A study was conducted to document how smallholder farmers in Ethiopia utilize desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) and explain the determinants of alternative and competing uses of the grass. The study was conducted using a semistructured questionnaire for 240 farmers in the districts of Burie Zuria and Doyogena, complemented with input from key informants and secondary data. The dependent variables tested were the use of desho grass as a feed, multipurpose uses of the grass and types of livestock fed. To test the effect of the explanatory variables on the dependent variables, separate univariate Probit models were used. Although the majority of respondents can read and write, about 23% of respondents were illiterate. The average desho grass-producing farmer in the sample owned 0.95 ha of farmland and 3.56 tropical livestock units; average household size was 6.5 people with a household head who was typically male (91% of households). Eighty percent of respondents in Burie Zuria and all respondents in Doyogena district depended solely on rain for desho grass production. Fifty-eight percent in Burie Zuria and 65% in Doyogena district applied either manure or artificial fertilizer to the grass. Weeding of desho grass was not practiced by any respondents in either district. Sixty percent of farmers used desho grass as a feed and 35% used it for more than a single purpose. Forty-two percent of farmers who fed desho grass did so to only lactating cattle, 3% fed it to small ruminants and 53% fed it to all livestock species. There were significant negative correlations (P<0.01) between both experience in production of desho grass and access to training in its production and utilization, and its utilization as a feed. Seventy percent of farmers in Burie Zuria and 13% in Doyogena have received training in desho grass production. To expand the utilization of the grass to as many farmers as possible, further training should be provided. A multi-faceted approach would be needed for the 23% of illiterate farmers over the 2 districts.Keywords: Cut-and-carry, lactating animals, multipurpose, Probit models. ResumenEn el estudio se analiza la utilización del pasto desho (Pennisetum pedicellatum) por pequeños agricultores en Etiopía y se explican los factores que determinan sus usos alternativos. El trabajo se realizó con la colaboración de 240 agricultores de los distritos de Burie Zuria y Doyogena mediante un cuestionario semi-estructurado, complementado con aportes de informantes clave y datos secundarios. Las variables dependientes analizadas fueron: uso del pasto como forraje; usos multipropósito; y tipo de animales que lo utilizan. Para probar el efecto de las variables explicativas sobre las variables dependientes, se utilizaron modelos Probit univariados en forma separada. Aunque la mayoría de los encuestados sabía leer y escribir, alrededor del 23% de los encuestados eran analfabetos. En la muestra, el productor promedio del pasto desho poseía 0.95 ha de tierra y 3.56 cabezas de ganado (TLU, tropical livestock un...

No abstract

No abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp) is a legume crop grown for multipurpose uses. There are various varieties of cowpea grown under different agro ecologies throughout the world. The experiment was conducted at Chewacka district Buno Bedele Zone, South western Ethiopia; to identify adaptive and high yielding varieties under sole and cowpea maize based cropping system. The experimental contained 10 treatment combinations of sole Sewunet, sole Bole, sole Bekur, sole 9333, sole local, Sewunet+maize, Bole+maize, Bekur+maize, 9333+maize, local+maize. The treatment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on performance during establishment and growth parameter were collected. The data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS version of 9.3). Results indicated that days to emergence, crop stand vigor, number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant, plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity showed significant variation (P<0.05) among cowpea varieties and cropping system. The highest numbers of leaves were recorded in sewunet (86.27) and Bole (81.93) in sole cropped cowpea, whereas, for cowpea intercropped with maize, the highest number of leaves (52.60) was recorded in Bole. On the other hand, the highest branch number was recorded from Sewunet (8.27) in sole cropped whereas; Bole recorded the highest branches in both sole (8.13) and intercropped with maize (5.2). Bole variety flowered early in both mono-cropped (49.67 days) and cowpea maize based cropped (55.33 days) whereas, Sewunet variety flowered late (62.67days) for mono-cultured and cowpea maize based cropped (66.67days). Bole variety had early pod setting both under sole (57.67) and maize intercropping (62.33), whereas, sewunet variety was late pod setting under sole (70.00) and when intercropped with maize (73.33). Bole variety was found to be superior in most parameters recorded when cultivated sole and intercropped with maize, so that, it can be integrated crops under the current land scarcity in Ethiopia. Further study is also important to see the effects of feeding cowpea forages on animal performances.