Diseases are the major detriment in ruminant production and productivity in the study districts. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the major animal health constraints of ruminants. 461 species of sick ruminants were examined and diagnosed tentatively. Similarly, samples were collected and identified in the laboratory for confirmation of the cases. Of the clinically identified ruminant diseases, sheep and goat pox (11.93%), abortion (8.24%), pasteurellosis (8.46%), lice infestation (9.98%), tick infestation (5.86%), and flea infestation (5.21%) accounted for higher values. The proportion of infectious, non-infectious, ectoparasitic infestation, and reproductive diseases among clinically sick ruminants was 51.63, 9.97, 26.25, and 12.15%, respectively. The higher ectoparasitic infestation in the study district was lice infestation (38.02%) followed by tick (22.31%), flea (19.83%), mange mite (11.57%), and leech infestation (8.26%). The reproductive problems encountered were abortion (67.86%), retained placenta (25%), and dystocia (7.14%). The most prevalent infectious diseases encountered were sheep and goat pox (23.11), pastuerellosis (16.39), gastrointestinal tract parasitism (13.03), and anthrax (6.30). The most encountered non-infectious diseases were abscess (28.26) and bloat (17.39). In conclusion, infectious diseases and external parasites cause serious economic loss in the study districts. So, regular surveillance of animal disease coupled with vaccination of animals with available vaccines, regular spraying of acaricides and more importantly, public awareness in prevention and control of major livestock diseases in the districts is recommended.

With the aim of improving food security through enhanced production and productivity of sorghum a demonstration of two improved sorghum varieties (Chare and Melkam) was conducted in two selected Kebelle (Shekha-Tekhli and Agbe) of Tanqua-Abergelle Wereda. A total of 100 farming households (88 male and 12 female) who are beneficiaries of the Productive Safety Net Program were purposively selected. Each farmer planted the improved varieties along with the local known as Merawi. A total of 2.5 quintals of seeds of both varieties was distributed to cover about 25 ha of land. The average grain yield obtained from the improved sorghum varieties (Chare, Melkam) and local sorghum variety (Merawi) was 47.6, 39.9 and 32.2 qt/ha, respectively. This indicated that the two improved varieties were about 47.8 and 23.9% more productive than the local variety in the same order. This will have significant contribution to the efforts towards ensuring food security and improving the livelihoods of poor farmers. In terms of monetary value, the beneficiary farmers would be able to generate an average gross income of 32,459.50, 27,681.00 and 22,305.50 Birr/ha from Chare, Melkam and local cultivar, respectively. Moreover, the improved verities were found to be early maturing and can best adapt to moisture stressed areas. Therefore, it is recommended that the office of agriculture and rural development of the wereda to further scale up the varieties to other areas to benefit quite significant number of farmers.

No abstract

Soybean is a drought tolerant crop which can grow from low to medium altitudes. In the lowland areas of North-Western Tigray the growing of leguminous crop is very low. To introduce soybean commodity in North-western Tigray, demonstration of improved soybean varieties were conducted in 2018/19. The trail was conducted at Tahtay Adyabo and Tselemti Districts that have a potential for growing the soybean. It was conducted by selecting three Kebelles from the districts. A total of 35 farmers were involved in the intervention. The necessary training was given to the participant farmers and experts. Following this improved seed of Awassa-95 and Gizo varieties at Tahtay Adyabo Districts, and Wegayen and Gizo seed at Tselemti District were offered to participant farmers. Each farmer have been planted a plot size of 0.02 ha for each of the two varieties. The descriptive result shows, Awassa-95 soybean variety has given significantly higher yield at Tahtay Adyabo as compared to Gizo variety. The variety was gave an average yield of 1067 kg/ha and 570 kg/ha respectively Awassa-95 and Gizo varieties. On the other hand an average yield of 1231 kg/ha and 1052 kg/ha, respectively was obtained for Gizo and Wegayen varieties at Tselemti District. This shows that Tselemti District is more better for the cropping of Gizo variety. Moreover, the improved soybean verities (Gizo at Tselemti district and Awassa-95 at Tahtay Adyabo district) were found to be early maturing and best option to moisture stressed areas for the society protein source. Based on the result it is recommended to be popularize Awassa-95 soybean variety at Tahtay Adyabo District and Gizao soybean varieties at Tselemti District to large farmers. Therefore, the research center and the office of agriculture and rural development of the Districts to be popularized the varieties to large number farmers of the areas.

This paper examines the factors affecting in adoption of improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production in Tigray region, Ethiopia. A total of 284 farm households drawn from three districts of the region were included in the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using semi-structural questionnaires in 2019. A multivariate probit model and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. This study analyzes the factors that affect the adoption of improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production including, seeds of improved variety, inorganic fertilizer application, row planting, insecticide and pesticide chemicals and moisture conservation. The result indicates the probability to adopt the improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production were significantly influenced by factors such as; family size education status, participating in off-farm income, farm size, extension service, and distance to farmers training center. Though the smallholder farmers had better adoption indices, the technology wouldn't disseminate in large number of beneficiaries and areas. As a result, the adoption is foreseen to be low. Therefore, to improve the adoption of improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production giving more emphasize would be important to be offered the extension services like training, field days, experience sharing, technical support, and information on markets and pests & diseases control to the farmers.