o9 0 0 i ___ Research 1986-2011 Achievements A Quarter Century Long Effort to Lift ■ the Living Standards of Farmers i C ^ U Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Rose rch Central LIBRARY M'?'A\? r«wrs <r<:rc v w - ' K * aJ!>U v?. (I,-/* «<'•/:rM 'A ' *rch Achievements R esearch A ^ Effort to Lift the Livin g - L o n g Q u a rte t Century \det Research Center November 20 \ Design and Layout (and Editor): Melaku Wale, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Cover photo: A partial view of the administration office of Adet Research Center Published by: Adet Agricultural Research Center, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Printed in Bahir Dar University’s Printing Press, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, supported financially by the University’s Research and Community Services Vice President Office. Copyright © 2011 Adet Research Center, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Interested readers may cite information contained in this book. Correct citation: Adet Research Center. 2011. Research Achievements: A quarter century-long effort to lift the living stabdards of farmers. Pp 117. This publication is a summary of 25-year research (1986-2011 GC). The objective of the book was to complement the 25th Anniversary of the establishement of the Center that was colorfully venerated at the end of September 2011. Adet Agricultural Research Center targets Gojam and Gondar. The report gives only a bird’s eyeview of the results of the past research activities. Any serious reader is urged to see the Research Center’s annual and progress reports or published research articles in various fields of study. ADET AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER 25-YEAR RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT Preface Given that the majority of Ethiopians are center, are now compiled in this document. engaged in the agriculture sector and the sector I'his will facilitate access to information and takes the lion’s share in the economic contribute for the current Growth and development of the country, supporting the Transformation Plan of the Government. Over sector with research is not only logical but also the years, the center not only generated indispensable. Improved agricultural technologies but also transferred them. technologies enhance production and Technologies have been demonstrated and productivity. Recent advances in productivity popularized by organizing field days that led to the creation of millionaire farmers is consisting of different stakeholders. Generated a contribution of this effort. In fact, successive knowledge has been transferred to farmers and Ethiopian governments have realized this fact experts through training. and have always given emphasis to agricultural research. Research being a continuous process The center has also multiplied and supplied needs continuous support in terms of research agricultural technologies to technology facility and qualified staff. Agricultural multiplication centers and directly to farmers research centers generate, adapt and transfer for further dissemination. At this juncture, we agricultural technologies. One of such ccnters, would like to acknowledge our partners for namely Adet Agricultural Research Center has working with us. Without their participation, been by and large a success story. It was we would not have succeeded. Despite all established in 1986, which over years, has efforts, all technologies generated/adapted so developed and made available quite a lot of far have not been fully utilized by end users. agricultural technologies. Research themes Now is the time for pre-scale up and out of the included food crops, soil and water best technologies we ever claim to have management, forestry, and animal feeds and generated. This will help double agricultural nutrition1. production and productivity' in the near future. We call for strong linkage and collaboration In order to identify key production constraints, among the partnerships. At this grand occasion the center has carried out dozens of diagnostic of celebrating the 25th anniversary of Adet surveys and case studies in collaboration with Agricultural Research Center, a Bronze Jubilee different stakeholders (farmers, governmental celebration, we have also compiled basic and non-governmental organizations) in five information of the technologies we generated. administrative zones (West Gojam, East We have high hopes that these technologies Gojam, Awe, South Gondar and North will contribute significantly for the current Gondar2) in the Amhara region. Thus, agricultural development led industrialization production constraints were identified, and for the Growth and Transformation Plan of prioritized, documented and published. Guided the country. And we are committed to work by identified production constraints and the with partners. For further reference, articles agriculture and rural development strategy of published by staff of the center are listed at the the country, the center has conducted hundreds end of this document. of research projects annually focusing on food security and market oriented commodities. Alemayehu Assefa Center Director. Technologies generated and adapted over the past 25 years, eversince the inception of the 1 Transferred to Andassa Livestock research Center since 2002 2 Transferred to Gondar Agricultural Research Center since 2004 ADET AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER 25-YEAR RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT Acknowledgments These engagements took their precious time. First and foremost we thank all researchers, At times, they had to stop their work and work who are alive or passed away (may their souls with us for no apparent benefit of any kind. rest in peace by the grace of God). They That was quite a sacrifice on their part. worked hard day and night in the most uncomfortable circumstanccs and generated The many agricultural experts, development the massive data that culminated in the current agents and local government officials who summary of achievements. That is something were stationed around the region participated we are proud of. During those times, in the research process in one way or another. researchers were engaged and deeply We are very much grateful to them. committed to contribute their part in realizing the 20-year research master plan that was on We are particularly grateful to the senior the table for implementation. researcher, Dr Melaku Wale, Bahir Dar University, for critically reviewing and editing The center is also very grateful to researchers the compiled document. who commented the first draft of this document. The center greatly appreciates Bahir Dar University for the financial support in We cannot forget thanking thousands of publishing the document. farmers who worked with us over the years. ii ADET AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER 25-YEAR RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT Table of Contents P reface..................................................................................................................................................................... i A cknow ledgm ents.............................................................................................................................................. ji Table of C o n ten ts............................................................................................................................................. iii List o f T ables...................................................................................................................................................... ... List of F igu res.................................................................................................................................................... vi A cron ym s........................................................................................................................................................... vii 1. Introduction.................................................................................................1 2. Farming System Diagnostic Surveys and Case Studies.................3 2.1 Farming System Diagnostic Surveys....................................................................................................3 2.2 Case Studies.................................................................................................................................................8 3. Crops...........................................................................................................21 3.1 Horticultural Crops................................................................................................................................. 21 3.1.1 Potato.......................................................................................................................................................21 3.1.2 Sweet potato...........................................................................................................................................28 3.1.3 Vegetable crops......................................................................................................................................28 3.1.4 Fruit crops............................................................................................................................................. 34 3.2 Cereals........................................................................................................................................................ 36 3.2.1 Wheats.................................................................................................................................................... 36 3.2.2 Barley....................................................................................................................................................