Cluster Based Large Scale Demonstration of Improved Maize Technologies at Gurage Zone and Yem-Special District, Southern Ethiopia
Keywords:
Chaha, Cluster, Demonstration, grain yield, Gurage, technologies, maize, YemAbstract
MaizeisastaplefoodforfarmersintheGurageZoneandYemSpecialDistrict.Acluster-basedlarge-scaledemonstrationofimprovedmaize(BH661)wasconductedduringthe2021main cropping season intheChahaandYemDistrictsoftheGuragezoneinsouthernEthiopiatofurtherdemonstratetheimprovedmaizetechnology.Themainpurposewastodemonstrateona wider scale.PotentialkebeleswereselectedfromeachDistrictbasedoncroptechnologygaps.Therefore,85farmerswereselectedfromtwodistrictscoveringanareaof21hectares.Beforeconductingthedemonstration,thefarmerwasorganizedintoaFarmerResearchGroupand119participants(85farmersand34otherstakeholders)weretrained. ImprovedseedswereprovidedbytheWorabeAgriculturalResearchCenter,and fertilizers andpesticideswereprovidedbyfarmers.Theseedingratewassetat25kgha-1,therowspacingat80cm,theplantingintervalat40cm,andthefertilizerapplicationrateatNPSat100kgha-1andUREAat100kgha-1.Manualweedingandothermanagement practicesweredoneasneeded. Awareness creation, grain yields, and farmers'perceptionswereanalyzedusingmean,percentages, and standard deviations.Asaresult,themean grainyieldinChahaandYem-Special Districts was 6,400kgha1and6,034kgha1respectively.Todemonstratetheperformanceofthemaizedemonstrated,fielddayswereheldineachdistrictwiththeparticipationofvariousinterestgroupstoexchangeexperiences.Basedonthefeedback,demandforthistechnologywascreatedbyparticipatingfarmersandstakeholders.Therefore, the study areas’ advisorysystemsareencouragedtomakeanimprovedmaizevariety(BH661),alongwithrecommendedtechniquesandpractices,availabletothewidercommunity.References
Rashid S, Getnet K, Lemma S. Maize value chain potential in Ethiopia. IFPRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2010 Jul.
Etwire PM, Abdoulaye T, Obeng-Antwi K, Samuel S, Buah J, Kanton RA, Asumadu H, Abdulai MS, Haruna A, Etwire JC. On-farm evaluation of maize varieties in the transitional and savannah zones of Ghana: Determinants of farmer preferences.
FAOSTAT. (2023). Fao.org. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home
CSA. (2018). CSA (Central Statistical Agency). 2018. Agricultural Sample Survey. Area, Production and Farm Management Practice of temporary crops, and private holdings for the 2015/16 Belg season. Volume V. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abate T, Shiferaw B, Menkir A, Wegary D, Kebede Y, Tesfaye K, Kassie M, Bogale G, Tadesse B, Keno T. Factors that transformed maize productivity in Ethiopia. Food security. 2015 Oct;
(5): 965–81.
CSA. (2017). Agricultural sample survey, 2016–2017 Report on Area and Production of Crops (Private Peasant Holdings, Main Season) (Central Statistical Agency, No. 584.1) Ethiopia: Addis Ababa. o. 584.1) Ethiopia: Addis Ababa
Pocketbook FS. World food and agriculture. FAO Rome Italy. 2015.
Alemu D, Mwangi WM, Nigussie M, Spielman DJ. The maize seed system in Ethiopia: challenges and opportunities in drought prone areas.
Kiflu, A. (2015). Characterization of Agricultural Soils in Cascape Intervention Districts in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People in Regional States (April).
Beshir B, Shifa K, Ayalew G. Bibliography of Scientific Documents 1969–2019.
