Abstract: A study was carried out to improve agro-pastoral awareness and enhance the adoption of full-package sorghum production technologies. Participatory on-farm demonstration and evaluation of sorghum varieties were conducted with their full packages at Zone 3 of Argobba district, Afar region, Ethiopia. A gender-inclusive pastoral and agro-pastoral research extension group member (PAPREGs) was formed in the study kebele before the start of demonstration work. Capacity-building training on sorghum agronomic practices was delivered to PAPREG members and extension agents. A single plot design was used for the area's 10 m × 10 m size for each variety on each selected agro-pastoral land. This experiment contains five improved sorghum varieties: Melkam, Argiti, Tilahun, Dekeba, and Meko, and one local variety as a check. A PAPREG group with 30 members was formed to facilitate active participation and enhance awareness of improved sorghum production. Yield data and agro-pastoral perception were collected. Simple descriptive statistics were used to examine the quantitative data, such as the amount of grain yield produced, whereas pair-wise and direct matrix ranking were used for qualitative data, such as agro-pastoralists' perceptions. Based on the analysis of agro-pastoral preference and other physiological data, improved sorghum technologies, Kekeba and Melkam, can be promoted in the respective districts of the study area. These varieties were preferred by agro-pastoral because of their earliness, good palatability, drought tolerance, and disease-tolerant traits. Therefore, it could recommend further promotion and large-scale production of sorghum using the Kekeba and Melkam varieties in the study area and similar agroecological zones.
Abstract: A study was carried out to improve agro-pastoral awareness and enhance the adoption of full-package sorghum production technologies. Participatory on-farm demonstration and evaluation of sorghum varieties were conducted with their full packages at Zone 3 of Argobba district, Afar region, Ethiopia. A gender-inclusive pastoral and agro-pastoral resea...Show More
Abstract: Ethiopia is experiencing a surge in urbanization as well as an increase in the cost of living and food. Consequently, urban agriculture will play a significant part in the nation's adoption of a sustainable urban development program. Ethiopia's government has also shown a great deal of interest in advancing urban agriculture, as seen by the establishment of the Farmers and Urban Agriculture Commission. However, as the sector is considered as a new initiative in most cities it has its own challenge and opportunity. This study reviewed the challenges and opportunities of urban agriculture in Ethiopia. Existing scholarly research that has been published as journal articles serves as the study's methodology. The resources (Scopus and Google customized search), eligibility and exclusion criteria, review process phases, data abstraction, and analysis are all part of the methods used. The review result shows that, in Ethiopia, there is diversity among the actors involved in urban agriculture and the tasks they carry out. There are four major performers of urban agriculture namely farm households, organized groups/cooperatives/enterprises, households and institutional practitioners. The commonly practiced forms of urban agriculture are dairy, poultry, animal fattening, bee keeping, fish farming, and vegetable production. The major challenges the urban agriculture facing are Challenges due to limitation of resources, economic and climate change factors. Farmers that are practicing urban agriculture are facing problems with resources such as access to available land, access to water supply for irrigation and livestock, high price of fertilizer and pesticides. Farmers and other organized bodies to implement urban agriculture are facing problems with access to financial institutions lending money. Variability of climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature affect yield in crops. The best opportunity for urban agriculture in Ethiopia is that creation of A better market for products (milk, chicken and eggs) with close users in towns, provides employment opportunities for jobless youths and women in the towns and generates additional income for urban agricultural producers. It needs stronger policy support and investment to enhance the contribution of urban agriculture expansion significantly.
Abstract: Ethiopia is experiencing a surge in urbanization as well as an increase in the cost of living and food. Consequently, urban agriculture will play a significant part in the nation's adoption of a sustainable urban development program. Ethiopia's government has also shown a great deal of interest in advancing urban agriculture, as seen by the establi...Show More