Pre-Extension Demonstration of Improved Durum Wheat Varieties in Growing Areas of Amhara and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia (Published)
In Ethiopia Durum wheat has been traditionally grown on heavy black clay (vertisols) on the residual moisture and recently being grown on light soils under rainfed conditions and it is consumed as leavened bread, common bread, macaroni, spaghetti, biscuits, and pastries. The national average yield is low because of the use of unimproved local cultivars, abiotic and biotic stresses. This research activity was conducted to create demand and awareness on the availability of the newly released varieties and evaluate the performance of the variety under farmers’ condition for further wider scaling up of the technology. The study went further to evaluate the preference of farmers concerning the demonstrated technology. Totally, fifty target farmers were selected for the research from ten kebeles of selected Districts. Training was provided for farmers, development agent and District experts. The newly released durum wheat varieties were planted on plots of 10 meter by 10 meter at Farmers’ Training Center and on 0.125 hectare of land on farmers’ field according to the recommended rate of fertilizer 100 kilo gram per hectare NPS and 150 kilo gram Urea with seed rate of 100 kilo gram per hectare. The results indicated that the highest average yield 3.5 tons per hectare was obtained from Utuba variety at Gelan Arabsa District of Sheger City. Utuba variety was preferred because of its higher yield, big grain seed size, heavy spike, market preference, good tillering capacity and palatable straw for animal feed while Tesfaye variety was preferred first by its disease resistance. Based on the findings, it is recommended that promotion of improved durum wheat varieties can contribute to durum wheat production and productivity improvement.
Keywords: Amhara, Demonstration, Oromia, durum wheat, improved
Double-Crop Technology Demonstration and Promotion in Mieso District, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia (Published)
Double cropping is one of the techniques used in multi-cropping. Multi-cropping refers to the various ways farmers can use a single piece of land in a particular time period, often a growing season. The double crop technology demonstration started in November 2020 and ended in November 2022 and aimed for the promotion and demonstration of suitable input and location-specific technology packages for intensive sorghum-producing areas in Mieso District with the objective of promoting double crop technology through increasing the yields of participant farmers. It was being implemented in three villages, namely Huse, Tekuma, and Hund Misoma, for a period of three cropping seasons. From those villages, 72 farmers were purposefully selected. The demonstration process included focus group discussions, stakeholder planning, the establishment of technology demonstration farms, an establishment advisory service team, capacity enhancement for extension workers and farmers, development promotion materials, monitoring and evaluation, field days, partnership, link aging, and organizing farmers. Melkam improved sorghum variety and N26-improved mung beans were used for the technology demonstration. The productivity of improved mung bean resulted in average yields of 9.5 qt/ha, 9.25 qt/ha, and 1.15 qt/ha in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. Whereas for improved sorghum, average grain yields of 36 qt/ha, 39 qt/ha, and 42 qt/ha were recorded, respectively. There was a significant mean difference in three series production years in terms of mean yield per hectare at the 1% significance level. The technology shows their potential, and smallholder farmers have economically benefited. Finally, the technology advertising approach used has proven to be effective and efficient in marketing double crop technologies for high-yielding sorghum and mung bean cultivation. Double crop technology were more accepted and appreciated by farmers than sol cropping because they produced twice per single season. As a result, farmers in similar conditions should follow the double cropping technology to increase their grain yields as well as their incomes.
Keywords: Demonstration, Descriptive Statistics, double cropping technology
Participatory Demonstration of Mid Land Sorghum Technology through FRG System in Metta District of East Hararghe Zone (Published)
Pre-extension demonstration and evaluation of early maturing sorghum varieties was conducted in 2019-2020 with the objectives of promoting and popularize improved midland sorghum technologies and to create awareness through giving training and enhance stakeholder’s participation. A total of ten (10) trial farmers were selected from two potential sorghum growing kebeles of Metta District. Two FRGs having 30 farmers were established. Two improved sorghum varieties (Dibaba and Adele) and with local check were planted on the plot of 10mx10m per trial farmers. Training on which a total of 67 participants took part were organized at Metta. The midland Sorghum varieties were evaluated based on their early maturity, yield, Disease tolerance, seed color, seed quality, biomass, and stalk length and food test. The ANOVA of yield performance of the improved varieties (Dibaba, Adele and local) showed 37.73, 34.39 and 24.10 qt/ha at Dursitu bilisuma of Metta district respectively. The average yield performance of Dibaba higher than Adele at 5% probability level and at 1% probability level than local check. As a result Dibaba variety preferred well and better to promote it on wider area and number of farmers
Keywords: Adele, Demonstration, Dibaba, Metta, Sorghum
Demonstration of improved potato varieties at Koffele District, West Arsi Zone, Oromiya, Ethiopia (Published)
The study was carried out at Guchi and Hulabera peasant association/Kebele of Kofale District west Arsi Zone, Oromiya Ethiopia. The study was carried with the intension to transfer the potato production technology to increase production. The district is among the potential area for potato production in the west Arsi Zone. From the two kebeles, 14 farmers were selected 7 from each kebele based on their interest to participate in the demonstration activity. Two varieties of potato Belete and Gudanie varieties, those are suitable for high lands of Ethiopia were used in the study with Local variety as reference. All participant farmers were interested and allocated 100m2 for intended experiment. Seed were planted based on its recommended rate and NPS fertilizer was used 195kg/ha. All necessary data qualitative and quantitative were collected starting from the time of planting to harvesting stage. Participatory field visiting was conducted with the participation of farmers, agricultural development agent workers and researchers. Descriptive statistics like mean and tabulation for yield data analysis and also independent t-statistics for yield comparison of the experiment were used. Qualitative data collected during field observation and after yield data collection were analyzed by means of summarization. In addition to the varieties yield for comparison partial budget analysis was used for profitability study. Based on the study result, Belete has more yield advantage than the other. However, in terms of test and market prefer ability Gudanie was preferred. Although Belete has more yield advantage as compared with the other, the yield advantage between Belete and Gudanie was insignificant as compared to the yield difference between Belete and Local. Interms of partial budget analysis, Gudanie was ranked first thus based on the aggregate result Gudanie was recommended for further production and popularization in the study area.
Keywords: Demonstration, district, improved varieties, potato
Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Teff Varieties in Selected Districts of Borana Zone (Published)
The research activity was carried out with the objective of evaluating and identifying adaptable and improved teff varieties and to familiarize farmers and agro-pastoralists with teff production techniques. It was executed at Abaya and Yabello woredas of Borana Zone for two years (2012/13-2014/15). A multidisciplinary team composed of breeder, pathologist, agronomist and agricultural extensionist was closely working both with the farmers and respective woreda agricultural experts and DAs. Regular visits, trainings and field days were conducted to provide for interaction among researchers, extension workers and farmers. The variety selection process was carried out from different dimensions including utilization, marketing and field performance. The major selection criteria of the farmers in the two locations were almost similar except in very few cases where they vary in level of emphasis to a particular criterion. In general, color, panicle length, taste, market demand were identified as important farmer criteria. The other important criteria were related to field performance of the variety that includes: yield and tolerance to disease and insect pest followed by maturity period. Using these criteria the farmers identified varieties that suit their respective location. Accordingly, Abaya farmers showed special interest to Tsedey and Ajord, while Tsedey and Magna were preferred at Yabello. The most interesting part of the finding was that most of the varieties preferred from utilization and marketing angle were also found superior to the local ones in their field performance. Side by side, with the aim of strengthening local availability of seeds of preferred varieties, farmer based seed production was launched and the seed produced was purchased both in cash and in kind by non-participant farmers. Moreover, by way of revolving seed it was attempted to redistribute the seed to other non participant farmers in the area. In so doing both awareness and access to the technology was improved.
Keywords: Ajord, Demonstration, Magna, Participatory Evaluation, Tsedey