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Highland Maize Technology Demonstration: Evidence from Three Maize Growing Districts of West and Southwest Ethiopia

Received: 2 April 2023    Accepted: 21 April 2023    Published: 10 May 2023
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Abstract

Maize is Ethiopia's most important crop in terms of production, and it contributes significantly to the country's economic and social development. The study was conducted in Wonchi, Ejere, and Kersa Malima districts of South West Shewa and West Shewa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia, to evaluate and identify adaptable improved maize varieties and familiarize farmers with highland maize production techniques. The districts were selected purposively based on their production potential and accessibility for maize production. In this study, a participatory extension approach is employed as part of the methodology to select a demonstration site and host farmers. A total of 54 host farmers were chosen, and the trial was conducted on selected farmers' fields, with three varieties planted side by side on equal-sized plots size (10m2 x 15m2) from each district. Highland maize namely Jibat and Hora varieties along with a standard check (BH-661) were demonstrated and evaluated for grain yield and other parameters across tested sites. In the course of the implementation phase, different levels of field days at different growth stages of the crop were organized for respective potential Kebeles, and during the event stakeholders including host farmers and surrounding farmers, researchers, development agents, agricultural experts, and administrators attended to share experience, evaluate performance, and communicate the activity's progress. The variety selection process was carried out from different dimensions including both pre-harvest and post-harvest assessments. Using these criteria, the farmers identified varieties that are appropriate for their specific locations. Accordingly, host farmers showed special interest in Jibat and Hora varieties respectively. Overall grain yield performances of Jibat and Hora varieties on farmers' fields were 5.1 and 3.8 t/ha-1, respectively. Furthermore, the yield advantage of the two preferred varieties over the standard ones ranged from 54.9% to 15.1% in the three tested districts as compared to the standard checks. Beside this research intervention made impact to improving food security, livelihood, and knowledge and skill of host farmers in the study area. Hence, Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that the Jibat maize variety should be scaled up in the farming community to improve the maize production and productivity of the area, thereby improving their livelihood.

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 12, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13
Page(s) 44-51
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Demonstration, Highland Maize, Technologies

References
[1] Alemu ZG, Oosthuizen LK, Van Schalkwyk HD. (2010). Agricultural development policies of Ethiopia since 1957. University of the Free State.
[2] Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MoANR) (2017). Plant variety release protection and seed quality control directorate. Crop Variety Register Issue No. 19. Addis Ababa, Ethiopa.
[3] Milkias, D., & Abdulah, A. (2018). Factors Influencing Intensity of Adoption of Improved Highland Maize Varieties : The Case of Toke Kutaye District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. 9 (15), 10–17. Abdulla, A. M., Desiso, F., Aliyi, I., & Yabello, E. (2017). Highland Maize Technology Demonstration in Bule Hora District of Borana Zone. (3).
[4] Central Statistical Agency (CSA) (2017). Agricultural Sample Survey, Volume I. Report on area and production of major crops. Private peasant holdings, Meher Season. Statistical Bulletin 584, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[5] Mosisa, W. (2011). Status and future direction of maize research and production in Ethiopia. In: Meeting the Challenges of Global Climate Change and Food Security through Innovative Maize Research Tef improvement project View project Maize improvement View project (Issue September). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327622543(5)
[6] Nigussie, M., Tanner, D., & Twumasi-Afriyie, S. (Eds.). (2002). Enhancing the Contribution of Maize to Food Security in Ethiopia: Proceedings of the Second National Maize Workshop of Ethiopia: 12-16 November 2001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. CIMMYT.
[7] CIMMYT Economics Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, 1988. From agronomic data to farmer recommendations: an economics training manual (No. 27). CIMMYT.
[8] Asfaw, S., Shiferaw, B., Simtowe, F., & Haile, M. (2011). Agricultural technology adoption, seed access constraints and commercialization in Ethiopia. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 3 (9), 436-477.
[9] Tolessa, T., Natol, B., & Yonas, S. (2016). Evaluation of highland maize at Bule Hora district of Southern Oromia, southern Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 11 (34), 3178-3181.
[10] WVE (World Vision Ethiopia) atlas of Kersa Malima woreda. (2009): Annual report on livestock feed and feed resources, Xiya, Ethiopia.
[11] WDARO (Wonchi District Agricultural and Rural Development office). 2013. Annual Report of the Woreda. Wonchi, SouthWest Shoa zone, Ethiopia.
[12] EWAO (Ejere Woreda Agriculture Office). 2015. Annual Report of the Woreda. Ejere, West Shoa zone, Ethiopia.
[13] Fanos Mekonnen. 2012. Zonal Diagnosis and Intervention Plan West Shoa, Oromia. LIVES Project. IRLI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[14] Dhaka, B. L., Meena, B. S. and Suwalka, R. L. 2010. Popularization of improved maize production technology through front-line demonstration in south-eastern Rajasthan. The Journal of Agricultural Science 1 (1): 39-42.
[15] Economy, W. (2013). National Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy ( Nards ). June 2007.
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    Mamaru Tesfaye, Hana Amare. (2023). Highland Maize Technology Demonstration: Evidence from Three Maize Growing Districts of West and Southwest Ethiopia. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 12(2), 44-51. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13

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    ACS Style

    Mamaru Tesfaye; Hana Amare. Highland Maize Technology Demonstration: Evidence from Three Maize Growing Districts of West and Southwest Ethiopia. Agric. For. Fish. 2023, 12(2), 44-51. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13

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    AMA Style

    Mamaru Tesfaye, Hana Amare. Highland Maize Technology Demonstration: Evidence from Three Maize Growing Districts of West and Southwest Ethiopia. Agric For Fish. 2023;12(2):44-51. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13,
      author = {Mamaru Tesfaye and Hana Amare},
      title = {Highland Maize Technology Demonstration: Evidence from Three Maize Growing Districts of West and Southwest Ethiopia},
      journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
      volume = {12},
      number = {2},
      pages = {44-51},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20231202.13},
      abstract = {Maize is Ethiopia's most important crop in terms of production, and it contributes significantly to the country's economic and social development. The study was conducted in Wonchi, Ejere, and Kersa Malima districts of South West Shewa and West Shewa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia, to evaluate and identify adaptable improved maize varieties and familiarize farmers with highland maize production techniques. The districts were selected purposively based on their production potential and accessibility for maize production. In this study, a participatory extension approach is employed as part of the methodology to select a demonstration site and host farmers. A total of 54 host farmers were chosen, and the trial was conducted on selected farmers' fields, with three varieties planted side by side on equal-sized plots size (10m2 x 15m2) from each district. Highland maize namely Jibat and Hora varieties along with a standard check (BH-661) were demonstrated and evaluated for grain yield and other parameters across tested sites. In the course of the implementation phase, different levels of field days at different growth stages of the crop were organized for respective potential Kebeles, and during the event stakeholders including host farmers and surrounding farmers, researchers, development agents, agricultural experts, and administrators attended to share experience, evaluate performance, and communicate the activity's progress. The variety selection process was carried out from different dimensions including both pre-harvest and post-harvest assessments. Using these criteria, the farmers identified varieties that are appropriate for their specific locations. Accordingly, host farmers showed special interest in Jibat and Hora varieties respectively. Overall grain yield performances of Jibat and Hora varieties on farmers' fields were 5.1 and 3.8 t/ha-1, respectively. Furthermore, the yield advantage of the two preferred varieties over the standard ones ranged from 54.9% to 15.1% in the three tested districts as compared to the standard checks. Beside this research intervention made impact to improving food security, livelihood, and knowledge and skill of host farmers in the study area. Hence, Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that the Jibat maize variety should be scaled up in the farming community to improve the maize production and productivity of the area, thereby improving their livelihood.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Highland Maize Technology Demonstration: Evidence from Three Maize Growing Districts of West and Southwest Ethiopia
    AU  - Mamaru Tesfaye
    AU  - Hana Amare
    Y1  - 2023/05/10
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13
    T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    SP  - 44
    EP  - 51
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5648
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231202.13
    AB  - Maize is Ethiopia's most important crop in terms of production, and it contributes significantly to the country's economic and social development. The study was conducted in Wonchi, Ejere, and Kersa Malima districts of South West Shewa and West Shewa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia, to evaluate and identify adaptable improved maize varieties and familiarize farmers with highland maize production techniques. The districts were selected purposively based on their production potential and accessibility for maize production. In this study, a participatory extension approach is employed as part of the methodology to select a demonstration site and host farmers. A total of 54 host farmers were chosen, and the trial was conducted on selected farmers' fields, with three varieties planted side by side on equal-sized plots size (10m2 x 15m2) from each district. Highland maize namely Jibat and Hora varieties along with a standard check (BH-661) were demonstrated and evaluated for grain yield and other parameters across tested sites. In the course of the implementation phase, different levels of field days at different growth stages of the crop were organized for respective potential Kebeles, and during the event stakeholders including host farmers and surrounding farmers, researchers, development agents, agricultural experts, and administrators attended to share experience, evaluate performance, and communicate the activity's progress. The variety selection process was carried out from different dimensions including both pre-harvest and post-harvest assessments. Using these criteria, the farmers identified varieties that are appropriate for their specific locations. Accordingly, host farmers showed special interest in Jibat and Hora varieties respectively. Overall grain yield performances of Jibat and Hora varieties on farmers' fields were 5.1 and 3.8 t/ha-1, respectively. Furthermore, the yield advantage of the two preferred varieties over the standard ones ranged from 54.9% to 15.1% in the three tested districts as compared to the standard checks. Beside this research intervention made impact to improving food security, livelihood, and knowledge and skill of host farmers in the study area. Hence, Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that the Jibat maize variety should be scaled up in the farming community to improve the maize production and productivity of the area, thereby improving their livelihood.
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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