Innovative Technology Transfer for Perennial Trees: The case of coffee stumping

Abstract

Perennial tree crops such as coffee and fruits play prominent role in the national economy and livelihood of the farming communities in different parts of Ethiopia. In particular, coffee is of particular significance in the socio-economic and cultural lives of the people. At present, it contributes over 40% of the export earning as well as provides livelihood to over 25% of the population (about 15 million people) engaged in its production, processing, and marketing. The total area under coffee is estimated at 600,000 hectares, with a total annual production of 350,000-400.000 tons (Alemayehu, 2006), making Ethiopia Africa’s first largest producer of Arabica coffee. Being the centre of origin and genetic diversity for Arabica coffee, Ethiopia is endowed with numerous coffee types that are recognized in international markets for their unique taste and flavor. Despite its important role in the national economy and given the wealth of genetic diversity and climatic suitability, productivity of the crop remained low with a national average of about 472 kg ha'1 (Workafes and Kassu, 2000). Realizing the immense potential and contribution of this crop, research has committed considerable resources and efforts to generate technologies that would enhance its production and productivity. Attempts have also been made both by Jimma Research Center and extension agencies to transfer the research outputs to end-users. However, most of the improved technologies have not reached and been widely used by the farming communities. In general, efforts made in the last two decades to improve the productivity of coffee in the peasant sector have achieved little success (Workafes and Kassu, 2000). One of the reasons that limited productivity of the crop is believed to be the low adoption of improved technologies. One of the major factors limiting adoption of improved coffee technologies in particular and that of perennial tree crops in general in the Ethiopian context is, undoubtedly, lack of effective and efficient mechanisms and approach to disseminate the technologies and ensure wider acceptance among end-users. The challenges and difficulties in transferring these technologies primarily emanate from the perennial nature and long juvenile growth stage of the crops. Several years experience with research-center based technology transfer shows that relying on the commonly used methods of technology transfer such as on-farm demonstration, classical training, and extension publication have proven to be less effective with perennial crops. It is apparent that demonstration fields have to be well managed; treatments should be properly applied, and they should clearly show the effects and performance of innovations as compared to the traditional ones if demonstrations are to have the desired effects. Experiences of JRC with demonstration on coffee technologies show that, unlike the case with annual crops, on-farm demonstration of perennial tree crops is challenging and it sometimes can fail to achieve the intended objective. Van den ban, et al (1996), underline that failure of demonstration leads to loss of faith in the innovation, which may take a long time to overcome because o f the psychological resistance.