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Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research

8(2): 1-15, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.39098 ISSN: 2456-8864

Training and Demonstration of Different in Western Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Yirga Belay Kindeya1*

1Humera Agricultural Research Center (HuARC), Tigray, Ethiopia.

Author’s contribution

The sole author designed, analyzed and interpreted and prepared the manuscript.

Article Information

DOI: 10.9734/AJAAR/2018/39098 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Villagomez Cortes Jose Alfredo Santiago, Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Veracruz, Mexico. Reviewers: (1) A. Ashok Kumar, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, India. (2) Jijingi, Hemen Emmanuel, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria. (3) Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah, CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana. (4) Jaime Cuauhtemoc R. Negrete, Mexico. Complete Peer review History: http://prh.sdiarticle3.com/review-history/27533

Received 29 December 2017 Short Communication Accepted 04 May 2018 Published 01 December 2018

ABSTRACT

Training, on- demonstration and testing of different agricultural machinery, was conducted in the Western zone of Tigray, Ethiopia with the objective of creating awareness, providing an opportunity for trainees to familiarize with, learn to operate, use and maintain different agricultural machinery. The trainers were highly experienced and they are very familiar with different agricultural machinery two from Ethiopia and one is from Kenya. 84 trainees were participated in the training on the given time and captured enough knowledge and skill about different agricultural machinery how to operate, use and maintain different agricultural machinery. Small scale and investors want to introduce row planters, harvesters but they lack skill, knowledge about the machinery and finance. The training was given to develop their skill, knowledge and to introduce agricultural machinery to increase their production of different crops from time to time. The theoretical and practical trained participants of Different Small scale farmers and investors are evaluating the field performance of row planted different crops at different stages. After careful evaluation and observation, they will decide to select the best row planter and other agricultural machinery to the area.

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*Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]; Kindeya; AJAAR, 8(2): 1-15, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.39098

Keywords: ; row planting; farm; demonstration; opportunity; challenges.

1. INTRODUCTION advanced countries where rural poverty is low. At the same time, there is no evidence that Mechanization has had a major impact on the mechanization contributes to poverty reduction – demand and supply for farm labor; the at least with existing types of farm machinery. profitability of farming; and the change in the Low-income farmers seek to mechanize their rural landscape, including rural communities. The operations nevertheless, as evidenced by the introduction of new technology usually results in increased use of among small-scale losers and gainers. For example, the introduction farmers. The growing use of farm machinery of the mechanical harvester in in Asian countries also shows that there are x California created considerable controversy, low-cost alternatives to animal power and that primarily due to farm workers not being the benefits of mechanization can be extended compensated for lost wages [1]. to low-income farmers. This machinery enhances the capacity to mechanize farm operations at a Odigboh [2] Defined agricultural mechanization much lower cost of capital, both in absolute as the use of any to accomplish a terms and relative to farm labour. In the ECA task or operation involved in agricultural region, improved access to such machinery production. [3] Expressed farm mechanization as could facilitate increased mechanization in the application of engineering principles and countries with cautious approach to reform, technology in agricultural production, storage especially where labour-intensive production and processing; where these activities and systems and small-scale predominate. The applications are not limited within the boundaries study also shows that the ability of small-scale of the farm units only. [4] Reported agricultural farmers to invest in farm machinery is mechanization as an engineering system that constrained by limited access to credit, leasing requires not only advances in machine and insurance [5]. development and applications but also close cooperation of many sections. In recognition of Mechanization is a crucial input for agricultural this fact, certain Environmental, agricultural, crop production and one that historically has social and economic conditions must be been neglected in the context of developing ascertained to favor investment in countries. Factors that reduce the availability of mechanization technologies and their farm power compromise the ability to cultivate sustainable use. sufficient land and have long been recognized as a source of poverty, especially in sub- The study indicates that farm mechanization is Saharan Africa. Increasing the power supply to an adjunct to more fundamental influences on means that more tasks can be agricultural production and productivity in the completed at the right time and greater areas ECA region, rather than a means to directly can be farmed to produce greater quantities of increase output. Across all ECA countries, crops while conserving natural resources. regression analysis shows that the impact of Applying new technologies that are mechanization on productivity is modest. A environmentally friendly enables farmers to 10% increase in investment is produce crops more efficiently by using less associated with a 2% increase in agriculture power. Sustainable agricultural mechanization value-added/hectare of arable land (statistically can also contribute significantly to the significant at 5%). This suggests that development of value chains and food systems mechanization enhances the impact of more as it has the potential to render postharvest, fundamental changes such as technological processing and marketing activities and functions innovation, changes in factor costs and changes more efficient, effective and environmentally in institutions such as land use rights. Hence, friendly. farm mechanization will have the strongest impact on agricultural productivity where reform Increasing levels of mechanization do not is advanced and farm wages are high, as in the necessarily mean big investments in and more advanced accession countries. There is other machinery. Farmers need to choose the no evidence that mechanization compromises most appropriate power source for any operation rural poverty reduction in low-income ECA depending on the work to be done and on who is countries, by driving down rural wages or performing it. The level of mechanization should reducing rural employment. Machinery does meet their needs effectively and efficiently. eventually substitute for labour, but only in more Women play an important role in many farming

2 Kindeya; AJAAR, 8(2): 1-15, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.39098 based communities, and in some countries, up to power tools to tractors and the countless kinds of 80 percent of the total farm labour comes from farm implements that they tow or operate. women. This implies that power sources (human, Diverse arrays of equipment are used in both animal or motor- based) need to be adapted to organic and nonorganic farming. Especially such necessities from an ergonomic, social, since the advent of mechanised agriculture, cultural and economic point of view. The agricultural machinery is an indispensable part of reduction of drudgery is a key element of how the world is fed [8]. sustainable mechanization and contributes to reducing women's hard workload by taking Western zone of Tigray is classified under three into consideration technologies apt to their agro –ecologies; low land, mid land and high needs and improving their access to appropriate land. The low land is suitable for the forms of farm power. Sustainable mechanization production of many lowland crops; sesame, can increase land productivity by facilitating sorghum, pearl millet, rice, soybean, mung timeliness and quality of cultivation, support bean, haricot bean, sunflower, safflower, opportunities that relieve the burden of labour cotton, okra, tomato, onion, jearjir, Molokai, shortages and enable households to withstand tropical fruits. In the mid land and high land agro- shocks better, decrease the environmental ecology different crops are growing; Teff, footprint of agriculture when combined with wheat, barley, wheat, faba bean, lentil, adequate practices, and linseed, highland safflower etc. The population reduce poverty and achieve food security while size in the area is increasing at alarming rate improving people's livelihoods [6]. whereas the crop production is very low as compared with other countries. This low Mechanised agriculture is the process of using production is due to lack of introducing and using agricultural machinery to mechanise the work of agricultural farm mechanization, lack modern agriculture, greatly increasing farm worker agriculture. Investors and farmers have no productivity. In modern times, powered interest to introduce the agricultural machinery has replaced many farm jobs formerly mechanization and modern agriculture as well as carried out by or by working to increase the agricultural production because animals such as oxen, horses and . The of lack of awareness on the agricultural entire contains many mechanization and modern agriculture in the examples of the use of tools, such as the area. The training, on farm demonstration and and the . But the on-going integration of agricultural farm machinery evaluation is since the has designed creating awareness, providing an allowed farming to become much less labour- opportunity for trainees to familiarize with, learn intensive. Current mechanised agriculture to operate, use and maintain different includes the use of tractors, trucks, combine agricultural machinery in western zone of Tigray harvesters, countless types of farm implements, [9]. aeroplanes and helicopters (for aerial application), and other vehicles. Precision 1.1 History of Agricultural Mechanization agriculture even uses computers in conjunction in North Western and Western Zone of with satellite imagery and satellite navigation (GPS guidance) to increase yields. Tigray, Ethiopia Mechanisation was one of the large factors responsible for urbanisation and industrial Even though north western and western zone of economies. Besides improving production Tigray has large flatland, many rivers, suitable efficiency, mechanisation encourages large scale farm lands for investment and agricultural production and sometimes can improve the production there is no agricultural quality of farm produce. On the other hand, it can mechanization introduced before. No agricultural displace unskilled farm labour and can cause mechanization such as row planters, , environmental degradation (such as , harvesters, land leveling machines, seed , and ), especially if cleaning machines, threshers etc. were practiced it is applied short-sightedly rather than holistically in the area. Small scale farmers ploughing by [7]. oxen, investors by tractors but not row planters, harvesters, threshers. As a result the Agricultural machinery is machinery used in productivity of the area is very low as compared farming or other agriculture. There are many to other countries using modern agriculture types of such equipment, from hand tools and mechanization.

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2. MATERIALS AND METHODS  Accessible roads and other infrastructures. (Personal observation and mobile The training was given in 2017 of season for communication, 2016) different agricultural machinery by two Ethiopian and Kenyan expertise. 84 participants from 2.3 Advantage of Using Row Planting different areas were included in the training. over Broad Casting Three different hoper precision row planters, land leveling machine, animal feed grinder, and  Keeps uniform plant density and plant Metal silo were brought from Brazil, Locally population fabricated seed cleaning machines and other  Enables easy weed management agricultural machinery; cultivators, sprayers,  Suitable for spraying insecticides, , disc plough, different types of herbicide, fungicide tractors, were demonstrated in the training.  Suitable for application Theoretical concept of agricultural machinery as  Suitable for harvesting well as practical training was given during the  Allows uniform air circulation within the training; how to operate, different parts of the field machinery, how to lubricate etc. The training on agricultural machinery was given for consecutive 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 10 days both theoretical and practical, on farm demonstration, field observation and evaluation. The trainers grasped different parts of The trainers were highly experienced and they agricultural machineries and farm equipment’s are very familiar with different agricultural such as Row planters, BBM (Broad Bed machinery two from Ethiopia and one from Management), different Tractors, Chopper, Kenya. metal sile, Disc plough, disc harrow, , sesame harvesters, insecticide sprayer, seed 2.1 Major Challenges in Agricultural cleaners, sesame during the training in 2017 in Mechanization in Western Zone of western zone of Tigray, Ethiopia .How to Tigray operate, how to fix different agricultural machinery, how to maintain, the advantage of  Lack of awareness and using Agricultural mechanization in commercial crop mechanization both small scale farmers production, pest management, labour cost and investors minimization, timely ploughing, harvesting,  Lack of agricultural machinery threshing etc. After theoretical training different maintenance and spare parts row planters were demonstrated at irrigation  Lack farmers skill and knowledge research field for sesame (0.5ha), sorghum  Financial problem (0.5ha), Mung bean (0.5ha) and soya bean  No suitable agricultural machinery (0.5ha) according to the recommended spacing introduced to the area of each crop between rows and plants. The  Limited government attention and trainees finally evaluate different machineries mechanization policy weather they are suitable for their area or not. In developed country the economy is boosted 2.2 Opportunity for Agricultural through using mechanization similarly we want Mechanization in Western Zone of introduce mechanization to our area to increase Tigray our productivity through mechanization. Theoretical and practical trained participants of  Large suitable for investment Different Small scale farmers and investors are  Many crops can grow in this area sesame, evaluating the field performance of row planted sorghum, cotton, Mung bean, pearl millet, different crops at different stages. After careful soybean evaluation and observation they will decide to select the best row planter and other agricultural  Low land vegetables and tropical fruits  machinery to the area.  Annually flowing rivers, Tekeze, Mokozo, Bahre selam, Kaza and others Farmers and investors are evaluating the  Near to Sudan, Eritrea and this is suitable performance, efficiency and advantage of row  for export products planters in different crop growth stages under  Suitable agro ecology for production of irrigation and will continue under rain fed industrial and other crops

4 Kindeya; AJAAR, 8(2): 1-15, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.39098 condition in the coming season. As we can see evaluated under field condition. After careful in plate from 16 to 20 the crops were planted by evaluation and observation the performance multi crop row planter under irrigation after and efficiency of the machinery they will decide consecutive 10 days training. Different small to introduce those machineries from different scale farmers and investors were visited and country.

Plate 1. Row planter field demonstration

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Plate 2. Theoretical and practical training

Plate 3. Multi crop seed cleaning machine

Plate 4. Demonstration of locally fabricated multi crop seed cleaner

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Plate 5. Drilling row planter

Plate 6. Different type Precision row planter

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BBM (Broad Bed Management) Disc plough and disc harrow and disc harrow

Plate 7. Different agricultural machinery

Plate 8. The participants learnt all the internal parts of the row planters as well as how to operate

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Plate 9. Land ploughing and leveling

Plate 10. BBM (Broad bed management)

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Plate 11. Metal silo fixed by the participants during the training

Plate 12. Mungbean threshing using multi crop thresher

Plate 13. Rotary cuter (Crop residue and weeds cleaner)

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Plate 14. Insecticide sprayer

Plate 15. Animal feed grinder

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Row planted sorghum, Sesame, Soybean and Mungbean after the training

Plate 16. Sesame

Plate 17. Sorghum

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Plate 18. Mung bean

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Plate 19. Soybean

Plate 20. Family photo of the participants

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4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION COMPETING INTERESTS

The training and on-farm demonstration for Author has declared that no competing interests different agricultural machinery: Row planters, exist. BBM (Broad Bed Management), different Tractors, Chopper, Disc plough, disc harrow, REFERENCES cultivator, sesame harvesters, insecticide sprayer, sesame seed cleaners, sesame 1. Schmitz A, Seckler D. Mechanized harvesters were conducted during of season in agriculture and social welfare: The case 2017 in western zone of Tigray, Ethiopia . The of the tomato harvester. American Journal row planters were demonstrated at irrigation of Agricultural Economics. 1970;52(4): research field for different crops such as sesame 569-577. (0.5ha), sorghum (0.5ha), Mung bean (0.5ha) 2. Odigboh EU. Single-row cassava harvester and soya bean (0.5ha) according to the model II. Agricultural Mechanization in recommended spacing of each crop between Asia, Africa and Latin America (AMA). rows and plants in the area. The training on 1991;22(2):63-66. agricultural machinery was given for consecutive 3. Mijinyawa Y, Ogedengbe K, Ajav EA, 10 days both theoretical and practical, on-farm Aremu AK. Introduction to agricultural demonstration, field observation and evaluation. engineering. Stirling-Horden Publishers The trainers were highly experienced and they (Nig) Ltd., Ibadan; 2000. are very familiar with different agricultural 4. Ou B, Huang D, Hampsch-Woodill M, machinery two from Ethiopia and one from Flanagan JA, Deemer EK. Analysis of Kenya. 84 trainees were participated in the antioxidant activities of common training on the given time and captured enough vegetables employing oxygen radical knowledge about how to operate, maintenance. absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric The trainees finally evaluate different reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) machineries weather they are suitable for their assays: a comparative study. Journal of area or not. In developed country the economy Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2002;50: is boosted through using mechanization similarly 3122–3128. we want introduce mechanization to our 5. Available:https://openknowledge.worldban area to increase our productivity through k.org/bitstream/handle/10986/12505/53318 mechanization. Theoretical and practical 0P10278100 trained participants of Different Small scale zation0english0whole.pdf?sequence=1&is farmers and investors are evaluating the field Allowed=y performance of row planted different crops at (Accessed in 2028) different stages. After careful evaluation and 6. Available:http://www.fao.org/sustainable- observation they will decide to select the best agricultural-mechanization/overview/why- row planter and other agricultural machinery to mechanization- is-important/en/ the area. 7. Available:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mec hanised_agriculture CONSENT 8. Available:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agric ultural_machinery As per international standard or university 9. (Personal communication and mobile standard, written participants’ consent has been communication, 2017), agricultural collected and preserved by the authors. mechanization in western zone of Tigray. ______© 2018 Kindeya; This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Peer-review history: The peer review history for this paper can be accessed here: http://prh.sdiarticle3.com/review-history/27533

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