Bure Pilot Learning Woreda Diagnosis and Program Design

BURE PILOT LEARNING WOREDA DIAGNOSIS AND PROGRAM DESIGN

July, 2007 Table of Content

LIST OF TABLES ...... IV

LIST OF FIGURES ...... VI

LIST OF ANNEXS ...... VII

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 1

2. BIO-PHYSICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF BURE ...... 2

2.1. Location, area and population ...... 2

2.2. Climate ...... 4

2.3. Soils...... 8

2.4. Water resource ...... 9

2.5. Land use ...... 11

2.6. Vegetation cover and Topography ...... 13

2.7. Farming systems ...... 13 2.7.1 Cereal/pepper/ livestock farming system ...... 14 2.7.2 Cereals/potato/livestock farming system...... 19

2.8. Environmental challenges ...... 23

3. INSTITUTIONS ...... 25

3.1. Marketing ...... 25

3.2. Input supply ...... 31

3.3. Rural Finance ...... 33

3.4. Women Affairs Office ...... 38

3.5. Agricultural extension service ...... 39

3.6. HIV/AIDS service ...... 42

3.7. Bure ATVET College ...... 43

4. PRIORITY COMMODITY ANALYSIS & POTENTIAL INTERVENTIONS ...... 44

5. OUTLINE OF PROGRAM OF WORK BURE WOREDA PLS ...... 65

5.1. Priority commodities & Natural resource management technologies ...... 65

5.2. PLS Knowledge management –general (RBM Code 100 Series) ...... 65

ii 5.3. PLS public institutional capacity building (RBM code 200 series) ...... 67

5.4. PLS sustainable livelihood development (RBM code series 300) ...... 69

5.4.1. Pepper ...... 70

5.4.2. Bread wheat ...... 72

5.4.3. Fruit ...... 74

5.4.4. Potato ...... 76

5.4.5. Shallot ...... 77

5.4.6. Faba bean ...... 79

5.4.7. Fattening (cattle and sheep fattening) ...... 81

5.4.8. Poultry ...... 83

5.4.9. Dairy (butter/milk production) ...... 84

5.4.10. Apiculture ...... 86

6. ANNEXES ...... 88

iii List of Tables

TABLE 1 POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLDS BY SEX IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF BURE WEREDA ...... 3 TABLE 2 HOUSEHOLD SIZE, POPULATION, AREA AND AGRO-ECOLOGY OF PAS AND THEIR DISTANCE ...... 3 TABLE 3 AREA AND PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENT CROPS IN BURE WOREDA IN 2005/6 ...... 7 TABLE 4 LIVESTOCK POPULATION IN BURE WOREDA IN 2004/5 ...... 8 TABLE 5 LIST OF RIVERS DIVERTED FOR IRRIGATION AND NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES...... 9 TABLE 6 LIST OF MAJOR RIVERS TRADITIONALLY DIVERTED AND AREA OF LAND IRRIGATED .... 10 TABLE 7 AREA AND TYPES OF CROPS GROWN WITH IRRIGATION IN 2006 ...... 11 TABLE 8 LAND USE TYPE IN BURE WOREDA (2006/7) ...... 12 TABLE 9 DOMINANT CROP AND LIVESTOCK TYPES OF EACH FARMING SYSTEM ...... 14 TABLE 10 MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVES IN BURE WEREDA, MEMBERS AND THEIR CAPITAL IN 2006/7 ...... 28 TABLE 11 AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTED BY DAMOT UNION ...... 33 TABLE 12 AMOUNT OF MONEY BORROWED FROM ACSI IN 2006 AT BURE BY ACTIVITY ...... 34 TABLE 13 SAVING AND CREDIT COOPERATIVES IN BURE WOREDA, MEMBERS AND THEIR CAPITAL IN 2006/7 ...... 37 TABLE 14 MANPOWER OF BURE WOREDA OOARD BY EDUCATION LEVEL AND TEAM ...... 39 TABLE 15 NUMBER OF DAS AT BURE BY SEX AND PROFESSION IN 2007 ...... 42 TABLE 16 HIV/AIDS PREVALENCE AT BURE WOREDA BASED ON AGE GROUPS ...... 43 TABLE 17 BREAD WHEAT ...... 44 TABLE 18 PULSES (FABA BEAN)...... 47 TABLE 19 PEPPER ...... 48 TABLE 20 POTATO ...... 50 TABLE 21 SHALLOT ...... 52 TABLE 22 TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL FRUITS ...... 54 TABLE 23 CATTLE FATTENING ...... 56 TABLE 24 DAIRY ...... 57 TABLE 25 SHEEP FATTENING ...... 59 TABLE 26 APICULTURE ...... 61 TABLE 27 POULTRY ...... 63 TABLE 28 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PLS KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ...... 66 TABLE 29 POTENTIAL WOREDA STAFF TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INNOVATIVE METHODS TRAINING ...... 67 TABLE 30 POTENTIAL WOREDA STAFF TO BE INCLUDED IN TECHNICAL TRAINING OF PRIORITY 68 TABLE 31 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PLS GENERAL CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT* ...... 69 TABLE 32 FTCS WITH POTENTIAL FOR PRIORITY COMMODITIES AND NRM TECHNOLOGIES IN ... 69 TABLE 33 FTCS WITH POTENTIAL FOR PRIORITY COMMODITIES IN CEREAL/POTATO/LIVESTOCK ...... 70 TABLE 34 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PEPPER PRODUCTION ...... 70 TABLE 35 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PEPPER INPUT SUPPLY ...... 71 TABLE 36 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PEPPER MARKETING ...... 71 TABLE 37 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR BREAD WHEAT PRODUCTION ...... 72 TABLE 38 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR BREAD WHEAT INPUT SUPPLY ...... 73 TABLE 39 PROJECT SUPPORT IN IMPROVING BREAD WHEAT MARKETING ...... 73 TABLE 40 PROJECT SUPPORT ON FRUIT PRODUCTION ...... 74 TABLE 41 PROJECT SUPPORT ON FRUIT INPUT SUPPLY ...... 75 TABLE 42 PROJECT SUPPORT ON FRUIT MARKETING ...... 75 TABLE 43 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR POTATO PRODUCTION ...... 76 TABLE 44 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR POTATO INPUT SUPPLY ...... 76 TABLE 45 PROJECT SUPPORT IN POTATO MARKETING ...... 77 TABLE 46 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR SHALLOT PRODUCTION ...... 77 TABLE 47 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR SHALLOT INPUT SUPPLY ...... 78 TABLE 48 PROJECT SUPPORT IN SHALLOT MARKETING ...... 79 TABLE 49 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR FABA BEAN PRODUCTION ...... 79 TABLE 50 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR FABA BEAN INPUT SUPPLY ...... 80 TABLE 51 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PULSES MARKETING ...... 80

iv TABLE 52 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR MEAT PRODUCTION ...... 81 TABLE 53 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR MEAT INPUT SUPPLY ...... 82 TABLE 54 PROJECT SUPPORT ON MEAT MARKETING...... 82 TABLE 55 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR POULTRY PRODUCTION SYSTEM ...... 83 TABLE 56 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR POULTRY INPUT SUPPLY ...... 83 TABLE 57 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR POULTRY MARKETING ...... 84 TABLE 58 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR DAIRY ...... 84 TABLE 59PROJECT SUPPORT FOR DAIRY INPUT SUPPLY ...... 85 TABLE 60 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR MARKETING OF DAIRY PRODUCTS ...... 85 TABLE 61 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING HONEY PRODUCTION ...... 86 TABLE 62 PROJECT SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING HONEY INPUT SUPPLY ...... 86 TABLE 63 PROJECT SUPPORT TO IMPROVE HONEY MARKETING ...... 87

v List of Figures

FIGURE 1 MAP OF ETHIOPIA DEPICTING 10 PILOT LEARNING WOREDAS (PLWS) ...... 2 FIGURE 2 LONG TERM MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL MAP OF BURE WOREDA ...... 4 FIGURE 3 ELEVATION MAP OF BURE WOREDA ...... 5 FIGURE 4 LONG TERM MEAN ANNUAL TEMPERATURE MAP OF BURE WOREDA ...... 6 FIGURE 5 SOIL TYPES DISTRIBUTION MAP OF BURE WOREDA ...... 9 FIGURE 6 LAND USE LAND COVER MAP OF BURE WOREDA ...... 12 FIGURE 7 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF OOARD ...... 40

vi List of Annexs

ANNEX 1 CROPPING CALENDAR IN BURE PLW ...... 88 ANNEX 2 LIST OF WALC MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN FARMING SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION AND PRIORITY COMMODITY IDENTIFICATION ON MAY 11, 2007 ...... 90 ANNEX 3 LIST OF OOARD STAFF PARTICIPATED IN FARMING SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION AND PRIORITY COMMODITY IDENTIFICATION IN JUNE, 2007 ...... 90 ANNEX 4 LIST OF EXPERTS PARTICIPATED IN FARMING SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION AND PRIORITY COMMODITY IDENTIFICATION ON JUNE 13, 2007 ...... 91 ANNEX 5 LIST OF EXPERTS PARTICIPATED DURING COMMUNITY CONSULTATION ...... 92 ANNEX 6 LIST OF PAS ON WHICH COMMUNITY CONSULTATION CONDUCTED AND NUMBER OF PARTICIPATED FARMERS...... 92 ANNEX 7 LIST OF BURE IPMS PROJECT PLANNING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS ...... 93 ANNEX 8 BURE PLW PLANNING WORKSHOP PROGRAM, JULY 16-17, 2007, BURE ...... 95

vii

1. Introduction

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) initiated a 5 years project in June 2004 with the financial assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The project, entitled: “Improving productivity and market success” (IPMS) of Ethiopian farmers, aims at contributing to poverty reduction of the rural poor through market oriented agricultural development.

The IPMS project follows an innovation systems approach to enhance application of knowledge or technologies generated by International and National Research Institutes as well as from other sources to bring about market oriented agricultural development while contributing positively to livelihood enhancement. IPMS will also pilot alternative methods and approaches to develop new institutional arrangements for input supply, marketing, credit and other service delivery systems. Such activities will be done on 10 pilot learning Woredas (PLW) across the country (Fig. 1). Bure district (Woreda) is one of the 10 selected sites. To further enhance the utilization of such knowledge and the introduction of technologies, the IPMS project provides assistance to extension, input supply, marketing and financial institutions, including cooperatives. Such institutional support will be in the form of technical assistance, capacity building, supply of demonstration and training materials, credit, some limited funds for innovative institutional arrangements and studies aimed at developing innovative institutional arrangements.

Figure 1 Map of Ethiopia depicting 10 Pilot Learning Woredas (PLWs)

2. Bio-physical and socioeconomic characteristics of Bure

Location, area and population

Bure is one of the 15 and 106 woredas of West Gojam Administrative Zone and Amhara National Regional State, respectively. It is one of the consistently surplus producer woredas of the Region. The capital city of the woreda, Bure, is found 400 km northwest of Addis Ababa and 148km southwest of the Regional State capital, Bahir Dar. The woreda has 15 km asphalt road, 84km all weather gravel road and 103 km dry weather road. It is nearby and connected by all-weather road to East Wollega Zone of the Oromia Regional State and Metekel Zone of the Benishangul Gumez Regional State. Therefore, Bure has good opportunity to sell its agricultural products in different regional states. The road density in the woreda is 68.5km/1000km2, which is relatively higher than the average road network in Amhara National Regional State which is 36.72 km/1000km2 (BoFED, 2005). This is good opportunity to easily transport agricultural inputs and products to and from PAs and market places. Human population of the woreda is 169,609 of which 143,854 (85%) live in rural areas (Table 1). In general, the male population is relatively lower than female population in the woreda (Table 1), however, male-headed households are around 6 times higher than female-headed households. The number of agricultural households, 21,793, is about eight times higher than the households in the urban areas (Table 1). This indicates that the livelihood of most of the

2 woreda population is dependent on agriculture. The total area of the woreda is 72,739 ha of which 46.6% is cultivated and average household cultivated land holding is about 1.6 ha. At present the woreda is divided into 22 rural peasant associations (PAs) and two town associations (Table 2). Bure and Kuchie are the two major towns in the woreda.

Table 1 Population and households by sex in urban and rural areas of Bure wereda

Total Population Number of Household

Male Female Total Male Female Total Rural 72033 71821 143854 19226 2567 21793 Urban 11633 13122 25755 1699 1087 2786 Total 83666 85943 169609 20925 3654 24579 Source: Bure woreda, OoARD (2006)

Table 2 Household size, population, area and agro-ecology of PAs and their distance from the woreda capital

House Hold Population Distanc e from Agro- Name of rural and Area Bure ecological No. Urban Kebeles Male Female Total Male Female Total Km2 (km) zones 1 Ageni fereda 1021 132 1153 3964 3968 7932 18.1 18 Highland 2 Weheni durbatie 1119 145 1264 4035 4275 8310 17.2 16 Highland 3 Jib Gedele 836 183 1019 3316 3159 6475 17.4 10 Highland 4 Arbisi Menfesawite 732 96 828 2581 2673 5254 13.3 15 Mid altitude 5 Woyema Ambaye 1109 143 1252 4176 4205 8381 19.7 13 Highland 6 Wundegi 1109 142 1251 4135 4052 8187 38.8 5 Mid altitude 7 Shakwa 938 124 1062 3614 3659 7273 22.1 7 Mid altitude 8 Wangedam 1463 191 1654 5377 5594 10971 19 5 Mid altitude 9 Kebsa Baguna 948 122 1070 3636 3672 7308 28.9 5 Mid altitude 10 TiyaTiya 600 77 677 2311 2264 4575 11.1 7 Mid altitude 11 Tengeha Adel Ageta 718 94 812 2682 2645 5327 24 8 Mid altitude 12 Wadera Gendeba 702 92 794 2695 2631 5326 19.7 6 Mid altitude 13 Denbun 989 127 1116 3585 3722 7307 22.9 11 Mid altitude 14 Alefa 754 98 852 2849 2714 5563 22.9 8 Mid altitude 15 Gulem 1253 164 1417 5053 4722 9775 24.9 23 Mid altitude 16 Zalema 937 121 1058 3664 3359 7023 42.5 15 Mid altitude 17 Seretekeze 500 65 565 1993 2114 4107 30.9 32 Mid altitude 18 Fezele 334 43 377 1336 1384 2720 21.3 37 Mid altitude 19 Zeyew Shewen 1176 153 1329 3667 4008 7675 37.1 28 Mid altitude 20 Gedamlejamur 503 64 567 1909 1742 3651 11.1 36 Lowland 21 Fetam Sentom 1052 136 1188 3934 3713 7647 79.6 37 50% Lowland 22 BekoTabo 433 55 488 1516 1546 3062 175 45 Lowland 21793 23 Bure * 1699 1087 2786 0 9.06 0 Mid altitude 24 Kuchie * 0.5 27 Mid altitude

* Urban associations

3 Climate Bure woreda receives relatively high amount of rainfall with balanced distribution pattern. According to available digital data the mean annual rainfall ranges from 1386 to 1757 mm (Fig. 2). The western and northern parts of the woreda receive relatively higher annual rainfall compared to other parts of the woreda. It has mono-modal rainfall distribution and extends from May to September. Shortage of rainfall is not a constraint for crop and livestock production rather, agricultural extension experts reported that long rainy season sometimes result in sprouting of a widely growing bread wheat variety (Kubsa or HAR1685). In agreement to this, farmers grow and prefer to grow long maturing and high yielding maize hybrid variety, BH660, since the rainy season in the area is relatively extended. Therefore, Bure is different from the other parts of Amhara National Regional State (ANRS) in terms of amount and distribution of annual rainfall. Farmers practice irrigation to grow crops in the woreda. However, majority of the annual grain is produced during the rainy season (Meher) under rainfed condition.

Figure 2 Long term mean annual rainfall map of Bure woreda

4 Agro-ecologically Bure is classified into moist and wet lowland (10%), wet Woina-Dega (82%) and wet Dega (8%). The altitude of the woreda ranges from 713 to 2604 metres above sea level (masl) (Fig 3). The altitude drops from 2604 to 713 masl as one travels from north to south part (Nile gorge) of the woreda, while the opposite holds true for temperature. Long term annual mean temperature of Bure ranges from 14 oC to 24 oC (Fig. 4). Ecological differences in the woreda gave opportunities to grow diverse crop types and rear different livestock types. Types of crops grown and livestock reared in Bure woreda are given in Tables 3 and 4, respectively.

Figure 3 Elevation map of Bure woreda

Figure 4 Long term mean annual temperature map of Bure woreda

6 Table 3 Area and production of different crops in Bure Woreda in 2005/6

Crop Type Rainfed Irrigation Total Area (ha) Prodn (q) Area (ha) Prodn (q) Area (ha) Prodn (q) Cereals 28,881 1,204,167 384 5,562 29,2651,209,729 • Maize 12,175 730,500 7 182 12,182 730,682 • Wheat 6,514 260,560 17 340 6,531 260,900 • Tef 4,376 70,016 - - 4,376 70,016 • Fingermillet 3,679 95,654 - - 3,679 95,654 • Barley 2,137 47,437 360 5,040 2,497 52,477 Pulses 1,312 21,976 65 845 1,37722,821 • Faba bean 982 12,766 - - 982 12,766 • Chick pea 195 2,925 65 845 260 3,770 • Haricot bean 70 5,570 - - 70 5,570 • Field pea 65 715 - - 65 715 Oil crops 908 7,308 - - 908 7,308 • Noug 443 2,658 - - 443 2,658 • Sesame 465 4,650 - - 465 4,650 Vegetables 2,727 162,390 3,878 408,865 6,605 571,255 • Pepper 1,750 26,250 241 3,615 1,991 29,865 • Potato 952 134,890 1,548 221,205 2,500 356,095 • Shallot+Onion 25 1,250 1,930 164,050 1,955 165,300 • Beet root - - 60 7,500 60 7,500 • Carrot - - 45 4,950 45 4,950 • Tomato - - 27 4,445 27 4,445 • Cabbage - - 9 1,350 9 1,350 • Garlic - - 7 595 7 595 • Swiss chard - - 6 630 6 630 • Lettuce - - 5 525 5 525 Spices 5 18 - - 518 • White cumin 26-- 26 • Black cumin 312-- 312 Perennial crops - - 723 28,864 723 28,864 • Coffee - - 541 2,164 541 2,164 • Sugar cane - - 55 14,300 55 14,300 • Hops - - 49 2,205 49 2,205 • Avocado - - 32 5,120 32 5,120 • Chat - - 13 2,080 13 2,080 • Mango - - 9 1,260 9 1,260 • Lemon - - 9 360 9 360 • Peach - - 8 640 8 640 • Banana - - 7 735 7 735 • Papaya - - 7 875 7 875 • Guava - - 6 600 6 600 • Orange - - 2 190 2 190 • Citron - - 2 100 2 100 Total 33,833 1,395,859 5,067 445,901 38,9001,841,760 Source: OoARD of Bure Woreda (2006)

Table 4 Livestock population in Bure Woreda in 2004/5

No. Livestock type Population 1 Cattle 71924 o Ox 25575 o Cow 16318 o Heifer 10213 o Bull 10692 o Calve 9106 2 Small ruminants 23919 o Sheep 15225 o Goat 8794 3 Equines 6684 o Horse 586 o Mule 85 o Donkey 6013 4 Poultry 47159 o Local 45371 o Improved 1788 5 Bee hives 4801 o Modern 1146 o Traditional 3655 Source: OoARD of Bure Woreda (2006)

Soils According to the available digital data, three soil types namely Humic Nitosols (63%), Eutric Cambisols (20%) and Eutric Vertisols (17%) are found in Bure woreda (Fig.5). Most of the areas in the wet Dega agro-ecology have Humic Nitosols, while areas with wet Woina-Dega have Humic Nitosols and Eutric Vertisols. On the other hand, the wet and moist lowlands have Eutric Cambisols. Areas in the wet Dega agro-ecology receive torrential rainfall, has relatively undulating topography and easily erodable soil type. As a result, soil erosion is a challenge in the area. In addition to soil erosion, soil acidity is a problem in the wet Dega part of Bure woreda.

Vertisol covers 17% of the total area of the woreda. It has water logging problem and farmers use such lands for crop production once per year at the end of the rainy season. Extensive trainings have been given to farmers in order to efficiently utilize the vertisol areas for double cropping using broad-bed maker (BBM). In addition to this practice, introduction of rice varieties followed by chickpea could also be considered for double cropping without broad-bed construction.

Figure 5 Soil types distribution map of Bure woreda

Water resource The woreda is endowed with large number of rivers and springs. Farmers use this water resource for irrigated crop production both with traditional and modern river diversion schemes. At present, six modern river diversions are constructed and used to irrigate 614 ha of land. These river diversions are currently serving for about 3,665 households in rural areas (Table 5).

Table 5 List of rivers diverted for irrigation and number of beneficiaries

Name of Name of PAs Year of Area under No. of river where the river construction irrigation (ha) beneficiaries diverted Nesere Wondegi 1991 160 955 Selala Wangedam 2000 80 602 Densera Shaqwa 2005 83 495 Citi Baguna Kebesa 2005 85 507 Ahubari Baguna Kebesa 2005 96 533 Debehula Arbsi 2005 110 573 Total 614 3665 Source: OoARD, Water Resource Development Team (June, 2007)

In addition to the above modrn river diversions a number of rivers are traditionally diverted and being used for irrigation. List of major traditionally diverted rivers and area of land under irrigation is shown in Table 6. Moreover, 99 springs and 3440 shallow wells are also used for irrigation. Therefore, the water resource in the woreda is widely utilized for irrigation. However, technical support on irrigation methods and selection of appropriate crop types and varieties is crucial to maximize the profitability of irrigation. Farmers use irrigation mainly for the production of horticultural crops using furrow irrigation method. In 2006, about 4,902.4 ha of land was cultivated using irrigation (Table 7). In addition to crop production, these irrigation schemes could also be used for seed multiplication purposes and fish production. Starter fish could be obtained and introduced to the dams with technical assistance of Bahir Dar Fishery Research Centre.

Table 6 List of major rivers traditionally diverted and area of land irrigated

No. Name of rivers Area of land irrigated (ha) 1 Nesere 39 2 Elene 160 3 Adefita 180 4 Selala 147 5 Denbero 24 6 Delelech 35 7 Linsa 52 8 Mizizi 65 9 Selkuta 125 10 Belbel 60 11 Amber 69 12 Matebiya 25 Total 981 Source: OoARD, Water Resource Development Team (June, 2007)

Even though, this woreda has a substantial amount of land under irrigation in comparison to other PLWs, IPMS along with OoARD need to work with these farmers to convince them to grow economically important crops. This is because, substantial area under irrigation is used for growing low yielding and economically less important crops like barley (Table 7).

Table 7 Area and types of crops grown with irrigation in 2006

No Cereals Crop Area (ha) 1 Barley 385.5 2 Maize 31.0 Sub-total 416.5 3 Vegetables Potato 1206.5 4 Beet root 97.6 5 Tomato 78.125 6 (shallot + Onion) 1197.75 7 Garlic 83.25 8 Head cabbage 57.4 9 Carrot 88.6 10 Swiss chard 1.62 11 Lettuce 0.91 12 Pepper 491.75 Sub total 3303.5 13 Fruits Papaya 44.6 14 Mango 57.5 15 Avocado 65.563 16 Guava 17.8 17 Banana 66.02 18 Lemon 22.31 19 Peach 39.625 Sub total 999.42 20 Others Sugar cane 73.5 21 Coffee 612.5 22 Others 183 Total 4902.42 Source: OoARD, Water Resources Development Team, 2007

Land use According to the woreda OoARD (2006) land use data, area covered by annual crops accounted for 46.6% of the total area of the woreda. In the same year, the proportion of the landmass under forestland was 8.4% while area under natural pasture was 6.0% (Table 8). Because most of the landmass is under cultivation, cow dung and crop residue are the major source of energy both in the rural and urban areas. Crop residue is also the major livestock feed resource in the area. Both practices of using cow dung and crop residues for fuel accelerate the process of soil nutrient depletion on croplands. Most of the bush and forestland were the major sources of fuel wood. Currently these resources are depleted and somer reminants are found in the low altitude areas which are inaccessible. The vegetation cover of this area can be rehabilitated by organizing local

11 community members as gum and resin producers and enriching the area with such tree species.

Table 8 Land use type in Bure woreda (2006/7)

Land use type Area (Ha) Percentage Cultivated land 33,865 46.6 Pasture land 4,348 6.0 Shrub 10,772 14.8 Natural Forest 6,143 8.4 Water bodies 186 0.3 Construction (road and houses) 4,850 6.7 Perennial crops 740 1.0 Wasteland 11,835 16.3 Total 72,739 100 Source: Bure Woreda, OoARD (June 2007)

Figure 6 Land use land cover map of Bure woreda

12 Vegetation cover and Topography Bure woreda has 6143 ha natural forest and 401 ha plantation forest. Major indigenous and introduced tree species growing in the woreda include Besana (Croton macrostachys), Wanza (Cordia africana), Yabesha Tid (Juniperus procera), Sesa (Albizia gummifera), Berbera (Millettia ferruginea), Zegeba (Podocarpus falcates), Sholla (Ficus sure), Warka (Ficus vasta), Ydega Abalo (Teminalia briwuni), Kerero (Aningeria adolfifiriederici), Yefrenji Tid (Cupressus lusitanica), Key Bahir Zaf (Eucalyptus camaldulesis), Korch (Erythrina bruci), Getem and Yetan Zaf (Bosiovella papifera). However, most of the indigenous tree species are annually harvested to expand croplands; and for fuel wood, charcoal making, timber production and construction purposes. In the previous days (until 2004) incense and resin were produced as forest product in the lowland areas of the woreda but currently such forest products are becoming extinct due to deforestation. Awareness creation for the society and investors is required to conserve not only the indigenous tree species but also the diminishing biodiversity resources in the remaining undisturbed forest areas.

According to natural resources management experts of the OoARD about 76, 17 and 5% of the total area is plain, mountainous and valley. Plain areas are mostly found at the central part of the woreda and have mostly Woina Dega agroecology. On the other hand, valleys are found in the southern part of the woreda bordering Nile River. Mountainous areas are found both in the northern and southern part of the woreda. Therefore, mountainous areas have Lowland and highland agro-ecologies. Areas in the northern part of the woreda receive higher amount of rainfall which is sometimes torrential. Torrential rainfall coupled with the mountainous topography aggravated soil erosion in the area. In this area, promotion of agricultural activities (modern sheep rearing and perennial crop production), which helps soil and water conservation is vital for the sustainable utilization of the available natural resources.

Farming systems Like in other parts of the country, farmers in Bure woreda practice crop-livestock mixed farming system. However, the woreda is classified into two farming systems mainly based on altitudinal differences and dominant crops and livestock types. The two farming systems of Bure woreda are: 1. Cereal/pepper/livestock farming system 2. Cereal/potato/livestock farming system

13 Farming systems were classified by consulting experts from Bure woreda OoARD and other institutions and researchers from Adet and Andassa Research Centers. The dominant crop and livestock types in each farming system are given in Table 9.

Table 9 Dominant crop and livestock types of each farming system

Farming system No. of Crop and livestock types PAs Cereal/pepper/livestock 18 Maize, bread wheat, teff, finger millet, noug, vegetables, pepper, tropical fruit crops, cattle, poultry, apiculture, sheep and goats Cereal/horticulture/livestock 4 Bread wheat, faba bean, potato, shallot, sheep, poultry and apiculture Source: Bure woreda OoARD (June, 2007)

Cereal/pepper/ livestock farming system General: There are 18 peasant associations (PAs) which belong to this farming system. This system covers 92% of the total area of the woreda. Peasant associations belonging to both the low and mid altitude areas are classified into this farming system. Peasant associations belonging to this farming system are located on the right hand side of the road as one travels from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa and extends to the southern end of the woreda bordering Nile River. These PAs have altitudes ranging from 731 to 2206 masl and majority of the PAs in this farming system have relatively flat topography. However, the lowland PAs have relatively undulating topography. The soil types in this farming system are Humic Nitosols, Eutric Nitosols and Eutric Cambisols. In this farming system there are some remnant trees. Some parts of the area are accessible using all- weather road, which connects Bure town to Nekemte, East Wollega. Cereal crops such as maize, bread wheat, tef, fingermillet and horticultural crops, mainly pepper production dominate this farming system (Table 9). Most areas have ideal soil and climatic conditions for the expansion of lowland pulses like haricot bean and soybean as well for tropical and sub-tropical fruit crops like mango, avocado, banana and papaya.

Farmers in the low altitude areas of this farming system have relatively larger land holding size compared to other parts of the farming system. In the lowland areas, farmers practice shifting cultivation. Some private commercial farmers are also found in this area.

14 a. Crop production This area has ideal soil and climatic condition for the production of many crops. Maize, bread wheat, teff, pepper, finger millet, potato, vegetables, coffee, noug, sugarcane, haricot bean and sesame are grown in this farming system. Subtropical and tropical fruit crops like mango, avocado, banana and papaya can easily grow in the area. The lion share of the total crop land is covered by maize. However, it is mainly grown for household consumption. Among the crops grown in the area, pepper and bread wheat are serving as the major cash crops to the community.

Fruits: Horticultural crops production, particularly tropical fruit crops like mango and avocado using irrigation is increasing in the area. The characteristics of mango varieties grown in the area are fibrous, have small flesh to stone ratio and extensive fruit drop problems. On the other hand, the height of mango and avocado trees is unmanageable for harvesting and other management activities. Some farmers have already started to raise and sell fruit seedlings, which is an encouraging practice for the sustainable planting material supply of fruit crops. However, planting materials distributed to farmers from the nurseries of OoARD and nursery owners are of unknown origin. In addition, seedlings were raised from seeds of low yielding and poor quality local varieties. Introduction of improved varieties as a source of scion and training of both farmers and extension workers on fruit crops nursery management, particularly propagation methods like budding and grafting techniques, could be vital to improve the annual income of farmers and increase exportable fruit production of the country.

Pepper: Farmers in the lowlands grow pepper on an average of 0.5 to 1 ha of land annually. Since the area of land planted by pepper is large, farmers follow direct sowing. This practice requires large amount of seed, 3 kg/ha, which is four times higher than transplanting method of establishment. Direct sowing has a problem to maintain the required plant population. Farmers in areas with irrigation facility can reduce seed cost and maintain adequate plant population by following transplanting method of establishment. Wello Bush Cricket is an important insect pest, which affects plant population on the field by damaging at seedling stage. Experts reported that in some cases it causes total loss. Farmers control cricket damage through mixed planting with noug and rapeseed as well by spraying chemicals. Wilt (root rot) is an important disease

15 for hot pepper production in the area. Farmers solve wilt problem only by draining excess water from pepper fields. Observation made in the area indicated that, pepper produced in the area is of poor quality. This could be attributed to the types of varieties farmers growing and the poor harvesting and post harvest handling practices. Farmers grow both local and improved varieties of pepper. Shortage of improved varieties seed supply is one of the bottlenecks for pepper production. Providing nucleus seed of improved varieties and training farmers on seed production techniques could solve this problem. After harvest, some farmers add water to increase the weight of their pepper during marketing. However, such mal-practices deteriorate the quality of the produce and finally reduce its market price. This therefore calls for quality based pricing so that quality pepper production is encouraged.

Bread wheat: It is the second major crop after maize grown in this farming system. Its area coverage is steadily increasing every year. Farmers grow one improved variety called Kubsa (HAR 1685). It is preferred by farmers because it has white grain colour, yields better and fetches good price in the market. However, this variety has sprouting problem if rainfall continues after it has dried while still in the field. This problem can be solved if relatively long maturity period bread wheat varieties are introduced. Farmers harvest manually and thresh using animals. This practice deteriorates the quality of grain especially to fulfil the quality standard of flour factories because soil gets mixed during this process. Introduction of mechanical threshing machine will help to improve the quality of grain by solving the sprouting problem. Farmers reported that weevil is also a serious problem for bread wheat in the store. They use chemicals but sometimes ineffective due to use of expired chemicals and use of less than the recommended rate. This can be solved by training on post harvest management and introduction of better grain storage structures.

Potato and onion: Potato and oniont are grown in the mid altitude areas of the woreda using irrigation. Farmers use local varieties. Introduction of high yielding improved varieties would increase the productivity of these crops. Farmers practice furrow irrigation system which demands high amount of water for each crop production and may create destruction of soil structure and salinity problem. Irrigation water use efficiency can be improved using plastic mulch and drip irrigation technique. On the other hand, brokers are creating problems in the marketing of onion and potato. Farmers do not have

16 direct contact with traders for marketing of potato and onion. This calls for the creation of marketing group on these crops.

Priority crop commodities The current major marketable crop commodities in this farming system as agreed by farmers, experts from the woreda OoARD, BoARD, Adet and Andassa Research Centres, Bure ATVET and other institutions are as follows: 1. Pepper 2. Bread wheat 3. Vegetables, mainly onion and potato 4. Tropical and subtropical fruit crops (Mango, avocado, banana and papaya) b. Livestock production According to the woreda OoARD report (2006), 71,924 cattle, 8,794 goats, 15,225 sheep, 47,159 poultry, 6013 donkey, 85 mule and 586 horses are available in the woreda (Table 4). Cattle and sheep are major livestock types in this farming system. Poultry is also important considering the surplus grain production and the presence of known local chicken breed called Tilili in the area. Cattle and sheep fattening is becoming common practice in the area but it lacks scaling-up and needs improving the practice in terms of selecting animals, feeding and health care. There is also good initiation to expand dairy in the area. Farmers rear and use to fatten different local sheep breeds like Dangela and Horo types. The Horo type is more adapted and widely reared in relatively warmer part of the woreda while the Dangela type is dominant in the mid and high altitude areas of the woreda.

Livestock diseases: In this farming system there are areas which fall in the lowland range where animal disease transmitted by Tsetse fly called Trypanosomes is a bottleneck for animal production. Despite this fact, farmers still rear and fatten cattle in the area. Recently, efforts are underway to introduce pour-on in order to control trypanosomes. Other animal diseases such as liver fluke, anthrax, black leg and gastro- intestinal parasites are also prevalent in the area. The veterinary service in the woreda is very weak due to drug shortage and budget problems. This entails to consider alternative ways of veterinary service delivery systems in the woreda.

17 Feed resources: Feed shortage is also one of the crucial problems for livestock production in the area. The natural pasturelands available in each PA are unproductive due to inadequate improvement and poor management practices. Consequently, farmers fulfil most of their livestock feed need from crop residues. The most preferred crop residue for animal feed is teff straw. Naturally the nutritive value of most crop residues, especially cereals, is very low and farmers do not have knowledge to improve the nutritive value of these crop residues. Therefore, there is a need to demonstrate how to improve the nutritive value of crop residue, for example through urea treatment or by mixing with leaves of leguminous fodder species. Similarly, natural pasturelands could also be improved through over-sowing or controlled grazing. In some places, farmers have already decided and started to practice area closure and follow rotational grazing system. This initiation has to be backed technically by experts until farmers realize the benefits of this practice.

Dairy and fattening: Improved livestock breed for dairy is almost nil in the woreda. This is because the AI service provided in the woreda is unsatisfactory due to shortage of trained manpower (only 1 AI technician) and facilities like the semen and liquid nitrogen. Transportation facilities are also very poor in the woreda. Besides, there is no bull service station in the woreda to assist the existing AI service. Therefore, milk produced in the woreda is mainly obtained from local cattle breed. Hence, beef and milk productivity in the area could be improved through strengthening the existing AI service by involving cooperatives or private organizations in delivering AI and bull services. Despite all these problems, livestock production is a common practice in this farming system. Farmers rear cattle mainly for traction and milk production. The practice of cattle and sheep fattening started recently but seems to be expanding at a faster rate. Farmers attracted to this practice, because of its higher profitability and faster financial return.

Poultry: Poultry is an important commodity for the poor and landless both in urban and rural areas. It can be done with small initial capital and on a small area compared to other livestock related activities. Like in other parts of the region and the country as a whole, poultry is unexploited commodity in the woreda. Surplus grain production coupled with proximity to Tilili woreda, where the known local poultry breed is found, could have been a good opportunity for poultry production in Bure. In addition, the proximity of Bure to big towns like Bahir Dar, Debre Markos and Nekemte indicates the existence of good

18 market opportunity for poultry products. Of the total poultry population (47,159) in the woreda, only 1788 are improved breeds. No attempt has been made to improve the productivity of local poultry breeds either through breeding or management. All the improvement efforts so far made are introduction of improved exotic breeds like White Leg Horn and Red Island Rhode from a government poultry multiplication centre called Andassa. Farmers showed desire to these poultry breeds but their supply is currently terminated. However, these exotic breeds demand too much feed and are susceptible to diseases compared to local breeds. Therefore, assessment of the local poultry production, marketing system and improving constraints will be essential to improve poultry production in the area.

Priority livestock commodities The current major marketable livestock commodities in this farming system as prioritized by farmers, experts from the woreda OoARD, BoARD, Adet and Andassa Research Centers, Bure ATVET and other institutions are as follows: 1. Sheep and Cattle fattening 2. Poultry (egg & meat) 3. Honey 4. Butter and milk

Cereals/potato/livestock farming system

General This farming system covers 8% of the total area of the woreda. Jib Gedel, Ageni Fereda, Weheni Durbete and Weyenima Ambye are the PAs in this farming system. These PAs are located on the left side of the road as one drives from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa. The soil type in this farming system is Humic Nitosols. Acacia dominated protected forest area found in this farming system. Peasant associations in this farming system are inaccessible during the rainy season. They are also characterized by cool weather, hail and frost damage. The area has undulating topography and receives high amount of rainfall. Therefore, soil erosion is a challenge in this farming system.

19 a. Crop production Crops grown in the area include wheat, barley, teff, potato, shallot, rapeseed, faba bean, field pea and others. The cool weather is ideal for the production of food as well as malt barley, potato, shallot, faba bean, field pea, temperate fruit crops like apple and peach. However, frost is one of the production constraints in this area. Results of experiments conducted on malt-barley production are encouraging. However, the ideal area for malt as well as food barley production is not large enough for many farmers to benefit from.

Potato: Farmers in this farming system grow potato three times per year using irrigation, under rainfed condition and using residual moisture. Farmers use low yielding and blight susceptible potato varieties. Consequently, potato productivity is very low. This situation opens up an opportunity to introduce high yielding and late blight resistant potato varieties. Wilt is also one of the major problems for potato production. There is no control measure for this disease as of now except prevention measures like use of disease free planting material, uprooting and burning or burying diseased potato plants. The damage of potato tuber moth is also serious and resulted in poor quality tuber. Farmers do not apply adequate amount of inorganic fertilizer, but apply noug cake as organic fertilizer for potato production. Fertilizer supply especially for irrigated and with residual moisture potato production systems is inadequate. A potato processing company is going to be operational at Koso Ber town soon. Therefore, lack of market and price fluctuation may not be a constraint for potato production in the future. Potato growers do not have direct contact with potato traders due to brokers.

Shallot: Bure is also known by its shallot. Farmers grow shallot both under rainfed and irrigation. The rainfed crop is mainly used to maintain or multiply planting material for the irrigated shallot production. The rainfed system is not productive since it is more affected by disease like root rot. Farmers use local varieties which require six months to maturity. Farmers use manure for shallot production. Hence, shortage of irrigation water and problems of root rot are major shallot production constraints. Frost damage also causes significant yield losses on shallot.

Faba bean: Farmers grow faba bean mainly as a source of cash in this farming system. Varieties grown by farmers are susceptible to chocolate spot and the size of beans is small. This problem can be solved by introducing improved large seeded varieties which

20 are high yielding. Faba bean is attacked by weevil in the store and farmers control it by using pesticide. Faba bean requires fertilizer but farmers do not apply adequate amount of fertilizer mainly due to shortage of cash as is the case for many other crops. This problem can be solved by introducing bio-fertilizer. The National Soil Laboratory has proved the increase of yield by applying bio-fertilizer.

Temperate fruits: Even though, landholding is very small compared to other PAs, there is good water resource for irrigation. Many farmers are benefiting from this resource. Therefore, high value fruit and vegetable crops production and cool season vegetable seed production using irrigation could be a lucrative business in the area. Such practices will also help to reduce the intensity of soil erosion caused by intensive rainfall coupled with mountainous topography with less vegetation cover and erodable soil type.

Priority crop commodities

The current major marketable crop commodities in this farming system as prioritized by farmers, experts from the woreda OoARD, BoARD, Adet and Andassa Research Centers, Bure ATVET and other institutions are as follows: 1. Bread wheat 2. Vegetables (Potato and shallot) 3. Faba bean 4. Temperate fruit crops (potential) b. Livestock production

Sheep: Highland areas of Bure woreda are suitable for sheep production. Farmers rear Dangela type sheep in this area. This breed is susceptible to disease and not adaptable to low land areas. Major sheep diseases include, foot and mouth, foot rot, pasteurolosis, etc. Household income in this farming system can be substantially improved by improving the traditional sheep production practice through proper feeding, health care and selecting fast fattening sheep types or breed. Sheep is the major marketable commodity in the area. However, farmers sell their sheep without fattening since there is shortage of credit for sheep fattening activity.

21 Poultry: Farmers in this part of the woreda also reported the importance of poultry production especially improved breeds for their household income. In 2004 and 2005 the woreda OoARD demonstrated day-old chicken with poultry feed and provided 50 day-old chicken for farmers for 125 birr. From the demonstration exercised farmers learnt the profitability of the technology. This practice created community interest on poultry production. However, supply of day-old chicken and poultry feed to interested farmers is discontinued. Supply of day-old chickens to the community can only be sustainable if interested poultry producing farmers are organized and capacitated with training, credit and necessary facilities. There is a person who makes incubators in Bahir Dar. This locally made incubator has a capacity of 400-500 eggs and is currently sold at birr 5,500. Researchers in Andassa witnessed that the efficiency of this incubator was comparable with imported ones and its hatching efficiency was 75%.

Apiculture: The PAs in this farming system have relatively better vegetation cover and water resource. Therefore, it is ideal for apiculture and farmers from different Woredas buy bee colony in this Woreda. Farmers have already started to practice bee keeping using modern beehives but need technical backup to improve its productivity. Farmers reported that modern beehives are twice as much high yielder than traditional beehives. Yield from traditional beehives ranges from 5-10 kg honey per year. On the other hand, farmers harvest about 17-20 kg hony from a modern beehive. Similarly, Holleta Bee Research Centre reported 12.24kg as the average honey yield from modern beehive. This indicates the importance of modern beehives and the potential of the area for honey production.

According to the OoARD livestock experts, a killo of honey from modern beehives was sold between 20-22 birr, while honey from traditional beehives was 16-17 birr. In some PAs there are farmers who own up to 60 modern beehives. Around 2000 modern beehives have been distributed to farmers in the woreda. However, some of the problems for beekeeping with modern beehives are high price of its accessories like honey extractor, wax molder and low preference of the honey by local traders. Local traders prefer honey with wax since it is preferred by the community for tej (local drink) making and has relatively low price. Besides this traders get wax from honey harvested from traditional beehives. These problems can be solved by establishing honey producers cooperative in the area which can facilitate marketing of honey to big towns

22 and at the same time supply accessories in group with reasonable price. In addition, insects like wax moth, bee lies, spider, ants, neocema, herbicide and pesticide spraying for crop production, premature harvesting, poor handling, lack of quality control and grading system are major problems associated with honey production. Because of lack of awareness on honey quality and lack of honey grading system, price difference between honey produced from modern and traditional beehives was very low. This situation could discourage farmers to adopt modern beehives but could be compensated by increased income due to higher price and increased yield per beehive as a result of better management and diversification of products.

On the other hand, bee forages in the woreda like in other parts of the region and the country are declining. Recently, Andassa Research Center started to evaluate the adaptability of different introduced and indigenous bee forage species. Shortage of bee forage is serious during the rainy season since most of the plants are at vegetative growth stage during this season. Therefore, introduction of adaptable bee forage species which flower during the rainy season contributes a lot to increase production and quality of honey in the area.

Most of the problems mentioned above are associated to poor management of bee hives. This is mainly attributed to lack of awareness and shortage of trained manpower. Therefore, training on modern beehive management is required both to farmers and development agents in the woreda.

Livestock priority commodities The current major marketable livestock commodities in this farming system as prioritized by farmers, experts from the woreda OoARD, BoARD, Adet and Andassa Research Centres, Bure ATVET collge and other institutions are as follows:

1. Sheep and Cattle fattening (mutton and beef) 2. Poultry (egg & meat) 3. Apiculture (honey) Environmental challenges Bure is one of the surplus grain producer woredas of Amhara National Regional State. It is well known in cereals, especially considered as a maize belt of the region. According to SG2000, the highest maize grain yield of the country (122 q/ha) was recorded in this

23 woreda. Most of the croplands in the low and mid altitude areas are covered with two crops, maize and bread wheat. Unless this intensive crop production is supported by application of adequate amount of manure, compost and inorganic fertilizers to compensate for the annual removal of nutrients in the form of crop residue and grain from crop lands, this practice will aggravate soil fertility depletion. Measure need to be taken in order not to aggravate soil acidity problems by applying higher amount of inorganic fertilizer. Rainfall in Bure is heavy as a result of which soils are acidic and hence crop/forage production will be affected. As a result, Bure is one of the woredas where the national soil test based fertilizer trial for acid affected soils carried out by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD).

Nearly all the croplands observed were without any soil conservation structures. In the absence of vegetative cover, especially during the earlier part of the rainy season, where the farmland soil is loose and without vegetative cover, soil erosion is serious problem. Beyond the removal of the top soil from crop fields, many gullies could also be formed. It is easy to assess this as one can easily see the amount of silt on the roadside ditches and small streams and rivers. This will also be further aggravated because of the relatively sloppy crop fields which will facilitate erosion in addition to nature of the soil which is vulnerable to gully formation and the rainfall conditions. Gullies are already being formed in many parts of the woreda.

The natural forest of the woreda is found in the lowlands and highlands. The lowland areas receive high temperature and rainfall and have undulating topography. All these conditions aggravate soil erosion. On top of these, farmers practice shifting cultivation in this area. This practice again enhances soil erosion and an overall environmental degradation. This will also cause irreversible biodiversity losses. Similarly, areas in the highlands are mountainous and receive high rainfall annually. Landholding in this part of the woreda is very small and the farmlands have been cultivated for a long period of time. Consequently, it is vulnerable to erosion and caused river and stream siltation. To prevent the above environmental challenges both in the lowlands and highlands, farmers should be advised to use improved land management systems in their croplands and communal grazing areas.

24 According to Table 4, the current number of livestock in the woreda is 53,868 TLUs. Care needs to be taken to minimize overgrazing of natural pasture which is only 4348 ha. This could be more aggravated due to the mono-modal rainfall nature in Bure. This higher stocking rate is expected to bring about overgrazing and hence erosion of the natural pastures. This calls for concerted efforts in order to improve the management of livestock and the natural pastures in the woreda. IPMS already gained knowledge from some of its PLWs in this regard. In addition, there are also similar experiences from the region and elsewhere which need to be applied for the benefit of the environment hence the farmer.

Bure is becoming known for its cereal production and use of herbicides for crop production. This practice is affecting the business of beekeeping in the area. This therefore calls for strategic solutions so that the increasing honey production is not hampered with extensive use of herbicide using community bylaws.

3. INSTITUTIONS

Marketing Private traders, Ethiopian grain trade enterprise, Damot MPCU/ Cooperatives/ and Bure- Damot Dairy Cooperative are the agricultural commodities marketing institutions available in Bure woreda. Farmers sell agricultural commodities to multipurpose cooperatives, Damot multipurpose cooperatives union, Ethiopian grain trading enterprise and private traders. Maize, tef, bread wheat, noug, pepper, finger millet, barley, field pea, faba bean, poultry, sheep, cattle, goat and honey are the marketable commodities in the area. Of these marketable commodities, only maize, tef, bread wheat, noug and pepper are purchased by cooperatives and Ethiopian grain trading enterprise. Other commodities are marketed only by private traders. Therefore, the role of private traders in marketing of agricultural commodities is immense. Farmers sell their produce only in the local market due to lack of market information. Consequently, private traders from different regions buy grain and other products with local market price.

Private traders Private traders involved in marketing of all sorts of agricultural commodities. More than 90% of the annual produce marketed by private traders. They purchase and sale all quality standards. Private traders are flexible in market price decision making. They

25 purchase and sale throughout the day and the year. These features of private traders attract farmers.

Private traders buy grains, livestock and honey from Bure, Alefa and Kutchie towns and sell in Bahir Dar, Wollega, Gonder, Wello, Tigray, Addis Ababa and Metema. There is good market opportunity for fattened sheep and cattle in the area since a meat processing private company named Ashrif going to be operational soon (2008) in Bahir Dar. Animals and animal products are sold only by private traders. Similarly horticultural crops are marketed only by private traders. This indicates the importance of private traders in marketing of agricultural commodities. However, private traders use to store all items together in one store. This practice resulted in quality deterioration problem. Moreover, since they purchase all quality standards, it did not encourage farmers to improve or maintain the quality of their produce. Therefore, up-grading of private trader`s skill through training on quality standards of agricultural produce, store management and transportation of agricultural produce is vital in order to supply quality produce to factories and foreign markets.

Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise is a pioneer in Ethiopian grain trade industry. It is engaged in wholesales grain trading for over 50 years. It has a branch office and warehouses with 75,000q storage capacity at Bure. The branch office has 9 employees including five watchmen. It purchases grains from small holder farmers, investors and private traders and sell food grain for governmental, non-governmental organizations, city dwellers and other customers. Its major objective is to stabilize market price of grain at national level. It purchased 15.21q, 572.44q and 75940q maize grain from small holder farmers, traders and big private farms, respectively in 2006/7 cropping season. Their main clients are the two big private farms (Ayehu and Bir farms). The enterprise has quality measuring equipments and determines price based on grain quality standard of the country. According to the office manager, although there is grain quality standard in the country, it is not implemented by private traders while buying grains. Consequently, it did not encouraged farmers to produce good quality grains. Therefore, training of private traders, farmers and purchasers of cooperatives on grain quality and methods of producing quality grain is vital to produce and sell quality grain for local industries and export market.

26 Bure is one of the surplus grain producer woredas of ANRS. This surplus produce demands proper storage structure and post harvest handling. Due to lack of appropriate storage structure and knowledge on post harvest handling of grains, pests (weevil) damaged considerable amount of grain. Ethiopian grain trading enterprise provides grain storage service at the rate of 36 cents per quintal for farmers, traders and cooperatives. Currently, Damot union and one multipurpose cooperative use this service. It can also share to others about its long term experience on grain store management and fumigation techniques. However, it is engaged only in marketing of grains, operates only during office hours and market price is decided by a lengthy process through higher officials consultation. This situation did not attract small holder farmers to sell their grains to the enterprise. Improvement of these limitations of the enterprise will benefit the country since most of the produce will be handled through technically skilled and experienced personnel.

Cooperatives Cooperatives are very important to solve problems associated to marketing of agricultural produce. The Cooperative Promotion Team of OoARD is responsible for the cooperative organization in the woreda. The team has two sections; the audit and inspection section provides audit and inspection services while the cooperative promotion and registration section provides promotion and registration services to the cooperatives.

There are 31 co-operatives in the woreda of which 11 are multi purpose, 14 saving and credit, 5 irrigation and one dairy cooperative. Multi-purpose cooperatives have 11,588 members, of which 10,542 are males and 1,046 are females (Table 10). About 53.2% of the total rural households are member of multi-purpose cooperatives. Currently these multi-purpose cooperatives have 10,751,165.82 birr total capital and are providing grain milling service, supply industrial products, purchase grains and supply agricultural inputs (seed, fertilizer and pesticide) to their members in collaboration with Agricultural Input Supply Corporation (AISCO), Ambasel and Damot Multi-purpose Cooperatives Union. Multi-purpose cooperatives purchase grain during harvesting time and supply to Damot Multi-purpose Cooperatives Union to sell when the grain price rises.

27 Table 10 Multi-purpose cooperatives in Bure wereda, members and their capital in 2006/7

Name of multipurpose Members Population Capital, Birr No. cooperatives Male Female Total Male Female Total Variable Fixed Total

1 661 46 707 1,503 1,672 3,175 905,206.20 165,819.75 1,071,025.95 Yegedamate 2 Kuch 2,082 152 2,234 5,793 5,614 11,407 2,425,225.45 159,189.15 2,584,414.60 3 Alefa 1,012 150 1,162 1,756 2,893 4,649 988814.08 230,602.84 1,219,416.92 4 Zalema 687 46 733 1,122 1,497 2,619 736,850.84 22,482.65 759,333.49 5 Baguna 1,414 304 1,718 1,042,825.88 46,071.44 1,088,897.32 6 Arbise 865 39 904 594,480.86 53,171.24 647,652.10 7 Bure Woynema 1,530 120 1,650 1,108,349.11 45,119.03 1,153,468.14 8 Tengaha 332 17 349 285,636.81 5,892.36 291,529.17 9 Denbune 671 87 758 525,267.52 85,977.74 611,245.26 10 Wondege 580 18 598 1,268 1,498 2,766 486,049.92 41,094.07 527,143.99 11 Guleme 708 67 775 1,335 1,623 2,959 772362.50 24,676.38 797,038.88 Total 10,542 1,046 11,588 9,871,069.17 880,096.65 10,751,165.82

28 Damot Multi-purpose Cooperatives Union Damot Multipurpose Cooperatives Union was established in December 30, 2000 by six multipurpose cooperatives with a total capital of 185,000 birr and 8401 male and 516 female totally 8917 members. Causes for its establishment were market problem for agricultural produce and inadequate supply of agricultural inputs. Currently, it has 40 member cooperatives from seven woredas namely Sekela, Bure, Womberma, Jabithnan, Dembecha, Dega Damot and Quarit. Its total capital increased to 4,717,966.72 birr and its members increased to 56,477 of which 50937 and 5540 were males and females, respectively by the year 2006. Of the total 40 member cooperatives, 10 are multipurpose cooperatives of Bure woreda. The office of the union is found at Bure town and provides input supply, grain marketing, rental land ploughing service (using tractor at a rate of 450 bir/ha), grain transportation service using its own truck, grain storage and credit services to its members. It also provides duplication, printing and fax services. Damot Multipurpose Cooperatives Union had 4260.3, 180264.0, 221926.0, 345938.0, 4898883.14 and 702238.75 birr profit in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively.

Although 1.2 million quintal grain is available in the area for marketing, the union buy only 100,000 quintal annually. Maize, bread wheat, rapeseed, tef, noug, pepper, finger millet and sorghum are the types of crops purchased by the union. In 2005/2006 cropping season 10,485.7q maize, 112,436q bread wheat, 75.99q rapeseed, 1703q tef, 1522q noug, 12q pepper, 67q finger millet and 5000q sorghum were purchased from farmers by the union. It considers grain quality during purchasing and sale in different places based on market price information at different places. However, purchasing price is decided by committee after lengthy process and it does not buy from farmers throughout the year and the day due to shortage of credit. Major problems on grain marketing are poor quality of grains and shortage of credit during harvesting time.

Damot Multi-purpose Cooperatives Union finalized a project document to establish bread wheat flour factory at Bure in order to sell their produce in a value added form. According to the union manager, this factory will be operational by the year 2008. It has also a plan to open livestock drug shop and oil seed pressing factory in the future. If these projects are realized, it assists farmers to sell their produce in a processed or value added form.

29 Bure-Damot dairy cooperative Milk producers in Bure town have established dairy cooperative named as BureDamot milk producers cooperative in 2006 and are supplying milk for the urban population. The cooperative has 38 male and 2 female members. Members of this cooperative totally have 286 cows. However, only 22 cows are crosses with dairy breeds. At present the cooperative produces 120 lt milk/day, which is inadequate to fulfil the milk demand in the area. According to leaders of this cooperative the average milk yield from local and cross breeds is 2lt/day and 8-10lt/day, respectively. Therefore, milk production in the area can be increased by improving problems associated to health and feed shortage and by replacing low yielding local cows with cross-bred dairy cows.

The cool weather and long rainy season prevailing at Bure is conducive for dairy cows. It has also all-weather road in four directions which is vital to collect and sell milk products. Establishment of BureDamot milk producer cooperative is also important to promote improved technologies on dairy and to market milk and its processed products collectively. But, currently this cooperative is facing some problems such as inadequate AI and health service, shortage of feed and lack of credit to purchase milk processing equipments and refrigerator. Most of these problems can be solved by linking with credit providing institutions and food processing industries like wheat flour factories, oil factories, etc in Bahir Dar.

Irrigation Cooperatives Five irrigation cooperatives with 628 members (565 males and 63 females) are operational in Bure woreda. The total capital of these cooperatives is 103,583.00 birr. They provide vegetable seed, credit, irrigation tools and transport service for their members and also administer irrigation water and collect irrigation water fee from users. The price of irrigation water varies based on area of land irrigated and type of crops growing. Irrigation water fee for onion, cabbage and carrot is 36birr/ha/production season. For maize and sugarcane the irrigation water fee is 24birr/ha/season. On the other hand, 16birr/ha/year is the irrigation water fee for banana, coffee and hops. Irrigation cooperatives also involved in marketing of vegetables produced by its members.

General problems in marketing of agricultural commodities • Lack of market information to farmers

30 • Farmers sale individually. Consequently they did not have power to bargain • Prices are not determined uniformly based on quality • Quality adulteration is a problem in the area and it is done both by farmers and traders • Both farmers and traders have low level of awareness on quality standard and store management • Animal and horticultural crop products are marketed mainly by private traders

Input supply In Bure woreda, agricultural inputs are supplied by OoARD, AISCO, Ambasel, Damot Multipurpose Cooperatives Union and private traders. Types of inputs supplied are, fertilizer, seed (maize, bread wheat, vegetables and fruit crops planting material), herbicide (2,4-D), pesticides, drugs for animal diseases, day-old chicken, semen of improved dairy breed, farm tools such as sickle, sprayer, water pump and modern beehive and industrial by-products for animal feed.

Private traders: supply pesticide, herbicides, drugs for animal diseases, industrial by- products for animal feed, sickle and sprayers for farmers. Low technical knowledge to provide sufficient advice to users on pesticide, herbicide and drugs handling & management is the problem on private traders who are involved in input supply.

Damot Multi-purpose Cooperatives Union: It is involved only in fertilizer supply. However, it has a potential to supply pesticides, drugs and AI service. It can also coordinate farmers based seed multiplication activity in the woreda.

AISCO: Fertilizer, vegetable seed, herbicide, pesticide and sprayer are the agricultural inputs supplied by AISCO. It has long time experience on agricultural input distribution. Therefore, this institution could share to other institutions about the handling and management of agricultural inputs.

Ambasel: Fertilizer, herbicide (2-4, D), pesticide, sprayer and sickle are the agricultural inputs supplied by Ambasel. It provides genuine inputs and provide technical advice to users about the proper handling and management of pesticides and herbicides.

OoARD: Seeds of improved varieties, beehives, water pump and other hand tools, pesticides, drugs for Animal disease, day-old chicken, semen, seedlings of coffee, fruit

31 crops and trees are some of the agricultural inputs supplied by OoARD. Input supply and marketing team of the office of agriculture and rural development coordinates the supply and distribution of inputs. In 2006/7, it distributed 1146 modern beehives to farmers.

Improved seed Bure woreda is known in cereal crops production. The two major cereal crops grown in the woreda are bread wheat and maize. In 2006/7 cropping season 500q and 232q improved seeds of maize and bread wheat, respectively were distributed to farmers. There is enormous seed demand for the two crops but the supply is inadequate. Bure is ideal for bread wheat production. Since it is self-pollinated crop, it is relatively simple to produce bread wheat seed by farmers. Therefore, promoting farmer based bread wheat seed production scheme seems essential to solve seed shortage in the area. It is also possible to specialize farmers as bread wheat seed producer. Currently, a contructual aggrement signed between Ethiopian Seed Enterprise and farmers to produce bread wheat seed on 40ha land in Bure woreda.

Chemical fertilizer Agricultural Input Supply Corporation (AISCO) is the main chemical fertilizer supplier in the area. It is a government organization whose main responsibility is to procure and distribute fertilizer (DAP and Urea), pesticide and insecticide to farmers. In 2006/2007 cropping season 18,448.75 quintals of DAP and 6,480.75 quintals of Urea has been distributed to farmers both in cash and credit by AISCO. Other input suppliers in the woreda are, Ambasel and Damot Multi-purpose Cooperatives Union. Fertilizer supply is usually adequate and on-time. However, farmers complain about the steadily increasing fertilizer price. As a result of this farmers are forced to apply inadequate amount of fertilizer and to prepare and use compost. Pesticide and herbicide supply is inadequate in the area. For example pesticide used to control Wello Bush Cricket, an important insect pest for pepper, is not available in Bure. Farmers control this pest by mixed planting pepper either with rapeseed or noug in the lowlands.

The union also play significant role in distributing fertilizer to its members. The amount of DAP and Urea distributed by the union in the last seven years is given in Table 11.

32 Table 11 Amount of chemical fertilizer distributed by Damot Union No. Year DAP Urea 1 2000 23973.75 8205.00 2 2001 22664.25 6040.50 3 2002 28920.25 8682.00 4 2003 53500.00 19566.00 5 2004 65604.50 23703.50 6 2005 89259.50 35008.00 7 2006 102000.00 45237.00 Source: Damot Multi-purpose Cooperatives Union, 2007

General problems on Input Supply Supply of industrial by-products for animal feed is not adequate Availability of AI service and drugs for livestock diseases is inadequate Pesticide supply especially for sporadic pests like Wello Bush cricket is inadequate Supply of grafted planting material not started

Rural Finance Farmers in Bure woreda access credit from cooperatives and Amhara Credit and Saving Institute (ACSI). They also get saving service both with ACSI and Saving cooperatives. Most of the credit money is obtained from ACSI. Recently, a private financial institution named as Harbu microfinance is operational in Bure town but it started giving credit and saving services only to urban dwellers.

Amhara Credit and Saving Institute ACSI is the major credit and saving service provider for the rural population in Amhara region with 10 branches and 174 sub-branches. It has a sub-branch at Bure town with 10 employees and provides the following financial services:

Credit service The institute follows group collateral approach for credit. About 5 to 7 male or female farmers form a group and submit credit request through their respective peasant associations and PAs screen each member of the group by taking parameters such as living at least for 5 years in the PA, known to be hard working, economically active (18-60 years old), socially acceptable, motivated and does not have mental illness problem. Training is given to this group for five to six days. Then each member registers his/her resource, planned activity to the woreda ACSI office and must voluntarily sign to pay the

33 debt if any one of the group members fails to pay the credit. Finally each member is allowed to borrow up to 1500.00 birr in the first year and up to 3000.00 birr in the second year based on his/her first year performance to purchase agricultural inputs like seed, ox, fertilizer, beehive and poultry. After 15-30 days the office with its staff checks the utilization of borrowed money for the intended activity and the presence of those registered household resources. Moreover, each client has to save 5% of the loan when taking the money and pay 1% of the loan every month as saving.

ACSI sub-branch at Bure since its establishment in 1998, lent out a total of 18, 927,176.90 birr on credit to 7,263 households of which 2,661 were male and 4,602 were females. The amount of money lent to female and male clients was 10,908,589.20 and 8,018,587.7 birr, respectively. In 2006 ACSI borrowed 4,810,952.15 birr to its clients for different activities (Table 12). The interest rate of the institute is 18%. Credit is mainly requested to purchase ploughing oxen and for cattle and sheep fattening. According to the head of ACSI at Bure, credit for fattening activities is highly profitable. However, the amount of money available in the branch office is inadequate to satisfy the credit demand in the area. In the previous days some clients were unable to pay the loan within the stipulated time. But, currently this problem is solved by strong awareness creation work and clients experience on credit.

Table 12 Amount of money borrowed from ACSI in 2006 at Bure by activity

No Activity Birr 1 Agriculture 3,870,055.80 2 Off-farm activities 224,568.00 3 Agricultural products trading 443,299.25 4 Service provision 25,665.50 5 House construction and furniture 247,363.60 Total 4,810,952.15 Source: ACSI, Bure branch, 2007

Asset loan This type of loan is mainly given to government employees by considering their salary as collateral and one person as a pledge. Loan is given by multiplying one third of the salary by 12 months. It is given to purchase household furniture, house construction, house maintenance, etc. In 2006, ACSI borrowed 247,363.00 birr as asset loan.

34 Saving Service ACSI also provide saving services to any interested individual who wants to save money starting from 5 birr at the beginning. ACSI has two types of saving clients. The first group comprises those who borrowed money from the institute and forced to save money in the institute to use it as a guarantee for the borrowed money. The second group is interested money savers. The second group has a power to withdraw their money at any time they want while the first group must pay all their credits before to withdraw money from their saving. The interest rate of ACSI (4%) is more than the rate of commercial bank (3%) and cooperatives union (3%). Farmers are not interested to save money since the interest rate is less than the profit obtained by using the money for trading. Totally the sub-branch has 6,125 saving clients. Voluntary savers have 778,463.81 birr capital. On the other hand, forced savers have 836,339.64 birr capital. Members of forced and voluntary savers at ACSI sub-branch are 4162 and 1563, respectively.

Money transfer services ACSI at Bure also administers pension payment for retired persons in the woreda.

Harbu micro-finance It is a private micro-finance institute established recently and providing credit service only for the urban population.

Cooperatives Multi-purpose cooperatives also coordinate credit distribution for fertilizer, water pump, livestock production and fattening, vegetable seeds, etc. From this service multi-purpose cooperatives and the commercial bank gets 7.5% and 5.25 % interest, respectively. Members of multipurpose cooperatives borrowed about 3,646,149.48 birr for fertilizer, 634,200 birr for livestock fattening, 56,733.88 birr for seed, 66,728.15 birr for wax, 110,150 birr for bee colony and 152,800 birr for irrigation in the year 2005/2006. Using the credit money for unplanned activities and shortage and late release of credit money are some of the problems on the credit service.

Saving and credit cooperatives In Bure woreda 14 saving and credit cooperatives are available. The objective of these cooperatives is to promote saving culture in the society and provide credit to its members with relatively low interest rate. These cooperatives have 847 male and 133 female totally 980 members and 634,461.70 birr variable capital (Table 13). About 229 male and 28

35 female members of these cooperatives borrowed 242,185 birr in 2006. Each member can borrow 3 times as much as its contribution. One of these cooperatives established children saving scheme. This scheme has 56 member children and 7,044.99 birr capital. In this woreda a saving and credit cooperatives union named as Gohe was established in 2005 and currently it has 17 member saving cooperatives.

General problems Shortage and late release of money for credit (Union and ACSI) Group collateral credit system is less preferred Low awareness of the society about the importance and management of credit

Table 13 Saving and credit cooperatives in Bure woreda, members and their capital in 2006/7

Members Capital (birr) No Name of saving and credit cooperatives Male Female Total Variable

1 Hiwote Selam 109 50 159 126,383.05 2 Genet ber 81 27 108 95,214.60 3 Alem 66 2 68 39,565.00 4 Alefen 59 6 65 41,092.00 5 Hiwot Mebrate 74 4 78 41,755.00 6 Yechalale Ambaye 66 6 72 27,360.00 7 Etube Denke 64 4 68 18,185.00 8 Yemesrache 49 3 52 27,805.00 9 Chazalaye 55 2 57 10,190.00 10 Woyneshete 56 5 61 17,610.00 11 Walelegne 50 2 52 12,055.00 12 Melakeselame 48 2 50 48,813.00 13 Medhanite 40 10 50 7,861.00 14 Geone (Urban) 30 10 40 24,573.74 Total 847 133 980 638,461.70

37 Women Affairs Office

Bure woreda Office of Women Affairs was established in 2006. It is staffed with Office head, vice head and two experts. Since its establishment efforts were made to solve some of the cultural, social and economic problems of women in the woreda. The primary focus of the office is to organize women in the form of women association at PA level and in other forms like HIV/AIDS victim women associations and government employee women associations. At present 1678 women are organized under 27 associations. Each member contributes 3 birr annually. Of the total 1063 civil servants of the woreda 406 are women. Of the total 406 women civil servants in the woreda only 122 are members of women association. Similarly, although there are 85,943 females in the woreda, only 1678 women are members of women association. This indicates the relevance of awareness creation in order to mobilize and organize women for social and economic development in the woreda.

Office of Women Affairs has only two experts. Consequently, its activities are carried out on five model PAs namely, Ambaye, Wangedam, Wundegi, Wadera and Tiyatiya. The office focus on developing awareness on gender; women’s role in socioeconomic activities of a family and the community at large; strengthening women’s capacity to access resources and information; fighting HIV/AIDS and harmful cultures (early marriage, circumcision, etc). To solve some of the economic problems of women, the office organized training for women about how to plough with ox. The office also organized women in the form of credit and saving association at Wadera Gendeba. These women are benefiting from this association since it allowed them to access money without any bureaucratic processes, which they face from other credit giving financial institutions.

In fighting the problem of HIV/AIDS the office trained 31 commercial sex workers on other income generating activities and arranged credit from ACSI to lead their life with what they are trained. As a result, these women terminated their previous life style. Besides this, the office trained 10 HIV/AIDS victim women on leather bag making. These women started leather bag making and selling. In addition, the office organized about 21 jobless young girls to generate income from beekeeping, poultry and vegetable production. It also organized experience sharing forum for women who are engaged in different income generating activities.

38 The office also organized awareness creation training for progressive couples in one PA and identified the effectiveness of the approach in order to create common understanding between husband and wife on gender equality.

The woreda Office of Women Affairs also did need assessment for rural and urban women to economically invigorate them. However, some of their projects/ efforts/ were not fruitful due to lack of fund and credit by credit giving institutions especially for poor and landless rural women.

Agricultural extension service At Bure woreda agricultural extension service is delivered to the farming community only by OoARD. The main objective of the woreda office of agriculture and rural development is to improve the livelihood of the rural population through providing efficient agricultural extension service. To achieve its objective the office has two extension teams and each team has a team leader, crop production and protection expert, livestock production expert, animal health expert, beekeeping expert, AI technician, natural resources management expert, horticultural crops production expert, home science expert and rural energy expert. Besides it has supervisors and three development agents in each PA. To support the extension service and achieve all rounded rural development the office has additional teams such as cooperative promotion team, input supply, credit and marketing team, environmental protection, land administration and use team, water resource development team, food security and disaster prevention and preparedness team, rural road construction team, plan and program service and administration and general services. The manpower status of these teams and services is given on Table 14. The organizational structure is also given in Fig 7. Table 14 Manpower of Bure woreda OoARD by education level and team Teams/ Services Education level Total ≤ 12th Certificate Diploma BSc grade Administration and general service 12 5 3 20 Plan and Program Service 2 1 3 Civil Service Reform 1 1 Extension Team 1 & 2 7 82 (59 DA) 4 93 Cooperative promotion Team 3 2 5 Input supply and Marketing Team 2 2 EPLAU Team 1 4 4 1 10 Water Resource Development Team 2 1 4 1 8 Food Security and DPP Team 1 1 Rural Road Construction Team 1 1 Total 15 22 100 7 144 Proportion (%) 10.4 15.3 69.4 4.9 100 Source: Bure woreda OoARD (May, 2007)

Head, Agriculture and Rural Development Office

Secretary

Plan and Administration, Personnel and Civil Service Reform Information Service General Service

Vice Head Agriculture and Rural Development Secretary

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Legend 7. Rural Road Construction Team

8. Food Security, Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Team 1. Extension Team 1 2. Extension Team 2 3. Environmental Protection, Land Administration and Use Team 4. Cooperative Promotion and Inspection Team 5. Input Supply, Credit and Marketing Team 6. Water Resources Development Team

Figure 7 Organizational Structure of OoARD

40 Considering the complexity of the extension service emanating from the need to deal with the diverse sources of agricultural information, advising multiple stakeholders and partners in the agricultural development effort and the range of extension mandate, the extension service in the woreda is constrained by shortage of budget and transport facility, weak vertical linkage, inadequate technical capacity of the staff, etc. About 26% of the staff is below diploma education background which is inadequate to cope with the requirements of extension-communication skill. Therefore, successive training is required to upgrade their skill and to acquaint them with market oriented participatory extension system.

Extension activities are mostly planned at the woreda level but sometimes it is planned at national and regional level and forwarded to the woreda for its implementation. Construction of terraces for soil and water conservation and demonstration of BBM on vertisol are some of the examples for the nationally/ regionally/ planned activities. In such top-down planning approach the volume of proposed activity and the reality did not coincide most of the time. It may not also address the primary problem of farmers. Consequently, development agents face challenges both from the office and farmers to implement such activities. As a result, such activities are mostly ineffective and unsustainable.

Agricultural extension services are provided to farmers in collaboration by woreda agricultural experts, supervisors and development agents. Currently there are 7 supervisors and 59 development agents (Table 15). Experts provide training and technical backup to supervisors and DAs. A supervisor is assigned for three PAs and responsible to give technical backup for DAs and to follow up the implementation of planned activities by DAs and farmers. Development agents create awareness among farmers, select model farmers and demonstrate new agricultural technologies or practices on the model farmer`s field and facilitate the evaluation of demonstrated technology by other farmers. They also teach farmers about improved technologies on churches and gathering places. They follow household and minimum package approach. Currently the extension service focused on increasing productivity of field crops. However, the extension support given to horticultural crops, livestock and natural resources conservation is limited. Besides the current extension service is not market oriented and participatory.

Table 15 Number of DAs at Bure by sex and profession in 2007

No Field of specialization Sex Total Deficit Male Female 1 Crop production 21 1 22 0 2 Livestock production 16 2 18 4 3 Natural Resources 18 1 19 3 Total 55 4 59 7 Source: OoARD, 2007

The regional as well as the federal government envisioned to deliver agricultural extension service more effectively through FTC approach. Three DAs with different field of specialization assigned in each FTCs to deliver both training and extension service to the farming community. At Bure 17 FTCs were constructed on 17 PAs and two FTCs at Alefa and Zalema PAs graduated farmers after training. Most FTCs did not started its training service due to lack of budget and teaching and demonstration materials.

HIV/AIDS service

HIV/AIDS control and prevention secretariat office of Bure woreda provides Voluntary Counseling Test (VCT) and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services. In an effort to reduce the spread of the disease, the woreda HIV/AIDS office has organized several times a campaign for HIV/AIDS test. As a result, considerable number of people from all social classes (jobless, farmers, house wives, government employees, students, traders, soldiers and others) did HIV/AIDS blood test. HIV/AIDS positive persons were identified from all social classes and at all age groups (Table 16). Of the total HIV/AIDS positive population in the woreda, 80 (53 female and 27 male) patients take Anti-Retro Virus Tablet (ART). In addition, 130 HIV/AIDS patients established an association called Berihan HIV/AIDS association. This association tries to generate income to its members from its stationery shop, a photocopy machine and bath rooms. In addition, members of this association generate income from petty trades and by sewing clothes.

Table 16 HIV/AIDS prevalence at Bure woreda based on age groups

No Age (Years) No. of persons tested for HIV No. of persons found positive Male Female Total Male Female Total 1 ≤ 4 3 5 8 12 3 2 5-14 14 15 29 45 9 3 15-19 282 321 603 19 10 4 20-24 241 154 395 625 31 5 25-29 143 99 242 16 40 56 6 30-34 84 38 122 22 14 36 7 35-39 48 37 85 14 16 30 8 40-44 39 15 54 13 8 21 9 45-49 36 4 40 72 9 10 ≥ 50 37 13 50 10 6 16 Total 927 701 1628 94 127 221 Source: Burie woreda Office of HIV/AIDS Secretariat, 2007

Bure ATVET College Bure has an Agricultural Technical and Vocational Training College (ATVET). It was established to train agricultural experts with 10+3 diploma in 1979 and carried out this responsibility up to 1985. From 1986 to June 2001 it was restructured as Technical and Vocational Training Center to train in the field of Agro-Mechanics, Auto-Mechanics and Electrical mechanics with 10+3 education level and graduated about 800 students. Starting from 2001 it is upgraded to a college level and is training Agricultural Development Agents in the field of Animal Science, Natural Resources Management and Plant Science with diploma. Until 2006, this college graduated 708 development agents for Awi and West Gojam Administrative Zones. Its capacity upgraded by constructing offices, classrooms, library and staff residence at a cost of 15.2 million Birr. Its curriculum focuses on practical training. About 70% and 30% of the total training time is allocated to practical and theoretical trainings, respectively. It has 5 ha land in the campus and laboratories in all departments for practical training. Besides frequent field visit and apparentship organized to upgrade their practical skill.

43 4. Priority commodity analysis & potential interventions The following tables provide a brief description of production, input supply and marketing aspects of the priority commodities together with areas requiring attention and potential interventions as suggested by farmers and professionals during the PRA survey, the WALC and woreda experts meetings and project planning workshop. Institutions to be involved in executing these activities are also indicated.

Table 17 Bread Wheat

Production Bread wheat is mainly produced for sale. It is mainly grown in medium altitude areas of the woreda on Nitosol. In 2005/2006 cropping season about 2969ha of land was covered with bread wheat and 113414q grain was harvested. The average productivity of bread wheat in the woreda is 38 q/ha. Farmers mostly use oxen but some times rented tractors for land preparation. They also use fertilizer and herbicide (2,4-D) for bread wheat production but they apply below the recommended rate. Sprouting of wheat emanating from the long rainy season of the area and use of early maturing bread wheat variety is a common problem in bread wheat production. This calls for the introduction of long season varieties to fit with the prevailing long rainy season. Bread wheat is harvested manually in the area but farmers request introduction of motor operated bread wheat threshers in order to minimize the effect of sprouting problem. Therefore, there is a need to demonstrate motorized bread wheat trashing technology in the area. Moreover, farmers should be encouraged to buy and use these threshers through provision of credit service. A group of farmers or individuals could be encouraged to give threshing services to other farmers. This practice will not only help to solve sprouting problem but also improve the quality of grain produced since the current threshing practice done by rotating oxen on the ground deteriorates the quality of grain through mixing grain with soil and manure. Areas requiring attention Potential interventions Responsibility Poor quality produce Train farmers to follow improved ARARI/IPMS/OoARD bread wheat production practice Sprouting problem of Kubsa Introduction of non-sprouting bread ARARI/EIAR/CIMMYT/ wheat varieties IPMS/ OoARD

Solve the problem by adjusting its planting time

Introduce motorized trashing machine Septoria and rust affecting Encourage use of rust resistant OoARD/ARARI/IPMS/ wheat production bread wheat varieties Bahir Dar plant health clinc Encourage diversification of bread wheat varieties growing in the area Maize stem borer Train farmers and DAs on OoARD/ARARI/IPMS/ sometimes affecting wheat application of appropriate production if wheat follows measures including precursor crop maize selection and pesticide application

44 Low rate of fertilizer Demonstrate the economic OoARD/IPMS application advantage of optimum fertilizer rate application

Train farmers and DAs how to prepare and use compost Quality reduction due to Introduce small scale motorized Cooperatives/Bahir Dar threshing on the ground by wheat threshing machine farm machinery, IPMS, ox OoARD High post-harvest loss by Train farmers about grain store OoARD/ Bhir Dar farm weevil management and demonstrate machinery/ IPMS improved grain storage structures Input supply Almost the entire farmers of Bure woreda plant only one bread wheat variety called Kubsa (HAR 1685). Growing one variety for a long time and on extended area creates favourable condition for disease out break. Although seeds of improved varieties should not be recycled more than two times, farmers at Bure use 3-5 times recycled seed of bread wheat. Such practice result in quality deterioration and yield reduction. They use recycled seed since seed supply is inadequate and expensive. However, there is a good start in the woreda since Ethiopian Seed Enterprise started to multiply certified seed of bread wheat on farmers’ field. About 40 farmers signed a contractual agreement with ESE to produce certified seed of bread wheat on 40ha of land in this cropping season. Seeds of improved varieties are supplied only through the OoARD as extension package program. Areas requiring attention Potential interventions Responsibility Lack of demonstration of Demonstration of available ARARI/ EIAR /IPMS alternative improved bread improved bread wheat varieties /OoARD wheat varieties Late arrival of fertilizer Strengthen the capacity of Cooperatives cooperatives union in order to Union/IPMS timely supply fertilizer High price of fertilizers Strengthen the capacity of OoARD/ Cooperatives cooperative union to supply Union/ IPMS fertilizer with reasonable price

Encourage farmers to use compost

Training of farmers and DAs on the scientific method of compost preparation Inadequate improved seed Establish sustainable seed supply OoARD/IPMS/ supply system by organizing seed Cooperatives producer farmers group with skills in proper post harvesting handling

Encourage big private farm owners to be involved in bread wheat seed production Long chain of input supply Encourage Cooperative Union to Cooperatives system import input, mainly fertilizer Union/OoARD/IPMS

45 Seed and fertilizer supply is Collect input demand of farmers OoARD/IPMS/ACSI inadequate ahead of time by OoARD Credit High interest rate of credit, Look for alternative credit OoARD/IPMS/Cooperati especially from ACSI suppliers around ves Marketing Most of the bread wheat is sold individually to private traders. The amount of grain sold through the cooperative system is very small. It is sold on the local market and farmers did not sale bread wheat directly to bread wheat flour factories. There is also considerable post harvest loss in the stores of private traders or cooperative. Areas requiring attention Potential interventions Responsibility Lack of quality based wheat Encourage private traders, factory OoARD/IPMS/ pricing owners and cooperative union to Cooperatives Union implement quality based pricing of bread wheat

Train farmers, traders and experts on bread wheat quality parameters and standards of the country Price fluctuation between Develop contract farming system Cooperatives Union/ years with wheat flour factories OoARD/ IPMS/flour factories Create a platform involving all stakeholders Low market price during Strengthen cooperatives to Cooperatives harvesting time purchase at a reasonable price Union/OoARD/IPMS/ during harvesting time EGTE

Rearrange credit repayment schedule

Facilitate grain storage facility to cooperatives in the Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise so that they can sell when it becomes expensive Shortage of credit for Arrange credit facility for ACSI/IPMS cooperatives to involve in cooperatives marketing of grain Lack of information on the Conduct the study using Post IPMS constraints and potentials of graduate students bread wheat production and marketing at Bure

46 Table 18 Pulses (Faba Bean)

Production Faba bean is the most important crop in the highlands but it is also widely grown in the mid altitude areas of Bure woreda. On average 11427q faba bean produced annually on 884 ha land in Bure. Farmers grow low yielding and small seeded local faba bean varieties. Efforts in terms of introducing high yielding and large seeded improved varieties would benefit farmers through export market in Sudan. Faba bean is one of the cash crops for farmers in the highlands. Farmers also grow faba bean in rotation with cereals to improve the fertility of their croplands. Currently farmers reported that faba bean is demanding fertilizer application which was not the case before. Research made by the national soil laboratory indicated that application of bio-fertilizer on faba bean improves productivity. Therefore, use of this bio- fertiliser reduces the cost of chemical fertilizer. Farmers started to use raw planting and apply fertilizer at a very low rate compared to the recommended rate. Farmers grow only local varieties and land preparation is done by ox. They did not use herbicide for weed control. Chocolate spot and rust among diseases and boll worm and weevil among insect pests cause significant yield loss on faba bean. Areas requiring attention Potential interventions Responsibility Lack of demonstration of Introduce and demonstrate export ARARI/EIAR/IPMS/ improved varieties type improved varieties of faba OoARD bean Higher yield loss due to Develop and introduce diseases ARARI/EIAR/IPMS chocolate spot and rust resistant varieties and other disease management techniques Low productivity due to low Use bio-fertilizers and compost ARARI/EIAR/IPMS soil fertility Input supply Farmers use local varieties. Seeds of improved varieties are not yet introduced in the area. Moreover, farmers can not maintain improved varieties seed since it is a highly cross pollinated crop. Inoculums for different legumes are available in National Soils Research Laboratory at the cost of 15-20 birr per kg. About 0.5kg inoculums is enough for a hectare of land. But this technology is not yet introduced in the area. Areas requiring attention Potential interventions Responsibility Lack of seed supply of Develop farmer based seed ARARI/EIAR/IPMS/ improved faba bean varieties production by organizing farmers OoARD to grow the same variety in group High fertilizer price and late Strengthen the capacity of arrival cooperatives union to supply fertilizer at a reasonable price and on time Marketing Pulses are only sold through private traders. Cooperatives did not buy faba bean. There is price fluctuation in different seasons. The price is very low (300-350 birr/q) between November and January and high (>430 birr/q) in February and afterwards. There is lack of pricing faba bean based on quality standards. Faba bean is susceptible to weevil in the store. Consequently, farmers sell the produce immediately after harvest. Areas requiring attention Potential interventions Responsibility

47 Price fluctuations between Cooperatives should be involved Cooperatives/ seasons and years in marketing of faba bean in order ACSI/IPMS to stabilize market price of faba bean Lack of quality based pricing Encourage private traders to OoARD/IPMS implement quality based pricing of faba bean

Training of farmers and traders on quality standards of faba bean Serious weevil damage due Train DAs and farmers about store OoARD/IPMS to poor store management management to control weevil Individual marketing resulted Strengthen cooperatives Cooperatives/OoARD/ in low market price IPMS Poor quality produce Introduce export quality variety ARARI/EIAR/IPMS/ OoARD Improve quality of the produce through adopting proper crop production practices

Table 19 Pepper

Production Pepper is mainly produced under rainfed condition in the low and mid altitude areas of Bure woreda. Even though it is limited, pepper is also produced under irrigation. Farmers grow an improved variety called Marko fana and local pepper varieties. Bure and its surrounding is the major pepper producing area in the Amhara region. It is sold to different places of the northern parts of the country. Farmers plant on the average 12% of their land and some farmers get up to 25,000 birr annually from this crop. Land preparation is done by oxen and plough four to six times. Farmers plant by direct sowing method in the lowlands where farmers plant about 1 ha of land and by transplanting of seedlings in the mid altitude areas. Wello Bush Cricket, cut worm and boll warm (insect pests) and dumping-off and root rot (diseases) are major constraints for pepper production. To control crickets farmers use chemicals and intercrop with rapeseed and noug. They apply fertilizer at the rate of 200kg DAP and 100kg Urea. Because of cheating by traders with their weighing scales, farmers have started to adulterate the produce by sprinkling water to the already dried pepper so that it will raise the weight of the produce. This practice resulted in burning of a pepper store at Alefa, one of the PAs in Bure.

Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities/tasks addressed Low quality pepper Supply seeds of improved ESE/ARARI/EIAR/IPMS/ production varieties of pepper OoARD

Train on proper pepper production practices Disease like root rot problem Practice proper land management ARARI/EIAR/IPMS/ and crop rotation practice OoARD Pests, cut worm, boll worm , Application of appropriate ARARI/EIAR/ IPMS/

48 but mainly cricket chemicals or cultural practices OoARD Inadequate knowledge on Train farmers and Traders on the IPMS/OoARD pepper post harvest handling post harvest handling of pepper Input supply Farmers grow local varieties because of shortage of seed supply. They prefer to grow Marko fana since it has high market price and higher dry pod yield. Farmer to farmer seed supply system need to be established. However, as pepper is out crossing, improved seed need to be supplied annually from ESE or the research system to seed producing farmers. Farmers apply DAP and urea at the rate of 200 kg/ha and 100 kg/ha, respectively to improve soil fertility for pepper production. Few farmers also use compost in their pepper farms. They use pesticide to control cricket. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Inadequate seed supply Introduce farmer based seed ARARI/EIAR/IPMS/ causes to grow low quality production in a group approach OoARD and low yielding varieties since it is cross pollinated crop Lack of alternative varieties Introduce and demonstrate ARARI/IPMS/OoARD seed supply alternative pepper varieties Late arrival of fertilizers Strengthen the capacity of Cooperatives cooperatives union for input Union/AISCO/OoARD/ supply IPMS

Encourage private traders to be involved in input supply system High fertilizer price Use alternatives like compost to OoARD/ IPMS improve soil fertility Higher price and Support cooperatives to supply Cooperatives unavailability of chemicals to pesticides with reasonable price Union/AISCO/OoARD/ control cricket and on time IPMS

Encourage private traders to be involved in pesticide supply system Marketing Pepper is sold to private traders and cooperatives. Its local market price is highly variable ranging from 9 birr per kg in December and January to 21birr/kg in May and after wards. Pepper produced in Bure and its environs sold in Gojam, Gonder, Wello and Tigray by private traders. However, the use of the produce as a raw material for oleoresin factories is not yet started. Adulteration of pepper by farmers and weighing scale manipulation by traders are major problems in marketing of pepper. Quality of the produce is substantially affected as a result. Quality based pricing would encourage farmers to produce high quality product so that they will fetch better prices from their product. Pepper from improved varieties like Mareko Fana fetch 3-4 birr/kg extra compared to the local variety. This variety need to be introduced to Bure in a sustainable way. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed

49 Water sprinkling on dry Encourage quality based pricing OoARD/Traders/Cooper pepper and addition of inert of pepper atives/ IPMS materials affecting the quality Establish stakeholder platform to create awareness and regulate the quality of pepper Market price fluctuation Establish pepper marketing OoARD/IPMS cooperatives. Lack of linkages between Encourage contract farming OoARD/IPMS farmers and oleoresin between farmers and oleoresin factories factories Drying of pepper on the Training of farmers on proper OoARD/IPMS ground also affects quality drying methods to reduce quality deterioration problem Produce from the local Introduce better quality varieties OoARD/ARARI/IPMS varieties is of poor quality like Mareko Fana Lack of market information Available market information to OoARD/IPMS farmers at FTC level Lack of information on the Conduct study using post IPMS profitability of the current graduate students on the pepper production system production and marketing system of pepper

Table 20 Potato

Production Potato is one of the most widely grown crops in the highlands of Bure. In the highlands farmers grow potato three times per year as rainfed, with residual moisture and irrigation. It is also produced in the mid altitude areas with irrigation. On the average about 356095q ware potato produced from 2500 ha of land annually. Farmers use low yielding and disease susceptible potato varieties. Potato late blight, bacterial wilt, potato tuber moth incur significant yield loss. Therefore, introduction of disease resistant varieties is essential. Similarly, demonstration of proper potato production techniques would help to boost potato productivity in the area. Areas which need to Potential interventions Responsibilitie be addressed s/tasks Grow low yielding local Introduce and demonstrate high yielding IPMS/ARARI varieties improved varieties of potato Late blight Introduce tolerant/ resistant varieties IPMS/ARARI Potato tuber moth Spray pesticide or use Tagetus manuta (weed) OoARD/IPMS damage both in store in the store to deter moth and in the field Train farmers and DAs on moth control methods (proper field management, use of botanicals, etc) Bacterial wilt, locally Proper crop management and crop rotation for ARARI/ IPMS/ called AIDS 3-4 years away from Solanaceous family OoARD

Use healthy planting material (seed tuber)

Uproot diseased plant and burn it Train farmers and DAs about the control methods of wilt Low level of fertilizer Use alternative fertilizers like compost and OoARD/ application due to high noug seed cake IPMS/ARARI fertilizer price Determine the optimum rate of compost and noug seed cake for potato production

Train farmers and DAs about proper compost preparation Short shelf life of potato Introduce Cool Chamber facility for ware potato ARARI/IPMS/Oo and diffused light store for seed tuber ARD

Train farmers and DAs about the effect of proper harvesting on the shelf-life of potato tuber

Arrange experience sharing tours to farmers in Shashemane and Holleta Input supply Potato is growing three times per year in Bure. Consequently, it demands input supply three times per year. There is no improved varieties seed tuber supply system in the area. Moreover, fertilizer is unavailable for residual moisture and irrigated potato production system. It is not also adequate for rainfed potato production system since its planting date is early compared to other crops. Consequently, farmers solve the above problem through use of compost, FYM and noug cake. Small scale potato harvesting equipments are not introduced in the area like in other parts of the country. Introduction of such equipments will help to increase the shelf life of potato by reducing the amount of tuber damage caused by the current potato harvesting system. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Lack of improved potato Establish farmer based potato ARARI/ IPMS/ OoARD variety seed tuber supply seed tuber multiplication system system causes to grow poor quality, low yielding and Train farmers about potato seed disease susceptible varieties tuber production and storage techniques Late arrival of fertilizers for Organise and support Cooperatives Union/ the rainy season crop and cooperatives for input supply AISCO/ OoARD/ IPMS lack of supply for irrigated and residual moisture crop Encourage private traders to be involved in input supply system High fertilizer price Strengthen the capacity of Damot Union/ OoARD/ cooperatives union to import and IPMS/ACSI distribute fertilizer at a reasonable price Lack of potato harvester Demonstrate and introduce small OoARD/ IPMS resulted in higher yield loss scale potato harvester

51 due to tuber mechanical damage during harvesting Marketing Farmers sale their potato to private traders. According to their report potato produced in Bure apart from the local market it is transported to Wollega. Farmers as well as traders do not sale potato based on quality and do not practice tuber grading. Introduction of such practice will encourage farmers to produce good quality tuber and vital to supply quality tuber for the processing plant which will be operational soon at Koso Ber. Currently farmers complain about the involvement of brokers in potato marketing system. Since potato is perishable product farmers sale their produce as per brokers determined price of potato. This situation makes potato production unprofitable business. Therefore, establishment of strong potato marketing system which can remove mal-functioning brokers seems essential. Potato is also mainly growing in the areas which are relatively inaccessible. Besides potato is bulky for transportation. Hence expansion of this commodity needs expansion of rural roads. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Market price fluctuation Create organized potato OoARD/IPMS marketing system Lack of direct linkage Establish potato marketing groups WoA/OoARD between potato producers and traders due to brokers Take legal actions on middlemen (middlemen) Create strong link with potato processing plant that will be operational soon in Koso Ber Lack of potato tuber grading Train farmers and traders about OoARD/IPMS/ARARI system for marketing tuber grading and encourage quality based pricing system Lack of road network to Organize farmers to construct dry OoARD transport with truck weather rural road

Table 21 Shallot

Production Shallot is an important crop in the highlands of Bure woreda. It is cultivated two times per year with rainfed and under irrigation condition. The irrigated shallot production system is more productive than the rainfed system. Annually about 165300q shallot is produced from 1955ha of land in Bure. Farmers grow local variety. This variety demands up to six month to reach maturity. It is also susceptible to diseases like bulb rot and leaf blotch. Shallot production is also affected by frost. However, farmers strive to produce it since it is the most important cash crop in the area. They did not apply adequate amount of fertilizer for shallot production but apply manure to improve the fertility of the soil. Areas which need to Potential interventions Responsibilitie be addressed s Grow low yielding local Introduce and demonstrate high yielding IPMS/ARARI varieties improved varieties of shallot from D.Ziet Purple blotch and bulb Introduce and demonstrate different pesticides IPMS/ARARI/ rot problem OoARD Train farmers precaution measures for bulb rot

52 disease Inadequate chemical Use alternative fertilizers like compost and OoARD/ fertilizer application due manure IPMS/ARARI to high fertilizer price Determine the optimum rate of compost and manure for shallot production

Train farmers and DAs about proper compost preparation Inappropriate irrigation Demonstrate appropriate irrigation schedule IPMS/OoARD system (flooding) Introduce and demonstrate irrigation techniques with high water use efficiency (plastic mulching, etc) Short shelf life of shallot Introduce Cool Chamber facility ARARI/IPMS/ OoARD Train farmers and DAs about the effect of curing on the shelf-life of shallot Input supply Shallot is growing two times per year in Bure. Consequently, it demands input supply for both the cropping season. There is no improved variety planting supply system in the area. Moreover, fertilizer is unavailable for irrigated shallot production system. Consequently, farmers solve the above problem through use of compost and FYM. Shortage of irrigation water is major constraint for irrigated shallot production. Shallot is affected by bulb rot and leaf blotch but fungicides are not available in the area. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Lack of improved shallot Establish farmer based shallot ARARI/ IPMS/ OoARD variety seed bulb supply multiplication system system causes to grow poor quality, low yielding and Train farmers about shallot seed disease susceptible varieties bulb production and storage techniques Lack of fertilizer supply for Organise and support Cooperatives Union/ irrigated shallot production cooperatives for input supply AISCO/ OoARD/ IPMS

Encourage private traders to be involved in input supply system High fertilizer price Strengthen the capacity of Damot Union/ OoARD/ cooperatives union to import and IPMS/ACSI distribute fertilizer at a reasonable price Marketing Farmers sale their shallot to private traders. According to their report shallot produced in Bure apart from the local market it is transported to Wollega and Addis Ababa. Farmers as well as traders do not sale shallot based on quality standard. Currently farmers complain about the involvement of broker or middlemen in shallot marketing system. Since shallot is perishable product, farmers sale their produce as per brokers determined price. This situation makes shallot production unprofitable business. Therefore, establishment of strong shallot marketing system which can remove mal-functioning brokers seems essential. Shallot

53 is also mainly growing in areas which are relatively inaccessible. Besides it is bulky for transportation. Hence expansion of this commodity needs expansion of rural roads. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Market price fluctuation Create organized shallot OoARD/IPMS marketing system Lack of direct linkage Establish strong shallot producing WoA/OoARD between shallot producers and trading groups (platform) and traders due to brokers (middlemen) Take legal actions on mal- behaving middlemen Lack of market information Collect and post shallot market OoARD/IPMS information at shallot producing PA FTCs Lack of road network to Organize farmers to construct dry OoARD transport with truck weather rural road

Table 22 Tropical and sub-tropical fruits

Production Bure has ideal environmental condition for the production of tropical and sub-tropical fruits. There is also ample irrigation water resource as well traditional and modern irrigation schemes in the area. However, fruit production is just started and needs to be supported. Fruit juice shops in Bure town receive fruits from Wollega and Addis Ababa for their shop. For the last long time, the small fruit nursery of OoARD was the only fruit crops planting material supplier. This nursery supply mango, avocado, guava and papaya seedlings propagated by seed. It also distributes seedlings and suckers of different coffee and banana varieties respectively. The local mango is fibrous and has small flesh to stone ratio. Similarly avocado trees are tall and less productive with small stone to flesh ratio. Despite this fact, farmers demand to seedlings of these fruit crops is steadily increasing. This situation also pushed some farmers to start in fruit crops seedling raising and selling activity. However, both farmers and the OoARD nurseries multiply and distribute planting materials of unimproved varieties by seed. Propagation of known improved varieties by grafting is not yet started. Moreover, farmers as well as experts are not skilled on grafting. Therefore, training of farmers as well as experts on grafting will contribute for the distribution of improved fruit crops varieties. At about 50 km north of Bure near to a small town called Enjibara there is a private fruit nursery which will be a future school for farmers who will be involved in farmer based fruit seedling supply system. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Fruits grown and Introduce grafted improved fruit OoARD/ IPMS/EIAR distributed from OoARD crops varieties through farmer nursery are of poor quality based fruit crops planting material supply system Some fruits like mango are Train farmers and DAs about OoARD/ IPMS pushed to higher the adaptation ecology and elevations requirements of different fruit crops Poor fruit tree management Training of farmers and DAs on OoARD/IPMS/ARARI

54 (pruning, irrigation practice) fruit tree management

Organize experience sharing visit Poor harvesting practice Introduce different fruit OoARD/IPMS/ARARI harvesting techniques to maintain the quality and elongate the shelf-life of fruits Input supply The major fruit crops seedlings source to farmers is the nursery of OoARD. Recently, some individual farmers are also raising and selling fruit seedling to fellow farmers. This is an encouraging practice and needs to be supported so that these farmers will be able to sell improved varieties in the future. Farmers grow unimproved varieties of different fruit crops using seedlings. Moreover, other necessary inputs like micro-nutrients essential to improve the quality of fruits and grafting as well as pruning equipments are unavailable.

Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Lack of improved varieties Introduce scions of improved OoARD/IPMS/ARARI planting material varieties and train farmers fruit crops grafting techniques

Support the farmer based fruit seedling supply system Shortage of fertilizer during Make avail fertilizer throughout IPMS/OoARD/Cooperatives off-season the year through cooperatives Lack of pruning and Make available through IPMS/OoARD/Cooperatives grafting equipments cooperatives and private traders Shortage of fungicides and Make available through IPMS/OoARD/Cooperatives pesticides cooperatives and private traders Lack of Ice boxes for Avail ice boxes for transporting IPMS/OoARD/Cooperatives transporting scions scions

Avail initial mother trees to use them as future sources of scion Marketing Currently farmers did not face market problem for their fruits since the annual produce is extremely lower than the local market demand. Lack of market will not be a problem in the near future for fruits since the big towns in the surroundings are currently getting fruits from long distances in the southern and western parts of the country. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Poor quality produce Improve the quality of fruits OoARD/IPMS/ARARI through using improved varieties or by top-working Lack of quality based Introduce fruit grading OoARD/IPMS pricing techniques to farmers and

55 traders Encourage farmers and traders to determine price based on quality standard

Table 23 Cattle fattening

Production The number of livestock particularly of cattle is very high in Bure. The type of cattle breed available in the area is Huro breed. It has small body size compared to Fogera and Borena breed. There is animal disease problem especially in the lowlands. The prevailing environmental condition in Bure is conducive to support cattle fattening. High rainfall and long rainy season in the area is ideal to grow different forage species during the rainy season. Some farmers have the experience in fattening cattle and even selling fattened animals to Sudan at the Metema market. However, farmers fatten their own old ox which does not gain weight within a short period of time. Availability of large amount of crop residues and presence of oil cake from oil pressing factories are feed resources to encourage fattening. However, farmers have low experience in feed combination, housing and health care for fattening. Shortage of credit is a major constraint because cattle fattening is capital intensive activity. Knowledge of selecting appropriate age and cattle type for fattening is essential and hence farmers need to be trained. Establishment of a new meat processing plant called Ashrif in Bahir Dar could be a good source of market for farmers in Bure. Areas which need to be Potential Interventions Responsibility addressed Inadequate knowledge on beef Train farmers on housing and ARARI/EIAR/ILRI/ cattle management other beef cattle management IPMS techniques Feed shortage and lack of Introduce fodder technologies, BoARD, ARARI, knowledge on feed conservation improvement of natural pasture, EIAR, ILRI, IPMS, and feeding systems improving the nutritive value of Cooperatives/Union crop residue through Urea treatment, supply of concentrates by cooperatives/Union Livestock diseases affecting cattle Introduce effective vaccination Extension, ARARI, fattening and treatment and de-worming ILRI, IPMS program Train farmers to minimize transhumance Train of paravets Shortage of budget for animal Training of paravets Extension, ARARI, health surveillance, ILRI, IPMS Limited involvement of credit Enhance credit service for Extension, ACSI, institutions in financing fattening fattening activities Cooperatives, activities IPMS Input supply The availability of oil seed cakes in Bure is a potential to enhance cattle fattening. In addition, Bure is a cereal belt which is another asset to get different types of brans. However, weak veterinary service may hamper cattle fattening and hence training of paravets will be important.

56 Areas which need to be Potential Interventions Responsibility addressed Shortage of cattle with big body Improve the genetic potential of OoARD, Andassa, size for fattening local cattle breed through BoARD, IPMS selection Inadequate industrial by-products Organize private concentrate feed OoARD/IPMS supply for animal feed suppliers from industries Shortage of drugs, poor quality Train paravets, improve supply of Extension, ARARI, contraband drugs, limited animal drugs through cooperatives and ILRI, IPMS health services supporting trained animal drug traders (Avail credit if necessary) Marketing Though few farmers have started selling their fattened animals outside Bure, most sell in the local market to local traders. It is crucial to link farmers involved in fattening with big cattle traders who may be involved in export. Areas which need to be Potential Interventions Responsibility addressed Limited linkages with traders Develop strong linkage with cattle OoARD/ IPMS fattening farmers and traders through establishing a platform. Limited market information Develop market information OoARD/ IPMS resulting in low prices dissemination system by collecting and posting market prices at FTCs

Table 24 Dairy Production Bure has suitable environmental condition for milk production. It is possible to grow different forage species because of the long rainy season in the woreda. The cool weather condition prevailing in the mid and highland areas of Bure woreda is suitable for dairy cattle breed. However, the number of dairy cows available in the hands of farmers is very limited. Despite this fact about 40 urban dwellers have established a milk producers cooperative in 2007. The BureDamot Milk producers’ cooperative has started to collect and sale milk in Bure town. Once the capacity of this cooperative is strengthened, there is a potential that the cooperative will expand its collection sites beyond Bure town. This is expected to encourage farmers in milk production and marketing activities as well as to extend improved dairy management technologies. Areas which need to be Potential Interventions Responsibility addressed Inadequate knowledge on dairy Increase knowledge on ARARI/ ILRI/ IPMS cattle management management (production, housing, milk handling, and processing) Feed shortage and lack of Introduce fodder technologies, OoARD, ARARI, knowledge on feed conservation improvement of natural pasture, ILRI, IPMS, and feeding systems improving the nutritive value of Cooperatives Union crop residue through Urea treatment, supply of concentrates by cooperatives Union or private traders

57 Disease affecting milk production, Introduce precaution and effective OoARD, Bahir Dar e.g mastitis treatment measures animal health laboratory, ARARI, ILRI, IPMS Limited involvement of credit Enhance credit service for dairy ACSI, institutions in financing dairy activities Cooperatives, activities IPMS credit scheme High yielding indigenous breeds Consider high milk producing OoARD/IPMS are not considered indigenous cattle breeds (Fogera, Borena, etc.) Input Supply Dairy development is at infant stage but the potential is very high. The entry point for developing dairy in Bure could be through the existing dairy cooperative. Hence, dairy related input supply is at its initial stage. The cooperative itself did not want to collect and process more than their current capacity of 100-120 l/day due to lack of refrigerators and shortage of cream separator and other equipments. Areas which need Potential Interventions Responsibility to be addressed Low genetic potential Improve genetic potential of OoARD, Andassa, BoARD, IPMS of local cattle breeds local cattle breed through for dairy improved delivery of AI service and establishment of bull stations Shortage of drugs, Encourage private veterinary Extension, ARARI, ILRI, IPMS poor quality service like that of Ada’a Dairy contraband drugs, Cooperative limited animal health Train paravets at community services level Avail drugs through cooperatives Cooperative lacks Improve handling, processing, ILRI/IPMS/ACSI modern handling and storage and transportation processing facilities of cooperatives equipments for dairy Provide training about handling (including butter and operating of milk processing churns, etc.) equipments Provide credit service Marketing The cooperative has started buying and selling of milk and milk products. Since its establishment about three months ago, it has increased collecting milk from 10 to 120 l/day. This shows a sign of improvement and is expected to involve as many farmers in the surrounding PAs. The cooperative is still unable to satisfy the milk demand of the town dwellers which is mainly because of lack of equipments. In addition to the town dwellers, there are ATVET and soft drink bottling plant in the town with a number of students and labourers, respectively. This is a good market opportunity for the dairy cooperative. Once the capacity of the cooperative is strengthened, Bure is accessible in four directions which is favourable to open milk collection sites in all directions and in order to reach as many farmers in the countryside. Areas which need Potential Interventions Responsibility

58 to be addressed Cultural barrier to Strengthen the existing dairy OoARD/IPMS sell milk cooperative in Bure town in order to teach farmers through practical benefits There is no milk Conduct milk demand and OoARD/IPMS demand and supply supply study in Bure and nearby data in Bure towns Low level of Train farmers and members of OoARD/IPMS/ILRI/ LandO`lakes knowledge on dairy cooperative and DAs on different products of different products of milk and milk and its processing method. processing methods

Table 25 Sheep fattening

Production Farmers rear two types of sheep breeds in Bure woreda. Huro breed is common In the lowlands and Dangela breed is common in higher altitudes areas. Some farmers have already got the experience of fattening and selling sheep. There is large number of sheep population especially in the high and mid altitude areas and many farmers desire to be involved in sheep fattening programme. The problem in this practice is mainly related to shortage of credit. The woreda has limited credit scheme for sheep and cattle fattening activities compared to the society demand. Sheep fattening can easily take off if adequate credit is made available. Although farmers in the lowlands have excess feed resource during the rainy season, they do not have the knowledge to conserve the available feed resource and use during the dry season of the year. Moreover there are a number of sheep diseases which result in weight loss and death. Areas which need to be Potential Interventions Responsibility addressed Inadequate knowledge on Increase knowledge on ARARI, EIAR/ILRI sheep feeding and management (feeding, selection /OoARD/IPMS breeding management and housing of sheep) Feed shortage and lack of Introduce fodder technologies, BoARD, ARARI, EIAR, ILRI, knowledge on feed improvement of natural pasture, IPMS, Cooperatives/Union conservation and feeding improving the nutritive value of systems crop residue through Urea treatment, production and supply of concentrates by cooperatives/Union Different diseases, internal Training of paravets OoARD/ Bahir Dar Animal and external parasites Introduce effective vaccination Health Laboratory, ARARI, problem and treatment and deworming ILRI, IPMS program Limited credit to support Enhance credit service for ACSI, Cooperatives, IPMS sheep fattening and sheep fattening and production production activities activities Input supply Sheep production and fattening activity can easily take off since most necessary inputs are easily available in the area. There are crop residues, large number of sheep and oil pressing

59 factories which can avail supplementary feed resources. Moreover, There is strong desire to be involved in this programme provided that credit is available. Farmers in the cereal/potato/livestock system have small landholding and could specialize on sheep fattening with a little support on credit. In addition, other farmers in the other farming system also need to be involved in the sheep fattening programme. Areas which need to be Potential Interventions Responsibility addressed Feed supply for year round Train farmers and development OoARD/IPMS/ACSI/ARARI fattening is inadequate agents about feed resources and their management for dry season Establish concentrate feed suppliers Shortage of drugs, poor Develop effective animal health OoARD, ARARI, ILRI, IPMS, quality contraband drugs, services, train paravets, Cooperatives limited animal health improve supply of drugs through services cooperatives and private traders Sheep breed management Use better ram ARARI/IPMS/OoARD Marketing The fact that some farmers have the knowledge of fattening and selling sheep. In addition, farmers reported lack of market problem for sheep. However, farmers sell their sheep individually and only in the local market. This indicates that farmers lack market information. Moreover, to document and identify intervention points there is a need to study sheep marketing, its profitability, destination and other market related issues. Areas which need to be Potential Interventions Responsibility addressed Most farmers sell sheep Train farmers sheep fattening OoARD/ IPMS without fattening practice Limited linkages with Develop a platform OoARD, IPMS, traders cooperatives, traders Limited market information Develop market information OoARD, IPMS resulting in low prices through the extension system and share with farmers Weight loss due to Improving transportation system OoARD, IPMS inappropriate during marketing of sheep transportation for marketing There is no information on Conduct sheep production and OoARD, ARARI, IPMS sheep production and marketing study marketing system of the woreda

60 Table 26 Apiculture Production Farmers in Bure woreda have about 4801 beehives. The number of beehives in the woreda is not big but it is increasing every year. The OoARD reported that 1644 modern and 99 Kenya top bar beehives were distributed in 2007 alone. There are farmers who have 60 modern beehives in some of the PAs. Demand to modern beehives is high and the OoARD wants to expand apiculture. There is good vegetation cover which will be bee forage both in the low and high altitude areas. In addition, there is water resource in these areas for bees. Moreover, the size of land holding especially in the highlands is very small and there are a lot of landless youth in the area who can generate income from beekeeping. However due to extensive use of herbicides and pesticides to support cereal production, beekeeping business is backfired in the area. In addition, there is shortage of specialized expert in the OoARD for bee keeping. There will be a bee training centre in Gorgora and the project can utilise this facility to exploit this centre for training DAs and or farmers. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Traditional system of honey Training of farmers OoARD, Andassa harvesting (smoking, throwing Research Center, away of larvae) SOS-Sahel, IPMS Bee diseases like Nosema and Training, develop pest and OoARD, Andassa Amoeba and pests and predators disease control system, Research Center, like wax moth, ants, bee lice, Introduce proper hygiene, ,SOS-Sahel, IPMS honey badger and bee eating birds position of beehive, remove (nebe bella – green with yellow old logs, train on dry season chest) feeding system. Lack of awareness on Awareness creation on Andassa Research supplementation of honey bees importance of Center/ OoARD/ IPMS during feed shortage season supplementation No regular bee colony market, but Examine introduction of OoARD, Andassa the system is farmer to farmer queen rearing, colony Research center, splitting method IPMS Shortage of credit service to Sustainable credit service ACSI, Cooperatives purchase necessary inputs for should be designed for bee promotion team beekeeping keeping No training on handling and Training of farmers OoARD, Andassa processing Research Center, IPMS Wax is about 50 Birr/kg, but Examine holistic approach to OoARD, IPMS farmers do not benefit from it as apiculture development they sale honey with the wax Death of bee colonies during Application of chemicals OoARD/IPMS chemical application when bee colonies are inactive so that they will not be killed Input supply Input related constraints are unavailability and higher price of modern beehives accessories. This problem could be solved by providing adequate credit for beekeeping and by organizing a group of farmers who can buy these accessories in group. Moreover, farmers lack bee forage plants which flower during the rainy season. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities

61 addressed Shortage of bee forage Introduction of bee forage Andassa Research Center/ (bee feed) during the rainy plants OoARD/ IPMS season Lack of processing and Introduce honey processing OoARD, Andassa Research storage system; inefficient equipments to sale bee Center, IPMS use of wax. products in a value added form Shortage of improved bee Improve supply of improved OoARD, Andassa Research keeping technologies and beehives, train farmers to Center, IPMS supplies (wax casting mold, prepare Kenya top bar using honey extractor, queen locally available materials excluder, smoking) train local wood workers in producing bee hives and other necessary equipments Marketing Honey is the only honeybee product beekeeping farmers get benefit. However, traders get money by selling wax after separating honey and wax. In Bure there is also a big bee colony market where farmers even from nighbouring Woredas buy bee colony. Therefore, training of farmers about colony splitting, wax extraction and selling will help to encourage farmers to involve in apiculture. The awareness of the producer and trader as well most of the consumer on the quality of honey is very low. Honey is also sold individually to local traders. Consequently producers did not influence the market price of honey. There is also market fluctuation in different time of the year. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed No quality control, grading Train and introduce quality OoARD, SOS-Sahel, IPMS handling system control and grading system and quality based honey pricing No honey marketing Establish and strengthen OoARD, IPMS cooperative, farmers sell cooperatives honey individually to traders in town Harvesting is poor, Training of farmers OoARD, ARARI, IPMS contamination with handling facility, smoke contamination and hence price is low Lack of processing and selling Training of farmers about OoARD, ARARI, IPMS in different forms honey processing Honey produced from modern Create platform where OoARD/IPMS bee hives has very low discussions are held with preference by traders the stakeholders to identify reasons.

62 Table 27 Poultry

Production Farmers in Bure woreda have about 47159 chickens of which 45371 are local poultry breed. Local poultry breeds are less productive in meat and egg production compared to improved breeds. However, local breeds are relatively resistant to diseases and demands less amount of feed. The local poultry breed in the area is Tilili type. Poultry is important in high, mid and low altitude areas of Bure woreda since it can be managed with relatively small amount of financial resources as well as since Bure is a surplus grain producer woreda. Office of Agriculture and Rural Development demonstrated the importance and management of improved poultry breeds. Diseases, feed shortage and inadequate supply of improved poultry breeds are some of the poultry production problems. Poultry is a promising business for women and poor and landless households. Therefore, it contributes for poverty reduction in the area. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Less attention to local breeds Focus should be given to select Andassa Research and inadequate supply of highly productive chickens from Center/IPMS/OoARD/ improved (exotic) breeds indigenous chicken ecotypes or ACSI/ Cooperatives breeds eg Tilili

Enhance supply of appropriate breeds by introducing locally manufactured less costly incubator Lack of sound poultry Training and experience sharing IPMS/OoARD management or production experience Poultry diseases (NCD, Promote vaccination and other OoARD/IPMS/Andassa Infectious bronchitis, treatments Research Center/ Coccidiosis etc OoARD Promote awareness creation activities with regard to diseases, causes and treatment measures Low level of awareness on Train and Involve jobless youth OoARD/IPMS the economic importance of and women to be involved in poultry production poultry production Input supply The major problem in poultry farms are shortage of balanced diet supply and vaccine for the disease which appears sporadically and causes enormous loss. These problems can be solved by encouraging paravets and input suppliers and training of farmers on preparation of balanced diet from locally available materials. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Lack of medicine to treat Coordinate supply of medicine OoARD/IPMS chicken against cockcidosis Feed shortage Training of farmers and livestock Andassa Research production staff about formulation center/ DZ research of balanced poultry feed from center/IPMS locally available materials

63 Marketing Farmer sale chickens and eggs individually on local markets. Therefore, they are not organized to influence the price of chicken or eggs on the local market. Moreover, there is market price fluctuation due to lack of market information. Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities addressed Market price fluctuation Facilitate availability of market IPMS/OoARD information Facilitate the establishment of link between producers and traders both for egg and meat Disorganized marketing of Organize farmers as poultry IPMS/OoARD chicken and egg producer and marketing cooperative

64 5. OUTLINE OF PROGRAM OF WORK BURE WOREDA PLS

Priority commodities & Natural resource management technologies

During the project’s first year, attention will be focused on innovative technology practices and institutional innovations for the following priority commodities and their supporting NRM technologies. Priority commodities in the two faming systems of the woreda are as follows:

Cereal/Pepper/Livestock farming system

Priority Crop commodities: Bread wheat, pepper, potato, tropical and subtropical fruits (Avocado, Banana, Mango and Papaya) . Priority Livestock commodities: sheep, cattle and poultry meat, egg, milk, butter and honey

Natural resources management technologies: soil and water conservation, soil fertility improvement, proper irrigation practices and methods will get due emphasis in this farming system. In this farming system there is incense production. Focus will be made to conserve and increase production of incense by enriching naturally growing incense trees and establishing incense producer cooperative.

Cereal/ potato/livestock farming system

Priority crop commodities: Bread wheat, potato, shallot, faba bean and temperate fruit crops.

Priority Livestock commodities: Sheep, cattle and poultry meat, egg and honey.

Natural resources management technologies: soil and water conservation, acid soil reclamation and proper irrigation practices and methods will be emphasized in this farming system.

Based on the knowledge captured and the lessons learned during the initial implementation of the innovation program some of the priority commodities may be dropped, while others may be added.

PLS Knowledge management –general (RBM Code 100 Series)

One pf the four pillars of the project is strengthening innovative knowledge management system. The objective of this component is to develop an agricultural knowledge management system that will enable Ethiopian institutions, farmers and pastoralists to adapt appropriate technologies from research and development institutions based in Ethiopia and elsewhere. Its expected outcome is to establish functional agricultural knowledge management system, which allows sharing knowledge at all levels, highlighting innovations and appropriate technologies.

To improve capturing and sharing of knowledge on priority commodities and the supporting NRM technologies in the PLS, the state of knowledge and knowledge

65 requirements will have to be assessed on a continuous base during the project life. The initial PRA and the subsequent assessment will form an integral part of this process. Several information gaps that deserve attention have already been identified in relation to each priority commodity.

The knowledge will be synthesized and assembled at the federal level in a resource Information Centre using electronic database formats. To share this knowledge with institutions and communities, various process and mechanisms will be used including the distribution of appropriate printed materials (manuals, trainings materials, posters, leaflets in local language), radio programs, local exhibitions, etc.

To link the PLS institutions with Resource Information Centre, electronic linkages with the Woreda Agricultural and Rural Development Office will be established. This effort will be integrated and synchronized with other activities in this field such as Woreda Net and School Net. Both School Net and Woreda Net are operational. The School net is operational since 2005 and it is transmitting lessons from the Educational Media Agency (EMA) in Addis Ababa. There are 33 Plasma TV sets in Bure Woreda of which 24 are functional. There is a need to train ICT staffs of Woreda and School Nets in order to get benefit from all the services of these facilities. Simultaneously innovative ways of creating a culture of knowledge capturing and horizontal knowledge sharing between the actors in the PLS and between the actors at PLS, regional and the federal level will have to be developed – see section 5.3 on capacity building.

Table 28 Project support for PLS knowledge management system

Activities Target Responsible (100) Continuous Woreda institutions Woreda institutions assessment of current involved in extension, input state of knowledge supply, micro finance, requirements based on cooperatives, marketing field work and meetings under the supervision of project staff (100) Collection and Woreda institutions Project staff with Woreda synthesis of data for Agriculture Office PLS (GIS) database (100) Preparation of Woreda institutions and farmers Research and development training materials on partners with the help of priority commodities and project funding. NRM technologies * (100) Purchase and Woreda Agricultural and Rural Project staff installation of computers Development Office, FTCs and hard ware (100) Training of staff in OoARD staff and DAs of Project staff electronic knowledge selected FTCs management** * For details see commodity program described in section 5.4. indicated with code number 100 ** Training is suggested on basic computer utilization, data management including introduction to GIS, communication systems and technical support.

Some training materials exist at the regional level. However, they need to be customized to the priority commodities and the use of innovative extension methods. Woreda experts will serve as resource persons to train farmers, DAs and supervisors. Woreda experts will be trained by senior staff from BoARD, ARARI, etc. Moreover, since the focus of the extension work for the priority commodities will be the FTCs, new extension and training materials need to be developed that fit the requirements and operation of the FTCs.

PLS public institutional capacity building (RBM code 200 series)

In order to introduce the project and to train institutional staff in innovative technology transfer methods, inter-institutional collaboration and cross cutting themes like gender and environmental assessment, various trainings will be conducted for woreda staff. Materials for such training will be prepared by the project with the help of consultants and contributions from the project partners. To stimulate the integration with private institution staff, some staff from the private institutions will be involved in this training. The training will be continuous during the project period and the effectiveness of the training will be assessed regularly. Lessons learned will become an integral part of follow up training events. One of the critical trainings to be given will deal with innovative methods of agricultural institutional service delivery.

Table 29 Potential Woreda staff to be included in the innovative methods training

Woreda Offices Number Crop production 4 Livestock 4 Horticultural Crops 3 NRM 3 EPLAU 4 Cooperatives 4 Water resources development 4 Input supply and marketing 2 Micro finance institutions 2 Women affairs office* 1 HIV/AIDS secretariat office* 1 Trade and investment office* 1 Total 33 These trainees are to be included only in the training on gender, HIV/AIDs and environment.

Trained Woreda staff (TOTs) are expected to introduce the innovation concepts to the Development Agents in the FTCs, who in turn will use these concepts during their daily work with the farmers and communities (see section 5.4). Use of these innovative methods by FTC staff will be monitored and evaluated by the project staff and form the basis for adjustment in the TOT trainings.

In addition the capacity building of the Woreda and FTC staff in the use of innovative methods and institutional arrangements, technical trainings on the priority commodities, including new production methods or techniques, farmer group or

67 cooperative based input supply and marketing systems will be provided. Materials for such training will be prepared by the project with the help of consultants and contributions from the project partners. Details for such training are included in the PLS sustainable livelihood development activities described in section 5.4.

Table 30 Potential woreda staff to be included in technical training of priority commodities

Office Priority commodity Number Agricultural Development Sector Pepper, potato and shallot 4 Agricultural Development Sector Bread wheat and faba bean 4 Agriculture development sector Fruit crops 3 Agricultural development sector Milk and beef production 3 Agricultural development sector Poultry and Apiculture 3 Agricultural development sector NRM 2 Water resource development 2 sector

An integral component of the capacity building activities at the woreda level is the development of the FTCs. In the initial phase the project will support selected FTCs with printed materials and demonstration materials (see 5.2) in support of the priority commodities and supporting NRM technologies (see section 5.4 for details).

While many capacity building activities have been undertaken by numerous projects operating in Ethiopia, the actual use of the increased capacity by the staff in their daily work is often minimal because of a host of other bottlenecks and a lack of reward for those staff which have made progress despite the presence of these bottlenecks.

The project will introduce various other capacity building initiatives at the PLS level to alleviate some bottlenecks in order to facilitate the introduction of technologies and institutional innovations. This will include the supply of credit funds and financial and technical support for market studies and linkages for priority commodities and operational cost of experts to supervise and guide the DA staff at FTC level. These activities are integrated in the PLS sustainable livelihood activities (see section 5.4).

The project will furthermore set aside some funds for rewarding experts and FTC staff which have made good progress in technology and institutional innovations. One potential reward may be in the form of visits to places of interest (this will be introduced in the second project year).

Finally, an integral part of the PLS capacity building support is to create a learning system between the region and the PLS and to create an inter-institutional learning system at the woreda and FTC level. To facilitate this arrangement the project has established Regional and woreda level Advisory and Learning Committees (RALCs and WALCs). A budget will be made available to use/develop various learning mechanisms including field visits and small workshops. An integral part of this learning will be the sharing of knowledge between the regions and institutions concerned.

68 Table 31 Project support for PLS general capacity building support*

Activities Target Responsible (200) Training and follow Woreda and FTC staff Project staff and up in innovative methods consultants (200) Training and follow Woreda and FTC staff Project staff and up in gender consultants (200) Training and follow Woreda NRM staff and Project staff and up in environmental FTC staff consultants assessment (200) Development of a Experts and FTC staff Project staff and WALC reward system for and RALC institutional staff (200) RALC and WALC RALC and WALC Project staff learning activities including field visits and workshops * Commodity and or technology specific support to Woreda staff, institutions and FTCs is described in section 5.4.- indicated with code 200.

PLS sustainable livelihood development (RBM code series 300)

The project will concentrate its efforts on introducing innovative technology (practices) and institutional innovations with farmers and communities near Farmer Training Centres (FTC) which have a potential for the identified market oriented priority commodities and supporting NRM technologies.

Table 32 FTCs with potential for priority Commodities and NRM technologies in Cereal/Pepper/Livestock farming systems

FTC Pepper Bread Fruit Potato Fattening poultry Dairy Apiculture wheat crops Zalema X X X X X Wangedam X X X X X X Alefa X X X X X X Kuchie X X X X X TiyaTiya X X X X X Fetam X X X X X Sentom Denbun X X X X Woynema X X Ambaye Wadera X X

69 Table 33 FTCs with potential for priority commodities in Cereal/potato/livestock system

FTC Bread Faba Potato Sheep Poultry Apiculture Temperate wheat bean & Fattening fruit crops shallot Wondegi X X X X X X Jibgedele X X X X X X Arbisi X X X X X X

The following sections deal with activities on the priority commodities, which are envisaged to be accomplished within the first year of the project’s life.

Pepper

Production Bure has suitable soil and climatic condition for pepper production. Consequently, farmers produce substantial amount of pepper is produced annually. However, productivity is very low and the quality of the produce did not fulfill factory requirements due to several production and post harvest handling problems. Therefore, emphasis should be given to increase productivity as well as to improve quality of the produce in order to sell it for processing factories and individual consumers based on market preferences.

Table 34 Project support for pepper production

Activities Target Resposbility (400) Study the existing pepper production Farmers in 4 FTCs Students, IPMS and system and identify potential interventions OoARD staffs (400) study control methods of wilt and Farmers in 4 FTCs Students/ARARI/EIA wello bush cricket on pepper and methods R/ IPMS of planting (direct sowing and transplanting) (200) TOT on improved methods of pepper OoARD and 4 FTCs staff BoARD/ production including agronomy, disease ARARI/IPMS staff and pest control and post harvest handling (300) Provide credit for pepper production Farmers in 4 FTCs ACSI with project funds (200) Training on pesticide use and OoARD crop production Bahir Dar Plant handling, impact of chemicals on health and protection experts Health Clinic/ ARARI and the environment and timing of and 4 FTCs staff /IPMS staff application for wello bush cricket and wilt control (300) Supply of demonstration materials 4 FTCs ARARI/Melkassa Research Centre/ OoARD/IPMS

70 Input supply In Bure most farmlands allocated to pepper production are planted using seeds of local varieties. Since pepper is a cross pollinated crop, it is difficult to save or maintain seeds of improved varieties under small scale and disorganized pepper production system. Moreover, late arrival and high price of fertilizer affect pepper production. Similarly, pesticides to control Wello Bush Cricket are not locally available. Therefore, higher price and inadequate supply of improved varieties seed, fertilizer and pesticide are the bottlenecks in input supply system for pepper production.

Table 35 Project support for pepper input supply

Activities Target Resposbility (400) Study on existing input supply Farmers near 4 FTCs, IPMS and OoARD system and identify potential areas for Input suppliers staff improvement (300) Facilitate the supply of improved Farmers in 4 FTCs IPMS and OoARD varieties seed and organize farmers as staff seed out growers. (300) Provide credit for on-farm seed Farmers, cooperatives IPMS and OoARD multiplication staff (200) TOT on agronomic practices and Woreda experts and 4 IPMS and Melkassa precautions during pepper seed production FTC staff research centre staff

Marketing Pepper is the first marketable commodity in Bure. Productivity of pepper is between 8-10 qt/ha. Farmers in this farming system allocate up to 1 ha land every year for pepper production. Some farmers get up to 25,000 birr from their annual pepper harvest. Farmers sale mainly to local pepper traders. Pepper produced in Bure and its surrounding woredas sold by private traders in Tigray, Wello, Gonder and different parts of Gojam. So far attempt was not made to link pepper marketing with Ethiopian Spice Extraction Company. Therefore, pepper marketing is managed by private traders. Farmers complain about the cheatings of traders while weighing their produce. On the other hand traders reported quality deterioration of pepper through water sprinkling by farmers. Hence, quality of the produce is deteriorating due to both malpractices on both sides. The quality of the produce is also affected due to producing poor quality local varieties and lack of proper management.

Table 36 Project support for pepper marketing

Marketing Activities Target Responsible (400) Study on pepper marketing system 4 FTCs, Private traders, IPMS staff in and quality requirements of consumers factories, exporters collaboration with and factories Woreda staff (200) TOT in quality improvement before Woreda experts and 4 Melkasa Research and after harvesting of pepper FTCs staff Centre staff and IPMS staff (200) Training on pepper quality Farmers, Traders and IPMS staff in standards and storage systems cooperatives collaboration with

71 Woreda staff (300) Provision of credit for pepper Cooperatives within the 4 IPMS staff and marketing to cooperatives FTCs OoARD staff (300) Development of marketing Farmers near 4 FTCs IPMS staff/ information system and linkage with OoARD experts/ factories and big traders cooperatives

Bread wheat

Production Bread wheat is recently introduced but steadily increasing both in area coverage and volume of production in Bure. It is growing both in mid and high altitude areas of the woreda. Farmers grow only one variety HAR 1685 which has sprouting problem in seasons with extended rainfall. They apply 2,4-D for weed control. Trashing by ox contributed for bread wheat quality deterioration. Moreover, grain quality deterioration due to weevil damage is also significant. The present emphasis in wheat production is to increase productivity and improve quality. There are opportunities for contract farming with Guder ago-industry. This requires establishing linkages and training of farmers on the quantity and quality requirements for the agro-industry and local markets.

Table 37 Project support for bread wheat production

Activity Target Responsibility (200) TOT on bread OoARD crop production ARARI/EIAR/IPMS staff wheat production team, 4 FTCs staff technologies (agronomy, and insect pest, weed and diseases control methods) (200) Supply of 4 FTCs Project in collaboration demonstration materials with ARARI/ EIAR/ on weed, weevil and BoARD diseases management (300) Demonstration of Farmers in 4 FTCs OoARD and FTC staff small scale bread wheat guided and supervised trashing machine to by Bahir Dar farm fulfill the quality machinery requirement of agro- industries (200) TOT in quality Woreda experts, 4 FTC Adet Research Centre/ improvement at the farm staff IPMS and marketing levels (400) Study the current Farmers in 4 FTCs Students, IPMS and bread wheat production OoARD staffs system and identify potential interventions (300)Provide credit for Farmers in 4 FTCs ACSI in collaboration bread wheat production with IPMS project

72 Input supply

The major problems in input supply for bread wheat production are higher price and inadequate supply of improved varieties seed, fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide

Table 38 Project support for bread wheat input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study the existing Farmers near 4 FTCs OoARD and IPMS staff input supply system and and input suppliers identify potential areas for improvement (including gender and environment) (200)TOT on farmer OoARD and 4 FTCs ARARI/BoARD/IPMS based bread wheat seed staff production (300) organize seed Farmers near 4 FTCs OoARD/ Co-operative producer farmers and promotion agency/ Adet facilitate supply of basic Research center/ IPMS. seed from Adet research centre (300) Provide credit fund Farmers near 4 FTCs ACSI/union with project funds for on farm seed multiplication (300) Encourage and Traders around 4 FTCs ACSI/Union/OoARD with support private traders project fund to involve in input supply through credit/training

Marketing To address the marketing problems of bread wheat with a strategy on improving quality there is a need to link producers with bread wheat flour factories. Lack of quality based pricing of bread wheat did not encourage quality bread wheat production. Besides lack of marketing information and lack of contractual farming with flour factories contributed for marketing problem of bread wheat. This requires the following interventions.

Table 39 Project support in improving bread wheat marketing

Activity Target Responsibility (400) conduct study on bread Farmers near 5 FTCs, BoARD/ARARI/ wheat market chain and traders, Union and flour OoARD/IPMS staffs potential quality deteriorating factories factors (400)Development of linkages Farmers, traders and OoARD/IPMS/BoARD with agro-industries agro-industries (300)Organize contractual Farmers around 4FTCs OoARD/IPMS farming with flour factories

73 (300) Farmer training on market Farmers near 4 FTCs OoARD/IPMS oriented production with special emphasis on varieties which give high value (400) Establish market Farmers near 4 FTCs OoARD/IPMS/OoTI information system for bread wheat (300)Capacitate cooperatives Cooperatives and EGTE/ACSI/IPMS/Stan and traders to purchase quality traders around 4 FTCs dardization authority grains (training/credit) (200)Training on better store Traders/Cooperatives/Un EGTE/OoARD/IPMS management systems ion

Fruit

Production Bure has suitable soil and climatic condition for the production of tropical, subtropical and temperate fruit crops. Currently, farmers grow different fruit crops such as mango, papaya, banana, guava, peach and avocado using irrigation. However, production is limited few areas due to lack of knowledge on fruit crops management, propagation techniques and inadequate supply of planting material.

The project will provide due emphasis on stimulating production through introduction of planting materials of improved varieties of different fruit crops and training of extension workers and farmers to upgrade their skills on fruit propagation techniques. Moreover, trainings will be provided on post harvest handling of perishable commodities and introduction and popularization of cold store facilities will be undertaken. Moreover, introduction of different irrigation methods will be considered to stimulate fruit production around homesteads.

Table 40 Project support on fruit production

Activities Target Responsibilities (200) TOT on fruit production Woreda crop Melkassa/Adet/IPMS practices production experts (300) Training of fruit grower farmers Fruit growers OoARD/IPMS/ Adet/ on fruit production methods around 5 FTCs Melkassa Research Center (200) Train farmers on harvesting and 5 FTCs Melkassa/Adet/OoARD/ post harvest handling techniques IPMS (200) Train farmers on different 5 FTCs Melkassa/Adet/OoARD/ irrigation techniques tree management IPMS techniques for fruit production (300) Organize and establish farmer to Farmers IPMS/OoARD farmer fruits seedling supply system around 5 FTCs

74 Input supply Despite the high potential to grow fruit trees, the production is limited due to various constraints mainly due to lack of knowledge and input supply. To change the existing situation the following activates will be performed to facilitate input supply system

Table 41 Project support on fruit input supply

Activities Target Responsibilities (400) Study the existing input BoARD/OoARD/Farmers Students, IPMS staff supply system for fruit around 5 FTCs production (200) Introduce high quality OoARD nursery IPMS/Adet/ Melkassa papaya, banana, avocado and Research Centres mango varieties into the existing OoARD nursery to be used for demonstration and source of planting material (200) Supply of demonstration 5 FTCs and Fruit grower IPMS/ARARI/BoARD materials including budding, farmers grafting and efficient irrigation equipments cold store facility and other technologies (300) Facilitate supply of 5 FTCs OoARD/ Research improved fruit seed/seedlings partners, IPMS staff from various sources (300) Facilitate credit for input Fruit growers ACSI/Bank through supply project funds (200) Training of farmers on Nursery owner farmers IPMS/OoARD/Melkassa nursery management and around 5 FTCs propagation methods

Marketing Although Bure has ideal environmental condition for fruit production, currently its fruit shops receive fruits from the southern and western parts of the country. Therefore, the current market situation favours expansion of fruit production in the area. However, if farmers continue to expand fruit production as it started there will be market problem. Therefore, market studies have to be conducted in large and small towns around Bure Woreda, including Debremarkos, Kosso Ber, Dangella and Bahir Dar.

Table 42 Project support on fruit marketing

Activities Target Responsibilities (400) Conduct market studies in Towns near Students/ IPMS/ Debremarkos, Bahir Dar and smaller towns Bure OoARD around Bure (400) Conduct feasibility/profitability study Farmers in and Students/ IPMS/ on fruit production around 5 FTCs OoARD (200) Train small scale traders in value Small scale Melkassa/ IPMS/ added form of fruit marketing traders OoARD

75 (200) Training on group marketing Farmers and OoARD/IPMS traders (200) Train traders and farmers on quality Farmers and Melkassa/ IPMS/ parameters of fruit traders OoARD

Potato

Production Potato is both food and cash crop in the highlands of Bure. Farmers grow potato three times per year under rainfed, with residual moisture and irrigation. Its productivity is low due to late blight, wilt and tuber moth problems. Farmers did not apply recommended management practices due to higher price of inputs and inadequate supply. Therefore, the project give focus to improve productivity and quality of the produce through the following interventions.

Table 43 Project support for potato production

Activity Target Responsibility (200) TOT on potato production OoARD crop ARARI/EIAR/IPMS technologies (agronomy, and insect pest, production staff weed and diseases control methods) team, 3 FTCs staff (200) Supply of demonstration materials 3 FTCs Project in collaboration on tuber moth, wilt and late blight with ARARI/ EIAR/ management BoARD (300) Demonstration of small scale potato Farmers in 3 OoARD and FTC staff harvesting machine to fulfill the quality FTCs guided and supervised requirement for processing and extend by Bahir Dar farm shelf life machinery (400) Study the current potato production Farmers in 3 Students, IPMS and system and identify potential interventions FTCs OoARD staffs (300)Provide credit for potato production Farmers in 3 ACSI in collaboration FTCs with IPMS project

Input supply The major problems in input supply for potato production are higher price and inadequate supply of fertilizer and lack of improved varieties seed tuber supplier.

Table 44 Project support for potato input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study the existing input Farmers near 3 OoARD and IPMS supply system and identify potential FTCs and input staff areas for improvement (including suppliers gender and environment) (200)TOT on farmer based potato OoARD and 3 ARARI/BoARD/IPMS seed tuber production FTCs staff (300) organize seed tuber producer Farmers near 3 OoARD/ Adet farmers and facilitate supply of FTCs Research Centre/ basic seed from Adet research IPMS

76 centre (300) Provide credit for seed tuber Farmers near 3 ACSI/union with multiplication FTCs project funds (300) Encourage and support Traders ACSI/Union/OoARD private traders to involve in input with project fund supply (300) Demonstrate construction of Farmers near 3 OoARD/IPMS/Adet DLS from locally available materials FTCs research center for seed tuber storage

Marketing The marketing activity of potato is handled by private traders. Since potato is bulky and perishable commodity, farmers are usually forced to sell their produce to private traders without strong negotiation. Moreover, brokers or middlemen create a gap between producers and traders and regulate the market price as per their benefit. Lack of marketing information and inaccessibility of potato producing areas contributed for marketing problem in potato. On about 40km a potato processing factory will be established. Therefore, the project will focus on the following interventions to solve marketing problems of potato.

Table 45 Project support in potato marketing

Activity Target Responsibility (400)Conduct study on potato Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD/ IPMS staffs market chain and traders (300) Establish organized potato Potato traders OoARD/IPMS traders (300)Introduce and demonstrate Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD/IPMS cold store facility to extend the shelf life of potato (400) Establish market Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD/IPMS/OoTI information system

Shallot

Production Shallot is a cash crop in the highlands of Bure. Farmers grow shallot two times per year using irrigation and under rainfed condition. Its productivity is low due to bulb rot and leaf blotch problems. Farmers use local varieties which require six months to maturity. Farmers did not apply recommended management practices due to higher price of inputs and inadequate supply. Therefore, the project gives focus to improve productivity and quality of the produce through the following interventions.

Table 46 Project support for shallot production

Activity Target Responsibility (200) TOT on shallot production OoARD crop ARARI/EIAR/IPMS staff technologies (agronomy, irrigation production and insect pest, weed and diseases team, 3 FTCs

77 control methods) staff (200) Supply of demonstration 3 FTCs Project in collaboration materials on bulb rot and leaf blotch with ARARI/ EIAR/ BoARD management (300) Demonstration of curing to Farmers in 3 OoARD and FTC staff extend the shelf life of shallot FTCs guided and supervised by Bahir Dar farm machinery (300) Demonstration of techniques Farmers in 3 OoARD/IPMS which increase irrigation water use FTCs efficiency (plastic culture, (400) Study the current shallot Farmers in 3 Students, IPMS and production system and identify FTCs OoARD staffs potential interventions (300) Provide credit for shallot Farmers in 3 ACSI in collaboration with production FTCs IPMS project

Input supply Problems in input supply for shallot production are higher price and inadequate supply of fertilizer and lack of improved varieties seed bulb supplier.

Table 47 Project support for shallot input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study the existing input Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD and IPMS supply system and identify and input suppliers staff potential areas for improvement (including gender and environment) (200)TOT on farmer based shallot OoARD and 3 FTCs staff ARARI/BoARD/IPMS seed bulb production (300) organize seed bulb Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD/ Adet producer farmers and facilitate Research Centre/ supply of basic seed from IPMS Debreziet Research Centre (300) Encourage and support Traders ACSI/Union/OoARD private traders to involve in input with project fund supply

Marketing The marketing activity of shallot is handled by private traders. Shallot produced in Bure is sold in Wollega, Addis Ababa, different places of Gojam and Gonder. Since shallot is bulky and perishable commodity, farmers are usually forced to sell their produce to private traders without strong negotiation. Moreover, brokers or middlemen create a gap between producers and traders and regulate the market price as per their benefit. Lack of marketing information and inaccessibility of shallot producing areas contributed for marketing problem in shallot. Therefore, the project will focus on the following interventions to solve marketing problems in shallot.

78 Table 48 Project support in shallot marketing

Activity Target Responsibility (400)Conduct study on shallot Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD/ IPMS staffs market chain and traders (300) Establish organized shallot Shallot traders OoARD/IPMS traders (300)Introduce and demonstrate Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD/IPMS cold store facility to extend the shelf life of potato (400) Establish market Farmers near 3 FTCs OoARD/IPMS/OoTI information system

Faba bean

Production Faba bean is produced in mid altitude and high altitude areas of Bure woreda. The most important faba bean production constraints in the area are diseases like chocolate spot and insects like boll worm and weevil. Poor soil fertility is an overarching problem of crop production in the woreda. The project will provide support to contribute to the alleviation of these production problems of faba bean.

Table 49 Project support for faba bean production

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study existing production Farmers in and ARARI, EIAR, constraints around 3 FTCs ICARDA, students (200) Training on agronomic OoARD and 3 FTCs ARARI/ EIAR/ management (including application staff ICARDA/ IPMS of inoculums), diseases and pest control and , improved storage (300) Farmer training and program Farmers around 3 FTC staff with follow up at FTCs in agronomic FTCs supervision of management of pulse production, OoARD staff including pest disease control; use of bio fertilizers and quality improvement (200) Supply of demonstration 3 FTCs ARARI/BoARD/EIAR materials on diseases, pests, and IPMS staff cultural practices, and quality control

Input supply Increasing faba bean production and improving quality requires steady and adequate supply of improved varieties seed and other necessary inputs. Improved varieties seed supply problem can be solved through introducing farmer based seed production system. Faba bean is nitrogen fixing crop but it requires starter fertilizer in order to fix nitrogen. However there is no bio-fertilizer inoculums supply system for pulse production in the woreda. Therefore, the project intervention on input supply

79 system focus in order to increase productivity and quality of produce both for the local and export market.

Table 50 Project support for faba bean input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study the existing input Input suppliers, IPMS staff, OoARD supply system cooperatives, farmers (400) Study the need for inoculums Farmers in and ARARI/ National Soils around 3 FTCs Laboratory (300) Facilitate supply of improved Farmers around 3 Adet research center/ pulse seeds FTCs OoARD/ IPMS staff (300) Facilitate supply of Farmers in and NSL/ IPMS staff inoculums, if required around 3 FTCs (200) Training on farmer based OoARD and 3 FTCs ARARI/BoARD/ IPMS seed production system staff staff (300) Farmer training and program Farmers around 3 FTC staff supervised follow up at FTCs in farmer based FTCs and guided by seed production Woreda staff (300) Supply of demonstration 3 FTCs ARARI/ materials for farmer/cooperative EIAR/ICARDA input supply

Marketing Faba bean marketing is handled by private traders. Currently, it is sold in the local market but there is an opportunity to expand the destination to export market like Sudan via Metema. However, farmers grow small seeded varieties and there is lack of market information both to traders and farmers. Weevil damage due to poor store management will also affect export market. Therefore, the project focus to study market requirements and marketing practices of farmers and the export market potential in order to design innovations through capacity building program for Woreda and FTC staffs and farmers.

Table 51 Project support for pulses marketing

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study on pulses marketing, Private traders, BoARD/ ARARI/ quality requirements, and export farmer cooperatives, OoARD/ IPMS/ potential in order to develop pulses and oil seeds students innovative marketing strategy exporters association (200) Training in community cooperatives promotion OoARD/OoTI/ IPMS based marketing system staff and staff of 3 FTCs (300) Farmer and cooperative staff Farmers and FTC staff with training and program follow up (in cooperatives in and supervision of FTCs) on community based around the 3 FTCs Woreda/project staff marketing (200) Training of cooperative staff Grain purchasing EGTE/ARARI/ in purchasing and storage of beans staffs of cooperatives BoARD/IPMS

80 (300) Facilitate provision of 3 cooperatives Cooperative marketing credit promotion staff/ Union/ACSI/ IPMS

Fattening (cattle and sheep fattening)

Production Farmers rear cattle for draught power, milk and meat production and sheep for meat production. Sheep and cattle fattening activity is started on all PAs of Bure woreda. Farmers are encouraged to be involved in fattening activity since it is highly profitable. However, feed shortage and inadequate health service are problems to expand their fattening activity. Farmers sell their fattened animals mainly in the local towns. There is also new market opportunity since a huge meat processing factory called Ashrif is going to be opened very soon in Bahir Dar. However farmers fattening activity is not year round. Therefore, there is a need to improve quantity and quality of produce in order to remain competitive with the nearby Woredas as well to fulfill the demands of the factory.

Table 52 Project support for meat production

Activity Target Responsibility (200) ToT in market oriented Livestock experts ARARI/BoARD/ILRI/ sheep and cattle fattening and staff from 5 IPMS FTCs (300) Farmer training and follow Interested farmers FTC staff with up in FTCs in market oriented around 5 FTCs supervision of sheep and cattle fattening method OoARD/ARARI/IPMS staff (200) Supply of 5 FTCs ARARI/BoARD/ILRI/ demonstration/training materials IPMS staff on meat production including posters and leaflets (200) Training of experts and Livestock experts BoARD/ARARI/ILRI/ FTCs staff on feed formulation for and 5 FTC staffs IPMS fattening

Input supply Input supply systems envisaged for year 1 include provision of forage seed/germplasm, provision of supplies for paravets and credit access for farmers interested in fattening.

81 Table 53 Project support for meat input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (300) Supply of forage seeds for Interested IPMS staff/ARARI demonstration purposes farmers around FTCs (200) Supply of demonstration 5 FTCs ARARI/ILRI/Project materials staff (200) TOT in livestock disease, Experts and 5 Bahir Dar animal withdrawal period after spraying or FTCs staff health application of drugs and vaccines, laboratory/ILRI/IPMS clinical sign staff (300) Training of farmers in livestock Farmers near 5 FTCs staff with woreda disease, withdrawal period after FTCs experts/IPMS staff spraying or application of drugs and vaccines, clinical sign (300) Credit to purchase animals/feed/ Farmers near 5 Rural finance/IPMS drugs etc FTCs (300) organize and establish input Traders OoARD/IPMS suppliers

Marketing The demand for live animals is considerable in the major towns around Bure woreda. Some farmers supply for Sudan market via Metema. However, the market demand is not studied in detail. Based on this information a marketing strategy will be developed between traders and farmers. Animal fattening farmers will be organized as cooperatives in order to increase their negotiating power and to transport together inputs and out puts. Moreover, linkage will be created with livestock fattening farmers and meat processing factory.

Table 54 Project support on meat marketing

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study the market demand of Farmers and traders BoARD/ARARI/ILRI/ live animals and relation between IPMS farmers and traders (200) TOT in the formation of Cooperative IPMS staff/consultants marketing groups promotion and 5 FTCs staff (300) Farmer training and follow Interested farmers FTC staff guided by up (in FTCs) in the formation of around FTCs/DA Woreda/ IPMS staff marketing groups posts (400) Establish market Farmers near 5 OoARD/IPMS/OoTI information system FTCs (400)Create linkage with meat Farmers and meat BoARD/OoARD/IPMS/ processing factory processing factory OoTI

82 Poultry

Production In the rural areas, there is a large poultry resource in the Woreda. Production is traditional using local chicken. There was an attempt to introduce improved chicken (RIR) breeds under smallholder conditions for both egg and meat production. However, such activity is terminated due to shortage of chicken from regional poultry multiplication centers. Marketing is often done at local markets at Bure and other small towns. The project focus to increase production and to strengthen the marketing aspect.

Table 55 Project support for poultry production system

Activity Target Responsibility (200) ToT in modern poultry Woreda livestock ARARI/BoARD production system expert and staff from 5 FTCs (300) Farmer training and follow Farmers around 5 FTC staff with woreda/ up near 5 FTCs on modern FTCs IPMS staff support poultry production

Input supply A major bottleneck for the on farm poultry production is the supply of improved genetic materials, diseases control and the supply of feed. There is limitation in availability of improved breeds. In order to alleviate these problems the project proposes to introduce the Hay box brooder and locally made small size incubator. Some new vaccines have recently been developed which do not require cold chain (I2 and AV2 and AV4). These vaccines should also be supplied through a private drug supplier (in the first year they may be supplied by the project on a demonstration basis). Training of paravets shall provide the basis for efficient animal health services. An option to be considered for the supply of feed is a private and/or cooperative system.

Table 56 Project support for poultry input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (200) TOT in the use of hay Woreda livestock ARARI/EIAR/BoARD/ brooders, and vaccines (paravets) experts and 5 FTC IPMS staff (300) Training of farmers on the Farmers around 5 FTC staff with use of hay brooders and vaccines. FTCs woreda experts and IPMS staff support (300) Supply of hay brooders, day Interested farmers OoARD/IPMS staff old chicks and vaccines for around FTCs demonstration purposes (200) Supply of demonstration 5 FTCs OoARD/IPMS staff materials including hay brooders and locally made incubators (300) Credit for interested farmers Farmers near 5 FTCs Project/microfinance institutions

83 (300) organize and establish input Traders OoARD/IPMS supplier (women or youths)

Marketing Poultry production (egg and meat) is practiced in all the PAs of Bure woreda. Market for these products is in local small towns. A study will be conducted to determine how the existing market system can be improved, expanded. Group formation may be followed to transport it in to the surrounding big towns for the better market. The project will focus on the following interventions.

Table 57 Project support for poultry marketing

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study the existing supply Farmers and private OoARD/BoARD/IPMS and demand for poultry products traders staff to develop a more detailed marketing strategy (200) Training in (women) group Woreda livestock IPMS/OoARD formation to improve marketing expert and staff from 5 staff/consultants FTCs (300) Farmers training and follow Farmers around 5 FTC staff with woreda up in FTCs/DA posts for group FTCs experts formation (200) Supply of egg storage 5 FTCS Project/cooperatives facilities for safe transportation

Dairy (butter/milk production)

Production In the rural areas, there is a tradition of butter production and marketing at the local markets. In urban areas there is a culture of milk production through BureDamot milk producers cooperative. This cooperative will play a key role in strengthening the urban-rural linkage in milk and milk products marketing as well to extend improved dairy technologies to the rural areas. The focus shall be to strengthen the dairy association and develop rural dairy production with a strong linkage with urban markets. Some of the problems in the dairy cooperative are inadequate veterinary service, shortage of feed resources, credit facility and knowledge on dairy management.

Table 58 Project support for dairy

Activity Target Responsibility (200) TOT on dairy cattle Woreda production LandO`Lakes/BoARD/ management, feed resources team, 5 FTC staff ARARI/ILRI/IPMS development, feeding systems and diseases control (200) Supply of training materials on Woreda experts, ARARI/ ILRI/IPMS dairy production and management FTCs staff (200) TOT in forage production Woreda experts ARARI/BoARD/ILRI/ IPMS

84 (200) TOT in basic animal health Paravets, experts, Bahir Dar livestock health laboratory (300) Farmers training on dairy cattle Members of dairy woreda experts management, forage production, cooperative basic animal health (300) Develop farmer based animal Dairy cooperative OoARD/IPMS genetic improvement program (400) Study the dairy production Dairy cooperative IPMS, students system and potential for and farmers near 5 development FTCs

Input supply The major problem in input supply is shortage and high price of improved genotypes, shortage of feeds and lack of drugs and adequate veterinary services and lack or inadequate handling, processing and storage equipment.

Table 59Project support for dairy input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study the existing farm input Cooperative OoARD/IPMS supply system and identify potential members areas for improvement (including gender and environment) (200) Supply demonstration Cooperative ARARI/EIAR/IPMS/ILRI materials for input supply (improved churner, processing equipments, posters, leaflets) (300) Facilitate supply of forage Cooperative and Woreda input supply germplasm from ILRI and EARO DZ farmer near 5 with funds provided by centre FTCS the project. (300) Provide credit for animal Cooperative and Micro Finance with genetic improvement and milk farmers near 5 project funds processing equipment FTCs

Marketing Capacity of BureDamot milk producers and marketing cooperative will be strengthen to improve the marketing of milk and milk products. Emphasis will also be put on increasing productivity per animal and quality and standard of produce for the marketing of high quality dairy products.

Table 60 Project support for marketing of dairy products

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Study on the dairy production Dairy cooperative OoARD/IPMS and marketing system and farmers near 5 FTCs (300) Farmer training on animal Dairy cooperative Woreda experts production, milk handling and and farmers in 5 processing FTCs

85 (300)Strengthen dairy cooperative Dairy cooperative Woreda cooperative for production, processing and promotion team marketing of dairy products

Apiculture

Production The major production constraints of honey production in the woreda include pests and diseases and shortage of bee forage. Other constraints include shortage of improved beehives and accessories, and colonies. The project will provide support to the alleviation these constraints.

Table 61 Project support for improving honey production

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Conduct study on the existing Farmers around 5 IPMS staff/ Andassa honey production system FTCs. Research Centre/ Students (200) Conduct training on improved Woreda livestock Andassa research honey production and management experts and staff Centre (including pests and diseases of 5 FTCs management, bee forage development, honey harvesting, extraction, processing, etc.) (300) Farmer training and program Farmers around 5 FTC staff under follow up on improved honey FTCs supervision and production and management, and guidance of woreda honey extraction and processing experts

Input Supply Modern beehives have started to be supplied in the woreda. However, problems ranging from quality to unavailability of accessories are real problems to farmers. The shortage of bee forage was also mentioned as an important constraint. The project will provide support in alleviating the input supply problem faced by honey producers by the following interventions.

Table 62 Project support for improving honey input supply

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Conduct study on the existing Farmers around OoARD/ IPMS staff input supply system (beehives and 5 FTCs and input accessories, bee colony, bee forages suppliers etc.) to develop innovative methods of input supply (300) Facilitate the supply of inputs (bee Farmers around Cooperative hives and accessories, forages, honey 5 FTCs promotion team/ processing, etc.) Input supply team and IPMS staff (200) Training in appropriate queen Woreda Andassa Research rearing and farmer to farmer supply apiculture Centre

86 experts and staff of 5 FTCs (300) Training and program follow up on Farmers around FTC staff under improved queen rearing practices and 5 FTCs guidance and farmer to farmer supply supervision of woreda experts (200) Supply demonstration materials Farmers around ARARI/OoARD/IPMS like bee forages, improved bee hives, 5 FTCs project manuals on honey and wax utilization, processors, extractors, casting, mould, uncapping fork, protective, etc.

Marketing In Bure Honey marketing is done on individual basis. The project will provide support in organizing group marketing of honey, and training in handling and marketing skills of farmers.

Table 63 Project support to improve honey marketing

Activity Target Responsibility (400) Conduct study on honey Farmers around 5 OoARD/IPMS staff marketing FTCs and private traders (300) Training of farmers in group Farmers around 5 Woreda experts marketing of honey FTCs (200) Training on honey handling, Woreda apiculture IPMS staff, Andassa processing and packaging Woreda experts and Research Centre/ staff of 5 FTCs SOS-Sahel (300) Training of farmers and Farmers around 5 FTC staff under the follow up (at FTCs) in honey FTCs guidance and handling, processing and supervision of packaging Woreda apiculture experts

6. Annexes

Annex 1 Cropping calendar in Bure PLW

Crop Activities January February March April May June July August September October November December Tef Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Bread wheat Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Barley Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Finger millet Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Maize Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Faba bean Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Field pea Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Chick pea Land preparation

88 Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Noug Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Sesame Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Potato Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Shallot Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Pepper Land preparation Planting Weeding Harvesting and trashing Source: Bure wereda OoARD, 2007

89 Annex 2 List of WALC members participated in farming system classification and priority commodity identification on May 11, 2007

No Name Institution affiliated 1 Ato Getnet Tarik OoARD, Head (WALC Chairman) 2 Ato Dessalew Fekad OoARD, V/Head 3 Ato Hailu Assefa OoARD, Input supply and Marketing Team 4 Wro. Tsehayneshe Tegegne OoWA, Expert 5 Ato Shegaw Tadesse HIV/AIDS Office, Head 6 Ato Hiruye Geremew AISCO, Head 7 Ato Assefa Wondie ACSI, Head 8 Ato Ayalnehe Dagne OoARD, Extension Team I, Team Leader 9 Ato Abaye Woretaw OoARD, Extension Team II, Team Leader 10 Ato Sefefe Mekonnen Damot cooperative Union, Manager 11 Dr. Yehenew G/Selassie Adet Research Centre, Manager 12 Ato Tekeba Eshete Andassa Research Centre, Manager 13 Ato Abewa Zewdie Bure ATVET, Dean 14 Dr. Yigzaw Dessalegn IPMS/Bure RDO (WALC secretary)

Annex 3 List of OoARD staff participated in farming system classification and priority commodity identification in June, 2007

No Name Position 1 Ato Getenet Tarik Head, OoARD 2 Ato Zelalem Abebe V/Head, OoARD 3 Ato Tadesse Denkew Cooperative promotion expert 4 Ato Hailu Assefa Input supply and marketing Team leader 5 Ato Yohanse Shemekaw AI technician 6 Ato Sentayhu Kinde Livestock production expert 7 Ato Abaye Woretaw Extension Team Leader 8 Ato Berhanmeskil Alemu Forestry expert 9 Ato Girma Tamir Horticulture expert 10 Ato Tesfaye Zemere Water resources development team leader 11 Ato Baynesagne Agegnehu Animal health expert 12 Ato Kelemwork Admasu EPLAU team leader 13 Ato Getachew Bogale WKMC 14 Dr. Yigzaw Dessalegn IPMS, Bure 15 Ato Ayalnehe Dagegn Extension Team Leader 16 Ato Abebaw Zerihun Livestock production expert 17 Mrs. Misrach Asmare Crop protection expert

90 Annex 4 List of experts participated in farming system classification and priority commodity identification on June 13, 2007

No Name Institution Affiliated 1 Ato Getenet Tarik Head, OoARD 2 Ato Zelalem Abebe V/Head, OoARD 3 Dr. Yihenew G/Selassie Adet Research Center (Center Manager) 4 Ato Tekeba Eshete Andassa Research Center (Center Manager) 5 Ato Abewa Zewdie Bure ATVET 6 Ato Yigzaw Zelalem Trade and Investment promotion Office 7 Ato Asefa Wondie ACSI, Bure 8 Ato Hiruye Geremw AISCO, Bure 9 Ato Tilahun Tadesse Agronomy Researcher, Adet 10 Ato Adebabaye Kebede Bee keeping Researcher, Andassa 11 Ato Getenet Zeleke Poultry Researcher, Andassa 12 Ato Bayhe Berihun Horticulture Researcher, Adet 13 Ato Yehalem Denekew Animal feed researcher, Andassa 14 Ato Tadesse Denkew OoARD, Cooperative promotion 15 Ato Hailu Assefa OoARD, Input supply and marketing Team leader 16 Ato Yohanse Shemekaw OoARD, Bure 17 Ato Sentayhu Kinde OoARD, Livestock production 18 Ato Abaye Woretaw OoARD, 19 Ato Berhanmeskil Alemu OoARD, Forester 20 Ato Girma Tamir OoARD, Horticulturist 22 Ato Tesfaye Zemere OoARD, Water resources development 23 Ato Baynesagne Agegnehu OoARD 24 Ato Kelemwork Admasu OoARD 25 Ato Getachew Bogale OoARD 26 Dr. Yigzaw Dessalegn IPMS, Bure

91 Annex 5 List of experts participated during community consultation

No. Participant name Institution 1 Ato Kahsay Berhe IPMS, Addis Ababa 2 Ato Getenet Zeleke Poultry specialist Andassa Research Centre 3 Ato Adebabaye Kebede Apiculture Specialist Andassa Research Centre 4 Ato Adam Abebe Horticulturist Adet Reserch Centre 5 Ato Tarkegne Sheferaw, Agronomist ZOoARD 6 Ato Ahemed Alkadir, livestock expert BoARD 7 Ato Sentayhu Kinde, Livestock expert OoARD 8 Ato Ayaleneh Dagne, Extension Team Leader OoARD 9 Ato Berhanmeskil Alemu, Forester OoARD 10 Ato Ademe Zeleke, Agronomist OoARD 11 Dr. Yigzaw Dessalegn IPMS/Bure

Annex 6 List of PAs on which community consultation conducted and number of participated farmers

No Name of PA Number of participant farmers Female Male Total 1 Wangedam 6 32 38 2 Zalema 9 79 88 3 Wundegi 4 72 76 4 Fetam-Sentom 14 41 55 5 Beko-Tabo 5 18 23 6 Jib Gedele 13 14 27 Total 51 256 307

92 Annex 7 List of Bure IPMS project planning workshop participants

1 Ato Kumsa Zeqargachew DA Wondegi PA 2 Ato Wasu Yohanese OoARD 3 Ato Ayalenehe Dagegne OoARD 4 Ato Zelalem Asnake OoARD 5 Ato Berhanemiskel Alemu OoARD 6 Ato Sentayhu Kindie OoARD 7 Ato Abebaw Zerihun OoARD 8 Ato Mosie Gelaw Farmer 9 Ato Baynesagne Agegnehu OoARD 10 Ato Mengestie Asrese OoARD 11 Ato Walelegn Admasu EGTE, Bure 12 Ato Hiruye Germew AISCO 13 W/ro Tsehayeneshe Tegegne OoWA 14 W/ro Terusew Adego Farmer, Wangedam 15 Ato Dersolegne Gebeyhu Chairman, Bure Damot Dairy cooperative 16 Ato Ermias Sehai ILRI-IPMS 17 Dr. Eshete Dejene ARARI-IPMS focal person 18 Dr. Tesfaye Lemma ILRI-IPMS 19 Ato Getachew Addis OoARD 20 Ato Getnet Zeleke Andassa Livestock Research Centre 21 Ato Baye Berihun Adet Agricultural Research Centre 22 Ato Solomon Tekeste Bahir Dar Rural Technology Research Centre 23 Ato Ademe Zeleke OoARD 24 Ato Yebeltale Ewnetu DA, Fetam-Sentom PA 25 Ato Amsalu Terefe DA, Beko-Tabo PA 26 Ato Shegaw Taddesse HIV/AIDS secretariat 27 Ato Yenehun Ayechew DA, Wangedam PA 28 Ato Kelelegne H/Mariam Bure ATVET college V/Dean 29 Ato Hailu Asefa OoARD 30 Ato Taye Workie Private Trader (pepper) 31 Ato Wondale Alamerew Farmer Wundegi PA 32 Wro. Yemesrach Asmare OoARD 33 Ato Asmamaw Mekonen Bure Woreda Administrator 34 Ato Getnet Tarik OoARD Head and WALC chairman 35 Ato Andargie Demessie Guder Agro. Industry 36 Wro. Tezurbete Alem Farmer Wundegi PA 37 Ato Abewa Zewdie Dean, Bure ATVET College 38 Ato Mekuriaw Gessesse OoARD 39 Ato Betew Melese BoARD, Head Agronomy Department 40 Ato Lakew Belaye BoARD, Head Livestock Department 41 Ato Aynalem Gezahegne BoARD, RALC chairman 42 Ato Tesfahun Gerem Farmer, Wangedam PA

93 43 Ato Asefa Wondie ACSI, Bure 44 Ato Yohanesse Shemekaw OoARD 45 Ato Fentahun Abedo Farmer, Fetam-Sentom PA 46 Ato Admassie Gashu DA, Jibgedele PA 47 Ato Tenaw Berhane Farmer, Jibgedele PA 48 Wro Enatalem Tsehaye Farmer, Jibgedele PA 49 Ato Ambaye Desalew DA, Zalema PA 50 Wro Melese Tesema Farmer, Zalema PA 51 Ato Yehalem Maru Andassa Research Center 52 Ato Maru Berhanie Bahir Dar Animal health laboratory 53 Ato Amare Mengist ARARI 54 Ato Taye Yohannese Guder Agroindustry 55 Ato Amanu Bantie BoARD 56 Ato Tilahun Gebye Fogera IPMS, RDO 57 Ato Teshome Derso Fogera IPMS, RDA 58 Ato Megbare Alemu OoARD 59 Ato Mengist Ayalew OoARD 60 Ato Alemayhu Tamerate Office of Information 61 Ato Tesfaye Molla Amhara Mass Media Agency 62 Ato Mulugeta Baye ,, 63 Ato Mezmure Hawaze ,, 64 Ato Getachew Asmamaw ,, 65 Ato H/Mariam Mamo ,, 66 Ato Yigzaw Zelalem Bure Woreda OoTI 67 Ato Getachew Bogale Wundegi 68 Ato Mulugeta Alemayhu Andassa Research Center 69 Dr. Daresema Gulima Bahir Dar Livestock health laboratory 70 Wro. Lemlem Aregu ILRI-IPMS 71 Ato Yehalem Denekew Andassa Research Center 72 Ato Kahsay Berhe ILRI-IPMS 73 Dr. Azage Tegegne ILRI-IPMS 74 Dr. Yigzaw Dessalegne Bure IPMS, RDO

94 Annex 8 Bure PLW Planning Workshop Program, July 16-17, 2007, Bure

Date Time Activity Responsibility July 16 8:30 – 9:00 Registration Organizers (OoARD/RDO) 9:00 – 9:10 Welcome Address Ato Asmamaw Bure Woreda Administrator 9:10 – 9:20 Program Introduction Ato Getnt Tarik, Head OoARD and WALC Chairman Chairman: Ato Ermias Sehai, IPMS/ILRI 9:20 – 9:40 Introduction about IPMS Dr. Azage Tegegne (IPMS/ILRI) 9:40 – 10:00 Steps followed for farming Dr. Yigzaw Dessalegn (IPMS-Bure) system classification and priority commodity identification 10:00 – 10:30 Coffee Break Organizers 10:30 – 10:50 Crop production Ato Kahsay Berhe (IPMS/ILRI) 10:50 – 11:05 Discussion Participants 11:05 – 11:25 Livestock production Dr. Azage Tegegne (IPMS/ILRI) 11:25 – 11:40 Discussion Participants 11:40 – 12:00 Institutions Dr. Yigzaw Dessalegn 12:00 – 12:15 Discussion Participants 12:15 – 12:30 Group formation for Ato Kahsay Berhe (IPMS/ILRI) discussion 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break Organizers Chairpersons and Rapporteurs for group discussion • Livestock: Dr. Azage Tegegne/ Ato Sentayhu (OoARD) • Crop and horticulture: Ato Betew (BoARD) / Ato Ayalnehe (OoARD) 13:30 – 13:50 Visit to BureDamot Dairy Cooperative Chairman Cooperative 13:50 – 15:30 Group discussion Participants 15:30 – 16:00 Coffee Break Organizers 16:00 – 17:30 Group discussion continued Participants July 17 8:30 – 12:30 Group discussion continued Participants 10:00 – 10:30 Coffee Break Organizers 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break Organizers 13:30-13:50 Visit to WKMC Dr. Yigzaw Chairperson: Ato Aynalem Gezahegn RALC Chairman 13:50 – 14:15 Livestock Production group Ato Sentayhu report 14:15 – 14:30 Discussion Participants 14:30 – 14:55 Field and horticultural crops Ato Ayalnehe production group report 14:55 – 15:10 Discussion Participants 15:10 – 16:00 General Discussion Participants 16:00 – 16:30 Participants observation Participants 16:30 – 17:00 Wrap up and way forward Dr. Azage Tegegne 17:00 – 17:10 Closing Remark Ato Aynalem Gezahegne (RALC Chairman)