the 
qualitative assessments were conducted from September 2-8, 2020. Orientation on the 
questionnaires and survey tools was given to survey coordinators and supervisors by phone. The 
survey coordinators in turn cascaded the training and the orientations to the respective supervisors 
and enumerators. Throughout the survey period the FH Addis survey team remotely provided the 
necessary technical backstopping and supervision. 
4. Limitations
Some of the operational kebeles were not accessible due to the high rainfall and associated heavy 
floods that destroyed the dirt roads and bridges that connect kebeles and even some woredas (for 
instance, the bridge that connects Sahila woreda with Ziquala woreda was broken during this 
period). On top of this, some of the kebeles of Abergelle woreda, which could normally be reached 
through the Tigray Region, were not accessible during the survey period due to travel restrictions 
by the Tigray Regional government amid the prevailing controversial election.
The other limitation was the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions on the movement of people, 
including FH staff, from place to place. FHE’s Senior Leadership Team banned the movements of 
FHE Addis staff because of COVID-19 positive cases in Addis. The spread of the pandemic in the 
operational zone has also restricted gatherings of large numbers of community members.
Due to these constraints, the survey covered 23 accessible kebeles out of the 83 kebeles targeted 
by seeds in the eight target woredas.
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 3
5. Findings
Agriculture and Food Security 
Indicator Baseline Source of 
Information
Target
Sub-sector: Seed System Security 
Ind 1 Number of months 
of HH food self￾sufficiency as a 
result of seed system 
security 
programming
5 HH survey 7
Ind 2 Number of people 
directly benefiting 
from seed 
systems/agricultural 
input activities 
(measured in terms 
of sex and age)
0 Project records 
(Master Beneficiary 
List)
Male: 74,211 and 
Female: 69,858
Ind 3 Percentage of HHs 
with access to 
sufficient seed to 
plant
0% HH survey 100%
Ind 4 Increased 
production of major 
agricultural crops 
from seeds 
distributed to target
HHs by 37% from 
the baseline as a 
result of the project
150,440 QT
Post-harvest 
assessment result of 
Wag Himera Zone 
for 2019 cropping 
season
206,108.82 QT
6. Analysis 
6.1 Changes to Target
Based on the baseline data gathered for PESS, FH is proposing changes to three of its four 
indicators. For the first indicator “Number of months of HH food self-sufficiency as a result of 
seed system security programming,” FH is proposing to change the number of months from twelve 
to seven. FH anticipates that PESS will increase production of major agricultural crops from seeds 
distributed to targeted HHs by 37%. This will increase the baseline from 15,044MT to 
20,610.882MT. Thus, the 37% production increase will increase the number of months with food 
self-sufficiency from five to seven, not twelve. For the second indicator “Number of people 
directly benefiting from seed systems/agricultural input activities,” FH is changing the cumulative 
target from 71,926 to 74,211 for males and from 73,087 to 69,858 for females. This adjustment in 
numbers is based off of the Master Beneficiary List and aligns the target with project 
implementation. Finally, for Indicator 3 “Percentage of HHs with access to sufficient seed to 
plant,” FH is proposing to change the number from 50% to 100%. PESS initially planned to cover 
0.5 ha of individual HH’s arable land with adequate, quality seed. Though the average land holding 
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 4
size for farmers is 0.75 ha, consensus was achieved with the local government to grant seed for 
the 0.5 ha of land. This is considered adequate in the emergency context thus increasing the target 
to 100%.
6.2 General Profile
Total Number of HHs and Kebeles Covered by the Baseline HH Survey
As clearly depicted in the below graph, a total of 400 randomly selected HH heads, 50 from each 
woreda, were interviewed in this survey.
Sex of Respondents by Woreda
As shown in the graph below, among the 400 randomly selected HHs, 81% of the respondents 
were male and 19% of them were female HH heads. The largest proportion (34%) of female 
respondents were interviewed in Dehana, whereas, the smallest proportion of female respondents 
(6%) were interviewed in Gaz Gibla woreda.
Age of Respondents by Woreda
The age of respondents ranged 
from 20 (Gaz Gibla) to 84 (Sekota
town). The average age of 
respondents was 43.
Most Vulnerable Respondent HHs in the Target Woredas
As is clearly shown in Table 1 below, 54% of the respondents constitute the most vulnerable 
community members, namely female headed HHs (19%), people with disabilities (10%), elderly 
people (22%), and critically ill community members (9%). 
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 5
Table 1. Total number of respondents who are most vulnerable by woreda
S/N
Name of 
Woredas
People with 
disabilities
Female 
Headed HH Elderly
Critically 
ill Others
Total # of 
most 
vulnerable 
respondents
Remark
# % # % # % # % # % # %
1 Abergelle 2 8% 12 50% 10 42% 0 0% 0 0% 24 46%
1 person with 
double 
vulnerabilities
2 Dehana 7 18% 17 45% 17 45% 9 24% 1 3% 38 76%
13 persons 
with multiple 
vulnerabilities
3 Gaz Gibla 5 22% 3 13% 7 30% 7 30% 5 22% 23 46%
4 persons with 
multiple 
vulnerabilities
4 Sahila 8 21% 14 36% 7 18% 5 13% 14 36% 39 78%
9 persons with 
multiple 
vulnerabilities
5 Sekota 6 25% 9 38% 16 67% 7 29% 0 0% 24 48%
14 persons 
with multiple 
vulnerabilities
6
Sekota 
Town 5 19% 4 15% 18 69% 0 0% 0 0% 26 52%
1 person with 
double 
vulnerabilities
7 Tsagbiji 4 17% 13 57% 5 22% 8 35% 0 0% 23 46%
7 persons with 
multiple 
vulnerabilities 
8 Ziquala 2 11% 4 21% 6 32% 0 0% 10 53% 19 38%
3 persons with 
multiple 
vulnerabilities 
All Woredas 
Average 39 10% 76 19% 86 22% 36 9% 30 8% 215 54% 52 (13%)
Note: To avoid double counting 52 cases with multiple vulnerabilities are deducted from the 
above calculation
Average family size of respondents by sex in the survey woredas 
As depicted in Table 2 below, the family size of respondents range from 1 to 11, the average 
being 6. With regard to composition of sex, 50% were male and 50% were female.
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 6
Table 2. Average family size of respondents by sex in survey woredas
S/N Name of Woredas
Family Size
Min Max Average Male Female
1 Abergelle 1 10 6.4 3.2 50.5% 3.2 49.5%
2 Dehana 1 9 4.9 2.1 43.3% 2.8 56.7%
3 Gaz Gibla 1 9 5.3 2.9 54.1% 2.4 45.9%
4 Sahila 2 10 6.1 3.2 53.1% 2.9 46.9%
5 Sekota 2 10 6.3 3.2 50.3% 3.1 49.7%
6 Sekota Town 2 10 6.6 3.3 50.6% 3.2 49.4%
7 Tsagbiji 2 10 6.0 3.0 50.0% 3.0 50.0%
8 Ziquala 2 11 6.1 2.9 47.5% 3.2 52.5%
All Woredas Average 1.6 9.9 6.0 3.0 50.0% 3.0 50.0%
6.3 Major Findings
Amount of Teff seed sown in 2019 cropping seasons in the project areas
The survey result shows that on average, individual farmers have sown 15.1 kg of Teff seed in the 
previous season. This accounts for 51% of their annual Teff seed requirement. 
Table 3. Amount of Teff seed sown in the previous cropping season by Woreda
S/N Name of Woredas
Average amount of Teff 
seed sown last year 
(KG/HH)
Average amount of 
Teff seed requirement 
(KG/HH)
% from 
total 
required
1 Abergelle 22.1 29.9 74%
2 Dehana 12.2 31.9 38%
3 Gaz Gibla 9.6 15.1 64%
4 Sahila 24.0 50.3 48%
5 Sekota 9.9 24.1 41%
6 Sekota Town 14.1 28.4 50%
7 Tsagbiji 10.6 21.8 49%
8 Ziquala 18.3 33.2 55%
All Woredas Average 15.1 29.3 51%
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 7
Amount of Wheat seed sown in the previous cropping seasons in the project areas
The survey result shows that Wheat was not sown by all respondents in Sahila and most of the 
respondents in Abergele. On average individual farmers have sown 56.6 kg of Wheat seed in the 
previous season. This accounts to 60% of their annual Wheat seed requirement. 
Table 4. Amount of Wheat seed sown in the previous cropping season by Woreda
S/N Name of Woredas
Average amount of Wheat
seed sown last year 
(KG/HH)
Average amount of 
Wheat seed 
requirement (KG/HH)
% from 
total 
required
1 Dehana 45.1 86.3 52%
2 Gaz Gibla 46.0 82.9 55%
3 Sekota 76.8 117.2 66%
4 Sekota Town 58.1 88.2 66%
5 Tsagbiji 62.2 109.7 57%
6 Ziquala 51.5 86.5 59%
All Woredas Average 56.6 95.1 60%
Amount of Teff and Wheat seed sown in the previous cropping seasons in the project areas
The survey result shows that on average individual farmers have sown 69.1 kg of Teff and Wheat
seeds in the previous season. This accounts to 57% of their annual Teff and Wheat seed 
requirements. 
Table 5. Amount of Teff and Wheat seed sown in the previous cropping season by Woreda
S/N Name of Woredas
Average amount of Teff
and Wheat seed sown 
last year (KG/HH)
Average amount of Teff
and Wheat seed 
requirement (KG/HH)
% from 
total 
required
1 Dehana 57.3 118.2 49%
2 Gaz Gibla 55.6 98.0 57%
3 Sekota 86.7 141.3 61%
4 Sekota Town 72.2 116.6 62%
5 Tsagbiji 72.8 131.5 55%
6 Ziquala 69.7 119.7 58%
All Woredas Average 69.1 120.9 57%
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 8
Yield of crops produced in 2019 production season in the project areas
The survey result reveals that on average farmers have harvested 2.2 quintals of Teff and 4.9 
quintals of Wheat. The smallest 
amounts of Teff yield were 
obtained in Sekota and Tsagbiji 
woredas that amounts to only 1.2 
and 1.4 qt/HH respectively. On 
the other hand, the largest yield of 
Teff were obtained in Abergele 
and Sahila woredas that amounts 
to 3.2 and 3 qt/HH respectively. It 
is also found that Wheat is not the major crop grown in Abergele and Sahila woredas. Conversely, 
the largest yield of Wheat is produced in Sekota Zuriya and Dehana woredas with 6.7 and 6.2 
qnt/HH respectively.
Months of food and scarcity in the project areas
The survey result reveals that 91% 
of respondents say that they 
experienced seven months of food 
scarcity from March to September. 
26% of respondents in Abergele, 
followed by 18% of respondents in 
Gaz Gibla and Tsagbiji didn’t 
acknowledge the existence of 
months with food scarcity. 
Conversely, all respondents in Ziquala, Sahila and Sekota town indicated that there are months of 
food scarcity.
Number of months of food self-sufficiency in the survey areas
As shown in the graph below the average number of months of food self-sufficiency in the 
survey area is five. It also found that 
respondents in Sahila and Abergelle 
woredas said that there are only 
three months with food self￾sufficiency, whereas, respondents in 
Dehana and Tsagbiji woredas 
indicated that the number of months 
with food self-sufficiency is seven.
Number of respondents who rate months of food self-sufficiency in the survey areas
As shown in the table below the five months from October through February are rated as months 
of food self-sufficiency by most respondents in the survey area. This period is generally 
characterized as the harvest time of the main rainy season. On the other hand, the period between 
March to September is identified by most of respondents in the survey area as the period of food 
scarcity.
Performance Baseline Data Report - Award Number 720FDA20GR00095 9
Table 6. Number of respondents who rate months of food self-sufficiency in the survey areas
S/N
Name of 
Woredas
# of respondents who indicated months of food self sufficiency
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sum
1 Abergelle 0 2 4 6 12 20 33 33 29 7 1 0 147
2 Dehana 43 43 37 26 23 15 10 9 30 36 36 35 343
3 Gaz Gibla 4 4 4 8 11 25 35 39 35 16 5 3 189
4 Sahila 24 12 5 4 1 1 0 1 10 22 27 20 127
5 Sekota 37 36 29 20 13 10 7 3 20 31 33 32 271
6
Sekota 
Town 37 31 25 18 13 11 6 5 17 46 50 49 308
7 Tsagbiji 39 39 39 39 35 26 13 4 5 26 38 39 342
8 Ziquala 27 20 20 18 17 12 6 3 21 27 30 30 231
# of respondents 
who identified 
months of FSS 211 187 163 139 125 120 110 97 167 211 220 208 1958
% of 
respondents who 
identified months 
of FSS 11% 10% 8% 7% 6% 6% 6% 5% 9% 11% 11% 11%
Table 7. Anticipated Yield and Months of FSS in 2020 Cropping Season
S/N Name of Woredas Teff Wheat Teff and Wheat Anticipated months of FSS
1 Abergelle 17061.4 0.0 17061.4 October, November, 
December, January, 
2 Dahna 17 February, March, April ,061.4 23,331.1 40,392.5
3 Gaz Gibla 12,770.3 12,753.7 25.524.0
4 Sahila 22,393.5 0.0 22,393.5
5 Sekota 25,176.3 12,267.6 37,443.9
6 Sekota Town 51,32.2 2,533.0 7,665.2
7 Tsagbich 15,238.4 18,275.4 33,513.8
8 Ziquala 22,114.6 0.0 22,114.6
Total 13,6948.0 69,160.9 20,6108.8