National Wheat Policy (NWP).

This National Wheat Policy is a nationwide sub-sectoral document aiming at (i) planning long-term comprehensive development of the wheat sector; and (ii) provide strategic guidance to designing and implementing program interventions. The main goal will be achieved through a number of specific objectives, namely (i) strengthen the country’s wheat research system by enhancing capacity in undertaking location-specific varietal development and release through utilization of modern tools and techniques of plant breeding including molecular breeding, biotechnology, establishment of a national gene bank; (ii) develop facilities in order to promote both public and private sector extension services to ensure speedy adoption of newly released varieties and other associated technologies; (iii) develop institutional capacities to maximize research and extension outputs for the benefit of farmers and wheat producers; (iv) ensure availability of required inputs in time, mainly supply of quality seeds to the door step of producers in uninterrupted ways; (v) assist smallholder wheat producers participate in both domestic and international markets; (vi) develop strategic grain reserve (SGR) in order to boost wheat production, meet emergency need during periods of food crisis period, and to keep local market prices stabilized; and (vii) promote value chain approach to increase income and generate more employment predominantly in the rural sector.