Suchergebnisse

In 2005 the IPMS project introduced a participatory market oriented value chain approach in Alaba and apiculture was identified as one of the priority marketable commodities. Amongst the problems and potentials identified in the apiculture value chain were lack of knowledge and skills to operate the modern beehives, low occupancy rate, lack of bee forage and a government controlled technology driven development approach. Furthermore, there was no marketing/processing system for the honey produced from the modern hives. Initial emphasis was given to build capacity and skills on different aspect of apiculture development with follow up and supervisory visits to targeted farmers in two PAs (Peasant associations). Those farmers also benefited from innovative credit channeled through the Menchone farmers' Union, which enabled them to own more than three modern beehives per household. Linkages were also made with local carpenters for the construction and supply of modern and transitional hives. To alleviate bee forage problems, new forage were introduced in FTCs (Farmers Training Centers) and farmers' fields. Finally colony splitting was introduced to increase the availability of productive colonies. The results of these interventions were measured both at district and household levels. Household survey data showed an average 26.7kg/modern hive/year in 2008. At district level, the number of farmers who now have modern hives (supplied under different programs) is 1783, which is 33% of the estimated beekeeping households. Average annual gross production value of bee keepers with a combination of hive types averaged Birr 1,500, as compared to Birr 500 for household who only had traditional hives. Data from 17 farmers which were more intensively supported, showed a significant higher productivity from modern hives (38 kg/hive) and their gross production value from different hive types averaged Birr 4,600/year. A cost benefit analysis based on the data obtained from 17 farmers indicated that benefits exceeded costs in year 2, which resulted in a cumulative net benefit of Birr 437 /hive over a 2 year period. The latter shows that apiculture can be a viable economic activity, once sufficient knowledge and skills are applied. Finally, as a result of the value chain approach, the number of partners involved in the development of the apiculture increased including private sector partners. However, while linkages were made with commercial processing factories in Nazareth, actual sale of clean honey through these outlets has not yet been materialized, since most honey is sold in the local market. With the expanding honey production from modern hives, more attention needs to be given to local processing and sale of extracted honey. ; Canadian International Development Agency

In 2005, irrigated vegetables were identified as one of the marketable commodities by the stakeholders participating in the IPMS project. At the time, most vegetables were grown in gravity fed traditional and modern irrigation schemes getting water from two micro dams constructed by the Cubans during the previous government. Following the identification of irrigated vegetables as a potential for the district, a participatory market oriented value chain development approach was introduced to increase vegetables production and productivity with the aim of improving the livelihood of rural population. The development and research partners started improving production in gravity fed irrigation schemes by creating interest in a more business like commercial production system. Study tours and training activities were organized on more advanced irrigation practices (furrow instead of flood irrigation) as well as the introduction of new onion and tomato varieties. The latter enabled farmers to expand their irrigated vegetable production areas since these varieties are grown from seeds which are readily available and relatively cheap, as compared to, for example, the traditional onion (shallot) varieties which are grown from bulbs. Using participatory planning methods, project partners then examined the potential for irrigation from rivers and groundwater with the help of small pumps. Several groups were identified and credit was provided by the Erer Union, which received the funds from the IPMS credit innovation fund. Pumps were owned by one of the group members, who used it for him/herself and provided water services on a commercial basis to others. Again, study tours and training activities were organized to create interest and skills. Close ties developed between these farmers and the Meki and Ziway farmers visited during the study tour. In the end this contributed significantly to skills development, especially since Meki and Ziway farmers also started renting in land along the Mojo river for dry season irrigated vegetables production. Government furthermore supported the development of pump irrigated agriculture and supplied more pumps (on credit) through the Oromia Water Enterprise to farmers, especially youth groups. The results of all these interventions are visible in a very significant expansion of irrigated areas, especially during the dry season. Since 2005, pump irrigated areas increased from 60 to 1000 ha in 2009, (mainly along the Mojo river). The area of irrigated onion and tomatoes from gravity fed irrigation and pump irrigation increased from about 400 ha in 2005 to 4800 ha in 2009.In terms of income from irrigated dry season vegetables, a comparison between adopters and non-adopters of the market oriented value chain development approach shows significant difference, i.e. Birr 17,293 and Birr 8,886 per household, respectively. Special attention was given to a group of women farmers, who received special training and are now used as "models" for other women farmers. Further improvements are possible particularly in improving productivity, since yields are much lower than can be obtained under good management. Care should further more be taken to avoid over utilization of water in the Woreda, especially since ground water is also extracted by large scale commercial horticultural farms. ; Canadian International Development Agency

European Union ; International Fund for Agricultural Development ; Peer Review

Soil fertility depletion is considered one of the main biophysical limiting factors for increasing per capita food production for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The adoption and diffusion of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs), as a way to tackle this challenge, has become an important issue in the development policy agenda in the region. This paper examines the adoption decisions for SAPs, using recent primary data of multiple plot-level observations collected in 4 districts and 60 villages of rural Tanzania. The paper employs a multivariate probit technique to model simultaneous interdependent adoption decisions by farm households. The analysis reveals that rainfall, insects and disease shocks, government effectiveness in provision of extension services, tenure status of plot, social capital, plot location and size, and household assets, all influence farmer investment in SAPs. Policies that target SAPs and are aimed at 1 Corresponding author: Menale Kassie: m.kassie@cgiar.org. Tel: 254(20) 722 4628; Fax: 254(20) 7224600. 2 organizing farmers into associations, improving land tenure security, and enhancing skills of civil servants can increase uptake of SAPs in smallholder systems.

International audience ; AbstractWheat yields in Ethiopia need to increase considerably to reduce import dependency and keep up with the expected increase in population and dietary changes. Despite the yield progress observed in recent years, wheat yield gaps remain large. Here, we decompose wheat yield gaps in Ethiopia into efficiency, resource, and technology yield gaps and relate those yield gaps to broader farm(ing) systems aspects. To do so, stochastic frontier analysis was applied to a nationally representative panel dataset covering the Meher seasons of 2009 and 2013 and crop modelling was used to simulate the water-limited yield (Yw) in the same years. Farming systems analysis was conducted to describe crop area shares and the availability of land, labour, and capital in contrasting administrative zones. Wheat yield in farmers' fields averaged 1.9 t ha− 1 corresponding to ca. 20% of Yw. Most of the yield gap was attributed to the technology yield gap (> 50% of Yw) but narrowing efficiency (ca. 10% of Yw) and resource yield gaps (ca. 15% of Yw) with current technologies can nearly double actual yields and contribute to achieve wheat self-sufficiency in Ethiopia. There were small differences in the relative contribution of the intermediate yield gaps to the overall yield gap across agro-ecological zones, administrative zones, and farming systems. At farm level, oxen ownership was positively associated with the wheat cultivated area in zones with relatively large cultivated areas per household (West Arsi and North Showa) while no relationship was found between oxen ownership and the amount of inputs used per hectare of wheat in the zones studied. This is the first thorough yield gap decomposition for wheat in Ethiopia and our results suggest government policies aiming to increase wheat production should prioritise accessibility and affordability of inputs and dissemination of technologies that allow for precise use of these inputs.