Pre-extension Demonstration of Improved onion under furrow irrigation in Melokoza and Basketo special Districts of Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite high potentials, the production and productivity of horticultural crops including onion in Ethiopia in general and Southern region in particular is very low. Irrigation water scarcity is one of the major problems in arid and semi-arid areas of Ethiopia. To address this issue, the Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center conducted trial of different water saving technologies for irrigated onion (red bombe) at the station level and obtained promising results. However, the comparative yield advantage and farmers’ preference were not evaluated and introduced under farmers’ conditions. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate improved onion under furrow irrigation technology at Melo-Koza and Basketo special district of Southern Ethiopia from Dec.2022 to Feb, 2022. The districts were selected based on the technological gap in irrigated onion production. It was conducted at 3 Kebeles and 13 farmers’ field. Farmers were selected based on their onion growing experience, willingness and irrigated land availability. Training was provided for 112 farmers and stakeholders. The space between fields and furrow were 1m and it was planted in 10 x 20 m with 40 cm b/n rows and 10 cm b/n plant with NPS: 200 kg ha-1 and UREA: 100 kg ha-1. All recommended farming practices were applied to all fields and were properly managed. Data were collected through measurements and interviews. Yield and farmer’s preference data’s were analyzed using mean, percentage, and the feedback data’s were analyzed qualitatively. Mean yield performance obtained from onion under alternative and conventional furrow irrigation was 19.6tonha-1 and 19.03 tonha-1 respectively which is 0.57tonha-1 bulb yield increase in alternative furrow irrigation. Ease of applicability, save irrigation water and yield of onion are common selection criteria’s. In both locations, alternative furrow irrigation performed better in yield and saves irrigation water in areas where there is water scarcity and laborer expensiveness. In water scarce area alternative furrow irrigation were recommended to save water, time and labour without significant yield reduction because irrigate only half number of furrows within a plot .Therefore, alternative furrow irrigation  method is recommended with continuous training and extension services should be given by the respective stakeholders such as agricultural offices, universities and concerned non-governmental organizations needed to  improve onion production in the study area/scheme with recommended full packages in the future.