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Review on Roles and Challenges of Agricultural Extension System on Growth of Agricultural Production in Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, December 2020
Pages:
189-200
Received:
29 October 2019
Accepted:
11 December 2019
Published:
16 November 2020
Abstract: Agricultural extension work in Ethiopia began in 1931 with the establishment of the Ambo Agricultural School which is one of the oldest institutions and the first agricultural high school offering general education with major emphasis on agriculture. In the recent development of the Ethiopian Agricultural Extension System, the participatory approach is complemented by a scaling“-up” of technologies or the establishing of best practice for technology transfer at larger scales. Agricultural extension staffs are involved in multiple activities of agriculture and rural development. In Ethiopia, for example, the goal of extension goes beyond implementing the national agricultural development goals of achieving food security, improving rural livelihoods, and Natural Resource Management (NRM). In many countries of the world, agricultural extension services had been transformed from training and dissemination of specific innovations to farmers’ group formation and partnership-building with various service providers such as credit institutions. In Ethiopia, despite the massive amount of resources being put into the system by the state, the agricultural extension system faces a number of serious challenges. Improving access to agricultural inputs and technologies that assist farmers in boosting production are among opportunities of Ethiopian agricultural extension system. Agricultural extension service could be the government agency or ministry responsible for promoting the adoption and utilization of new scientific farming practices through educational procedures.
Abstract: Agricultural extension work in Ethiopia began in 1931 with the establishment of the Ambo Agricultural School which is one of the oldest institutions and the first agricultural high school offering general education with major emphasis on agriculture. In the recent development of the Ethiopian Agricultural Extension System, the participatory approac...
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Ecological and Socio Economic Potential of Agroforestry: A Demonstration of Multi-story Agroforestry Practice in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region
Mesafint Minale,
Hailemariam Fisha,
Abeje Tedla,
Reta Eshetu
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, December 2020
Pages:
201-207
Received:
23 March 2020
Accepted:
23 April 2020
Published:
23 November 2020
Abstract: The homestead multistory agroforestry demonstration was conducted at Tarmaber district of North Shewa zone to demonstrate and evaluate model multistory agroforestry practice for its ecological and economic importance for the rural communities of the area. The demonstration in addition aimed to further enhance farmers' knowledge on this new cultivation method before any further adoption. The demonstration study was started in June 2013 as multistory agroforestry practices and established with special and temporal arrangements with three strata. The upper stratum comprised tree components, middle stratum was fruits and the lower stratum was different annual crops. The total area of a demonstration site was 0.045ha. Persea americana, Rhamnus prinoides, Coffea arabica, Musa paradisiaca, Phaseolus lunatus, Hibisicus sabdariffa and Vigna unguiculata were planted at different time of the lifetime of the study and yield data were collected. The results from this demonstration study showed that, on average 1507 kg of edible NTFPs harvested per hectare per year. Organic matter and available phosphorus were increased from 1.52 to 2.14%, and 4.26 to 15.98 ppm, respectively. In addition, this practice showed higher net present value (NPV) and benefit-cost ratio (B/C) than the two crop land 3537.36 US$ and 3.3 per ha from these different components. From this study it can be concluded that multistory agroforestry may be ecologically advantageous land use system for sustainable food, biomass production and economic return comparing with conventional agricultural practices. Therefore, future agricultural extension adoption should consider this homegarden agro-forestry practice for sustainable agricultural production and productivity especially in North Shewa areas where this practice is not well known.
Abstract: The homestead multistory agroforestry demonstration was conducted at Tarmaber district of North Shewa zone to demonstrate and evaluate model multistory agroforestry practice for its ecological and economic importance for the rural communities of the area. The demonstration in addition aimed to further enhance farmers' knowledge on this new cultivat...
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Participatory Variety Selection of Improved Potato (Solanium tuberosum L) Varieties in Harari People Regional State and Eastern Hararghe Zone
Mohammed Jafar,
Gezu Degefa,
Gebisa Benti,
Girma Wakgari
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, December 2020
Pages:
208-213
Received:
26 November 2020
Accepted:
8 December 2020
Published:
16 December 2020
Abstract: Participatory varietal selection involves both scientific measurements and farmers evaluations; hence it has emerged as the best method to identify farmers’ preferred crop varieties and their popularization. The experiment was conducted during 2019 cropping season at Dire Xayara and Gurawa districts of Harari People Regional State and Eastern Hararghe zone of Oromia Regional State, respectively. The objective of the study was to identify adaptable, high yielding and diseases and pest tolerant potato varieties based on farmer`s management, and to evaluate and select potato varieties based on farmer’s preference. The treatments arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were consisted of eight potato varieties including standard check. Both agronomic data and farmers preferences toward the varieties were collected and analyzed using Genstat software and matrix ranking respectively. The analysis result showed that there were significant (p<0.05) difference among the varieties in all agronomic parameters except flowering date. Belete Variety gave the highest yield (39.6t/ha) followed by Bubu (29.91t/ha) and Gudanie (28.63t/ha). Matrix ranking of farmers’ preference also showed that Belete and Bubu varieties ranked first and second in both districts. Dagim and Horro varieties were not only the low yielding, but also the least preferred varieties by farmers in the study districts. Farmers also liked Marachere for earliness and Gudanie for marketable yield and vegetative performance. However, they indicated that tuber size of Marachere is very small and Gudanie is susceptible to late blight. Therefore based on the findings, Belete and Bubu varieties could be recommended to potato growers in study area and similar agro ecology for further promotion and the two varieties (Marachere and Gudanie) could be used by potato breeders in their breeding program to exploit their merits.
Abstract: Participatory varietal selection involves both scientific measurements and farmers evaluations; hence it has emerged as the best method to identify farmers’ preferred crop varieties and their popularization. The experiment was conducted during 2019 cropping season at Dire Xayara and Gurawa districts of Harari People Regional State and Eastern Harar...
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Effects of Meteorological Factors on Yield Characters of Waxy Corn at Different Sowing Dates
Heping Tan,
Fucheng Zhao,
Hailiang Han,
Fei Bao,
Bin Chen,
Junfeng Hou,
Xiaocheng Lou,
Guiyue Wang
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, December 2020
Pages:
214-220
Received:
3 December 2020
Accepted:
14 December 2020
Published:
28 December 2020
Abstract: In production, the yield of waxy corn is often improved by adjusting fertilization and planting density, while the influence of metecological factors on yield is ignored. In this study, the change of waxy corn growth stage and the influence of main meteorological factors on the yield of fresh ear at the best harvest time were analyzed by adjusting the sowing date. The results showed that the duration of each growth stage was shortened with the delay of sowing date. Correlation analysis showed that daily temperature difference, rainfall, sunshine duration and effective accumulated temperature in the filling stage had significant correlation with most yield characters. The daily temperature difference, sunshine duration and effective accumulated temperature were significantly positively correlated with ear diameter, grain number per row, 100-grain weight and fresh ear yield, but negatively correlated with bald tip length. Combined with regression analysis, the fresh ear yield had a significant quadratic curve relationship with the main meteorological factors in the filling stage. The fresh ear yield had an increasing relationship with the daily temperature difference, sunshine duration and effective accumulated temperature in the filling stage, and a decreasing relationship with the rainfall, and an increase and then decrease relationship with the daily average temperature. The results showed that hot and rainy during filling stage of spring waxy corn in central Zhejiang Province was not conducive to the increase of fresh ear yield, commodity and 100-grain weight. It was suggested that early sowing was beneficial to weaken the influence of unfavorable meteorological factors during filling stage.
Abstract: In production, the yield of waxy corn is often improved by adjusting fertilization and planting density, while the influence of metecological factors on yield is ignored. In this study, the change of waxy corn growth stage and the influence of main meteorological factors on the yield of fresh ear at the best harvest time were analyzed by adjusting ...
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