Adet Mixed Farming Zone Diagnostic Survey Report Gojam Region

Abstract

A diagnostic survey was conducted in the weinadega (middle alt.5t.ude) area of Yilmana-Densa Wereda, Bahir Dar Awraja, Gojam Region. The objective of the survey was to develop an understanding of the farming systems of the area and to plan onfarm and on-station research programs at the Adet Research Center to address farmers’ problems. The diagnostic survey consisted of two separate surveys. The informal, exploratory survey, in which researchers observed fields and conducted informal interviews with farmers, was conducted at various times during 1986. This was followed by a formal verification survey in 1987 in which researchers developed a questionnaire based on the informal survey findings and administered it to a random sample of 100 farmers. The altitude of the survey area ranges from 2000 to 2600 m and topography is hilly. Soils are mostly red and light brown Nitosols with large pockets of black Vertisols. The rainy season extends from May to October and mean annual rainfall averages .1472 mm. Mean maximum temperatures range from 23 degrees Centigrade to 29 degrees. The population of the survey area is over 120,000 and is composed almost exclusively of Christian Amharas. Less than 5% the farmers are members of producer cooperatives. of The principal crop in the area is tef, grown by all farmers and accounting for 43% of cultivated area, Barley, maize intercropped with Irish potato and rapeseed, and rough pea areeach grown by a majority of farmers. Tef is considered as both - food and a cash crop; barley, maize and rough pea are primarily food crops. Other crops include chickpea, faba bean, field pea, finger miillet, and wheat. The principal food staples are tef in.iera and wot made from rough pea. Abou one ox an About hal donkey. 42% 13% also of the farmers own two or more oxen, while 45% own have none. About 59% have one or more cows, keep sheep and one-third have at least one The primary use for cattle is to supply draft power. Land is relatively scarce; the average farm size is 1.7 ha. Renting land is common; about 10% of the farmers rent out land and 30% rent in. Family size averages 6.2 persons; very little hired lafc>or is used. The busiest period of the year for farmers is late August through September; main activities at this time are weeding tef and harvesting barley. Cash is scarce in two distinct seasons: June to early August and December to January. cultivate on both the red/light brown and black is rare but cereal-pulse rotations are common, red/light brown soils, land preparation begins in September, barley and maize are planted from May to June, and tef is planted in July-August. On the black soils, land preparation begins in April, tef is planted from July to August, and rough pea and chickpea are planted in September.. The median number of plowings was seven for tef, five for barley, and three for maize. A ‘;ew farmers practice double cropping, barley followed by rough pea or barley. Tef is weeded once whereas barley, rough pea and chickpea are not weeded. About 53% of the farmers apply fertilizer, mostly to tef and barley. Maize, which is usually grown around the homestead, receives manure. Insect pests are especially important on faba bean, field pea, and wheat and are the principal reason for the decline in these crops., Yields per hectare average 0..8 to 1.2 t for tef; 1.2 to 1.6 t for barley and 1.2 to 1.4 t for maize. The increase in population has resulted in a scarcity of land as cropping areas have expanded at the expense of livestock production. In addition, soil degradation is increasing as an outcome of the high stocking rate, continuous cropping, and expansion of cultivation onto sloping, marginal areas. Cash crops such as wheat, fenugreek, and spices are also declining as farmers give more emphasis to cereals, especially tef and bailey.