Agricultural Research and Extension in Ethiopia Oromia Agricultural
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Agricultural Research and Extension in Ethiopia Tafa Jobie, Director for Crop Research Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Ethiopia July 2015 Milan, Italy Outline • Country Profile • Background of Ethiopia’s Agriculture • Agroecology, Production Systems & Major Crops Cultivated • Agricultural Research in Ethiopia: Historical Perspectives & Current Status • Major Themes of Research • Agricultural Extension in Ethiopia: Historical Perspectives & Current Status • The Seed Value Chain & its Challenges Ethiopia: Country Profile Ethiopia is situated in East Africa, bordered by Sudan, Kenya, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti. Ethiopia: Country Profile The western, south & Southwest parts are coffee zone Cereal belt of Ethiopia, well known in the SSA; >50% of country’s wheat supply Ethiopia: Country Profile Lies between 9 degrees North latitude & 38.7 degrees East longitude • Surface area is about 1.2 mill sqr. Km, of which 65% is arable • Population is over 80 million • Altitude ranges from -126 mas (Denakel area, inf Qafar) to 4620 masl (Ras Dashen, Northwest) • For the central highland plateaus, where most crops are grown, altitude ranges from 1800 to 3000 masl Background: Ethiopia’s Agriculture • About 12 million smallholder households account for approximately 95 percent of agricultural GDP and 85 percent of employment • Nearly 55 % of all smallholder farmers operate on one hectare or less. Background: Ethiopia’s Agriculture • Agriculture in Ethiopia is the main form of livelihood for the majority of the population • The agricultural sector greatly influences economic performance, accounting for about 46% of the national GDP, and over 84% of export commodities Major Policy & Strategy Directions for Ethiopian Agriculture Agricultural Development-led Industrialization that aims at transforming the countries economy Commercialization of selected & strategic industrial & food security crops, in major clusters identified Diversification Agro-ecology and Production Systems • In Ethiopia, 33 different Elaborated Agroecological Zones (EAZs) are recognized, which are suitable for the production of diverse food, feed, fiber and stimulant crops. • Classified on basis of temperature, elevation and length of crop growing period. Agro-ecology and Production Systems contd… • About 60% of the total land Dry land; • There are cool alpine to humid tropical highland areas where most small cereals (wheat, barley, tef maize etc) and legumes are produced • The highlands have bimodal type of short and main rainfall patterns. The first seven agroecologies with largest share of are account for nearly 72 % of the total area Agroecology % area share A2 (Warm Arid Lowland Plains) 19.76 M2 (Warm Moist Lowlands) 15.12 SM 2 (Warm Sub-moist Lowlands) 9.63 M3 (Tepid Moist Mid Highlands) 8.05 SH2 (Warm Sub-humid Lowlands) 7.11 SH3 (Tepid Sub-humid Midhighlands) 6.63 SM 3 (Warm Tepid Sub-moist Midhighlands) 5.17 71.47 Production systems The production system is dominantly rain fed and irrigation contributes less than 5% There are two major production systems in the country 1. Crop –Livestock mixed production systems a) Cereal based mixed production system b) Cash crop based mixed farming systems These areas are with better rainfall and accommodates about 70 % of the livestock and human population 2. Pastoral and Agro-pastoral production system These are areas which are dry, arid and semiarid Accommodates about 30 % of the livestock population Major crops cultivated in Ethiopia CROPS Priorities Cereals – Wheat, maize, tef, sorghum, barley, rice Oilseeds – Sesame, noug, safflower, rapeseed Pulses – Chickpea, lentil, faba bean., soybean., haricot bean Spices – Ginger, cardamom, black pepper, garlic, black cumin, coriander, fenugreek Industrial – Coffee, tea, cotton Tropical Fruits – Mango, avocado, pineapple, banana, citrus Vegetables – Capsicum, green beans, onion, tomato Roots & tubers – potato, sweet potato, enset, cassava Aromatic, medicinal – Some aromatic, medicinal & bio-energy crops & bio- energy (castor, jatropha) Agricultural Research in Ethiopia: Historical Perspectives • Relative to other African countries, agricultural research in Ethiopia is quite young. • Agricultural research started with the establishment of Ambo and Jimma Colleges of Agriculture in 1947 • And later the Imperial College of Agriculture and Mechanical arts (today’s Haramaya University) in 1953. • However, organized agricultural research activities and actual relations between agricultural research and development started with the inception of the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) in 1966 (Tsedeke et al., 2004; Efrem Bechere). The National Agricultural Research System Today • Since 1993, the Agricultural Research System has been decentralized into regional research centers, the former IAR still maintaining some strategic and well-built research centers for national commodity coordination. • The Regional Research Institutes were soon established by proclamation to be more organized and bear more responsibility for research coordination in their respective regions. Agricultural Research in Ethiopia is conducted by: Federal Research Institute/EIAR Regional Research Institutes /RRIs Higher Learning Institutions/HLI Distribution of Research centers Oromia Agricultural Research Institute Centers Bako Agr.Mech.RC OARI HQ 1. Haro Sabu 2. Bako 1. Fiche 3. Adami Tulu OARI 2. Nekemt Centers 4. Mechara Region Zonal 5. Fedis 3. Bedele Boundary Main Road 6. Sinana 4. Ziway 7. Bore 8. Yabello 1. Bako Holeta Ziway 2. Asela 3. Jima Agricultural Research … • Currently, more conducive environment is being created for research as an apex body, The National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has been established to coordinate research and resource follow in National the entire research system of the country. Council of Agri • The NARC is now planning to Research transform the Ethiopian Agricultural Research by taking countries which are more advanced in Agricultural Research (Brazil, South Africa, India et c.) as Federal Regional benchmark Research Research HLI Institute Institutes • The various research institutes & HLI will be part of the NARC, creating better synergy as well as human and capital capacity to stand in a better position to deliver improved agricultural technologies, Organization at the grass root level: research centers At research centers, research is conducted by case teams. – Cereals Case Team – Pulses & Oil Crops Case Team – Horticultural Crops Case Team – Coffee & Spices Case Team • Each case team is composed of multi desciplinary researchers to deliver complete package of technologies to the extension system – Breeder – Agronomist – Pathologist – Entomologist – Weed scientist – Agricultural Economist – Extensionst Major Themes of Research The release of improved cultivars • Yield advantage to Higher grain existing best cultivars • Stability & genetic yield uniformity • For food Better quality • Industrial quality Pest • To major diseases • Insects resistance • weeds Monitoring & Management of Crop Pest Diseases • Cultural •Host plant resistance •Chemical Insect pests •Biological •Integrated (IPM) Weeds A Capse- in-Point of crop management intervention is the battle against wheat rusts • The epidemics of yellow & stem rusts is becoming recurrent since 2010. Foto Stem rust: by Wubshet, 2014, Sinana • In 2010, there was severe out break of yellow rust, devastating a popular Mega variety, Kubsa • In 2013, there was sever out break of stem rust, devastating another popular Mega variety, Digelu • In 2014, sever out break of stem rust occurred again devastating same Digelu variety, • and in 2015, there is probability that outbreak can occur. • Hence, recently the outbreak of wheat rust epidemics has become a recurrent phenomena Foto yellow rust: by Tafa, 2014 Source: CIMMYT, Addis Ababa Office Yield Losses of Bread Wheat Mega Variety, Digelu due to Stem rust, 2013 (Bekele et.al) Farmers Yield losses (%) District Kebele fields Lowest highest Mean Gassera Koloba Sarara 9 54.5 82.6 74.7 Koloba.sa’ada 13 52.4 92.3 83.0 Denmbel 7 40.0 91.4 64.1 Agarfa Ambentu 7 50.0 77.3 59.5 Ali 3 0.0 33.3 15.9 Sheneka 6 0.0 71.7 45.1 Elani 9 16.7 50.0 34.3 Sinana Ilu Sanbitu 12 0.0 68.8 40.9 KolobaTemona Suleman 9 18.8 47.5 43.2 3 9 75 25.8 68.3 51.2 1000-Kernel weight reduction levels of bread wheat variety Digalu in three stem rust epidemic districts of Bale zone, Meher season, 2013 (Bekele et al.) 1000-Kernell weight reduction (%) Farmers District Kebele fields Lowest highest Mean Gassera Koloba Sa raara 9 50.5 63.0 58.2 Koloba.sa’ada 13 36.4 73.9 61.0 Denmbel 7 13.0 79.9 44.8 Agarfa Ambentu 7 25.5 72.8 47.0 Ali 3 34.0 36.4 34.8 Sheneka 6 4.9 66.8 39.5 Elani 9 17.7 74.5 39.5 Sinana Ilu Sanbitu 12 9.8 45.4 30.0 K.T.Suleman 9 9.0 54.1 33.7 3 9 75 Agronomic studies • Optimum fertilizer rate recommendations • Cropping system, tillage system etc.. • Planting time, seed rate Socioeconomic and Extension Research • Farming system surveys and characterization • Constraints identification and ranking according to priorities for intervention • Adoption rate and status of agricultural technologies and practices • Impact and feedback assessment Training is usually offered to farmers, DAs & Experts on the use of improved technologies Theoretical training & planning for season • Land preparation • The choice of varieties, fertilizers (DAP, Urea), splitting • Seed distribution • Management of diseases, weeds, insects Field level practical training: • Practical training for producers, experts & DAs