Thenational agricultural research systems (NARS) of Ethiopia has been developing anumber of agricultural technologies with potential to increase yield manyfolds. In arid and semi-arid agricultural systems of Ethiopia, staple crops andgrain legumes (common bean) are the most important strategic crops for food andincome, respectively. Descriptions of best-bet production technologies of thesecrops are presented below. The rationale to justify the technologies as bestpractice is highlighted in terms of the importance and relevance in addressingclimate-induced problems. In addition, the geographical locations andbio-physical environments where the technology has been tested, proven andpromoted are explained.

Description of the technology orinnovation

Sorghumand maize are among several crops grown in the arid and semi-arid agriculturalareas. Nationally, maize is grown on an estimated area of 1.8 million ha withan average national productivity of 2.2 tons per ha, while sorghum is producedon area of 1.6 million ha with average productivity of about 1.7 million ha(CSA 2008). These crops are well adapted to arid and semi-arid areas due totheir inherent capacity to withstand the recurrently occurring droughtexacerbated by the prevailing climate change. However, production andproductivity of these crops are being constrained by several biotic and abioticfactors including drought, nutrient deficiency, insect pests, diseases andparasitic weeds (Striga).

TheEthiopian NARS has been exerting considerable efforts to generate and promoteappropriate technologies of these crops to areas vulnerable to climatevariability and change. Accordingly, drought tolerant and Striga resistantsorghum varieties and drought tolerant maize varieties targeted for semi-aridagro-ecologies of the country have been developed and released, anddisseminated along with appropriate crop management practices. These arecurrently being utilised by the farming communities. Among the many varietiesreleased and are being produced by farmers, include Teshale, Meko-1 and ESH-1for sorghum and Melkassa-2, Melkassa-4 and Melkass-6Q can be recommended forfurther scaling out in arid and semi-arid agro-ecologies. These varieties areproven for their superior grain yield potential, tolerance to drought, quickmaturity and also for being nutritionally enhanced. These have good grainquality, baking quality, and marketability. The varieties are also resistant/tolerantto major diseases prevalent in the target areas, such as common rust (maize),leaf blight and leaf spot (sorghum and maize). Meanwhile, nutritional qualitystudy has also showed the improved varieties of both crops can be used forpreparation of different value added products.

Inrecognition of their merits, the technologies have been tested, adapted and arebeing utilised by small-scale farmers in the semi-arid areas of Amhara (northand south wello), Tigray (south and north Tigray), Oromia (east and westHararghe, central Rift Valley areas) and some parts of Somalia and Southnations, nationalities and peoples (SNNP) regions of Ethiopia. Experiences frompromotional activities revealed that these varieties are widely adapted to thesemi-arid agro-ecologies of the country and hence guarantee further scaling outin similar agro-ecologies of the country and ECA region. The proforma of thesecrops and varieties with respect to acceptability and ease of adoption,potential benefit/profitability, sensitivity to climate variables, constraintsto adoption and their recommendation domain are presented in Tables 1.7 and1.8.

Table1.7: Inventory of selected sorghum varieties for scaling out in the arid andsemi-arid ecologies

Table 1.8:Inventory of selected maize varieties for scaling out in arid and semiaridecologies

In itseffort to address the drought-prone areas of the country the NARS of Ethiopiahas developed various technological packages proven to be well adapted to aridand semi-arid areas. As indicated above, maize, sorghum and common beanvarieties were generated for the purpose and found to be well adapted to theareas; but were not scaled out for wider farming communities due to lack offinances and limited institutional capacity. Application guidelines for scalingout the already identified best-bet technologies are pointed out below.

§  Identify and describe best-bettechnological packages suitable for the target areas

§  Create strong institutional linkagesamong all agricultural development partners (government organisations and NGOs)working in the target areas. The partners include farmers, farmer cooperativesand unions, Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, input supply andmarketing agencies, research institutes, policy makers, traders and processors

§  Conduct stakeholders/partnerssensitisation workshop and share tasks among all

§  Access all necessary inputs such asseeds, fertilisers and others and distribute to selected host farmers in thetarget areas on time

§  Plant the scaling out plots and applyall necessary crop, soil and water management practices. Train farmers,extension workers of Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development anddevelopment agents with the utilisation of these technologies and post-harvesthandling of their products

§  Organise field days and exchange visitsto ensure information reaches more stakeholders and beneficiaries, and enhancesfarmer-to-farmer learning or technology transfer approaches

§  Disseminate information about thetechnologies through extension materials (leaflets, pamphlets and productionguidelines) to stakeholders and beneficiaries. Use mass media to widelybroadcast information about the technologies with respect to importance,profitability and adaptation.

§  Farmers and other users of thetechnologies should receive training and technical support from researchers andBureau of Agriculture and Rural Development extension workers during andpost-scaling out of technologies in a sustainable way

Contact details for further information

Name and contact of the organisation:

EthiopianInstitute of Agricultural Research,

P. O.Box 2003,

AddisAbaba, Ethiopia;

Tel:+251 116462633;

Fax:+251 116461251/6461294;

Mobile:+251 911 896428

Email: eiar@telecom.et;

Name and contact of presenter:

Dr DagneWegary Gissa;

MekassaAgricultural Research Centre,

P. O.Box 436,

Nazareth;Ethiopia

Email: dagnewegary@yahoo.com;

Tel:+251- 221-112186;

Fax:+251 221-114623;

Mobile:+251-912-237300

Name and contact of the scientistsinvolved in the generation of the technology:

SetegnGebeyehu;

MekassaAgricultural Research Centre,

P. O.Box 436;

Nazareth-Ethiopia;

Tel:+251-221-112186;

Fax:+251 221-114623;

Mobile:+251-911-348487

Email: setegng@yahoo.co.uk;

HabtamuAdmassu;

MekassaAgricultural Research Centre;

P. O.Box 436;

Nazareth,Ethiopia;

Tel:+251-221-112186;

Fax:+251 221-114623;

Mobile:+251-911-919898

Email: habtamu.admassu@gmail.com;

TayeTadesse;

MekassaAgricultural Research Centre,

P. O.Box 436, Nazareth, Ethiopia.

Tel:+251-221-112186;

Fax:+251 221-114623;

Mobile:+251- 911-627721

Email:taytad032003@yahoo.com;

CSA(Central Statistical Agency). 2008. Statistical bulletin for crop productionforecast sample survey. CSA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

CSA(Central Statistical Agency). 2009. Statistical bulletin for crop productionforecast sample survey. CSA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

EIAR (EthiopianInstitute of Agricultural Research). 2007. Guidelines for utilisation of croptechnologies. Amharic edition. EIAR, Addis Ababa.