A diagnostic appraisal of the sorghum farming system and breeding priorities in Striga infested agro-ecologies of Ethiopia

Gebretsadik, Rebeka; Shimelis, Hussein; Laing, Mark; Tongoona, Pangirayi; Mandefro, Nigussie

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2013.08.008

Cited by 41 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Considering that Striga produces 10,000-100,000 seeds/plant (Parker & Riches, 1993), the level of soil infestation could exponentially increase every season and leads to a devastating effect on the sorghum farmers. Reports in the neighboring countries such as Ethiopia (Gebretsadik et al, 2014), Sudan (Gemar & Mohamed, 2013), Kenya (Kanampiu et al, 2002) and Uganda (Olupot et al, 2005) have indicated that the incidence and extent of Striga infestation is increasing as sorghum hectarage rises and therefore there is need for regional approach to mitigate the challenge. …”

Section: Perception Of Farmers To Striga Incidence and Extent In Sorgmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Diagnostic Appraisal of Sorghum Farming in Striga Endemic Areas of Eritrea

Yohannes¹,

Ngugi²,

Ariga³

et al. 2017

JAS

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Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench), the most important cereal crop in Eritrea, is grown in more than 210,000 ha annually but its productivity is hampered by many factors including: farmer perception, lack of appropriate varieties, undeveloped seed systems, drought stress and Striga infestation. This study was aimed at understanding the sorghum smallholder livelihoods, farming systems, Striga incidence and infestation levels, and types of varieties grown in Striga infested sorghum growing areas. A semi structured questionnaire and focused group discussions were used to gather information from a total of 136 randomly selected farmers from three Striga endemic sub-regions of Eritrea namely, Hamelmalo, Goluj, and Tesseney. The results indicated that the most important cereal crops in the study area were sorghum, pear millet, ground nut and sesame. The most important constraint to sorghum production was identified as drought stress followed by Striga infestation. The majority of the respondents (81.6%) reported that their sorghum was affected by Striga and the level of infestation varied from mild (10%) to severe (70% and above). Small-holder farmers also indicated that high grain yield, drought tolerance/resistance and Striga resistance were their most important criteria when selecting sorghum varieties. Up to 31 different landraces were listed as the most popular in the study area. The dominant source of seed for cultivation was the local varieties retained by farmers from previous harvests. The information documented from this study may be used in future as a basis for a participatory farmer-oriented sorghum breeding program.

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Section: Perception Of Farmers To Striga Incidence and Extent In Sorgmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Diagnostic Appraisal of Sorghum Farming in Striga Endemic Areas of Eritrea

Yohannes¹,

Ngugi²,

Ariga³

et al. 2017

JAS

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“…The most common methods include participatory rural appraisal (Gebretsadik et al 2014;Sibiya et al 2013), ranking and rating of traits or entire plants (Asfaw et al 2012;Vom Brocke et al 2010), and stated-choice experiments using multi-criteria decision making (Achot et al 2014;Asrat et al 2010). All approaches represent different solutions to the trade-offs between multiple requirements, including replicability, participation, scalability, ease and speed of execution, cognitive simplicity to participants, and granularity of results (i.e., the ability to analyze results by different groups of farmer, beyond the aggregate sample).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gamification of farmer-participatory priority setting in plant breeding: Design and validation of “AgroDuos”

Steinke¹,

Etten²

2017

Journal of Crop Improvement

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Participatory methods to characterize farmers' needs and preferences play an important role in plant breeding to ensure that new varieties fulfill the needs and expectations of end users. Different farmer-participatory methods for priority setting exist, each one responding differently to trade-offs between various requirements, such as replicability, simplicity, or granularity of the results. All available methods, however, require training, academic skill, and staff time of specially qualified professionals. Breeding and variety replacement may be accelerated by empowering non-academic organizations, such as NGOs and farmer organizations, to carry out farmerparticipatory priority setting. But for this use context, currently no suitable method is available. A new method is needed that demands relatively low skill levels from enumerators and respondents, engages farmers without the need for extrinsic incentives, and gives statistically robust results. To achieve these objectives, we followed principles of "gamification" in the design of AgroDuos, a choice experiment that resembles a card game and that involves pairwise ranking of variety traits. We tested the method in a pilot with 39 farmers in Honduras to define their trait priorities for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). To validate our results, we independently carried out conjoint analysis, an established method for priority setting in plant breeding. We found that AgroDuos produced valid and useful results while enabling rapid, easy, and engaging data collection. Challenges persist concerning local adaptation and data analysis by non-specialist staff, which may be resolved in the future by providing templates and online support. ARTICLE HISTORY

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“…This was higher than the average rate (20.5 kg/ha) used by farmers in Eastern India (Banerjee et al, 2014) and the average rate of 24.4 (SD=21.7) kg/ha used across North-eastern and Northwestern Ethiopia (Gebretsadik et al, 2014). These differences may be associated with varieties (improved versus local), growing environment, pre-harvest practices and farmers'…”

Section: Maize Seed Rate Used and Farmers Perceptions For Current Prmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…years of school education) and farm experience are expected to influence knowledge, the willingness to adopt new ideas or practices and the farming system that could provide reliable information about the production systems in each area. This is useful in gathering local and indigenous knowledge and in implementing participatory technology development (Gebretsadik et al, 2014). A regression analysis in the present study showed that education has a positive influence (P<0.01) on CR (Table 8.25) produced per HH across growing seasons (Main and short-rain).…”

Section: Socio-economic Factors and Crop Management Practices In Relamentioning

confidence: 79%

“…In Shalla district when farmers are aware of, or expect, the occurrence of insect pests in the soil they often increase the seed rate. Similarly Gebretsadik et al (2014) reported that farmers prefer to use higher seeding rates in sorghum for adequate germination, better stand, and to reduce losses incurred by various stresses. In a previous study a wider range in maize seed rates were used by farmers (18-80 kg/ha) and the highest seed rate of 80 kg/ha was used in moisture stress areas to overcome seed emergence problems resulting from inadequate soil moisture (Negasa et al, 1993).…”

Section: Maize Seed Rate Used and Farmers Perceptions For Current Prmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Options for improving the yield and nutritive value of maize and grain legume residues for ruminants in East African farming systems

Dejene¹

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The role and importance of livestock in smallholder crop-livestock systems and the importance of crop residues (CR) as ruminant feedstuffs in such systems are well established. The effects of genotype (G), environment (E) and crop management (M) factors on yields of grain and CR and the nutritive value of the CR of maize (Zea mays) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were investigated in an East African context. Genotype effects were examined in early and medium maturing (EM and MM, respectively) maize hybrids and popular varieties of common bean. Environment was examined at three sites for maize in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons and at four sites for common bean in 2013. Management effects examined were plant density (D) (5 and 7 plants/m 2 ), height of cutting at harvest in maize, and harvest at early and final seed maturity in common bean. Quality attributes (nitrogen (N), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents and dry matter digestibility (DMD)) were analysed using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and calibrations expanded and validated with reference samples of CR representing the experimental sample set.There was substantial variation (P<0.05 to P<0.0001) among maize genotypes in yields of grain and stover and quality of stover as a feedstuff. Dual purpose genotypes were identified but G x E interactions for some yield and quality attributes showed that the variation among genotypes can depend on environment. In general the higher D increased yields of grain by 9-15% and stover by 21-31%, but had only minor effects on stover quality attributes. Year (Y) x density (D), G x E and G x D interactions were observed for some of the yield and stover attributes.High cutting height of maize (two internodes below the lowest ear) allowed harvest of most of the stover (on average 63-72% in EM and MM genotypes, respectively) as feedstuff while leaving stubble in the field available for other uses. This is established practice by farmers in some regions. The amount and quality as a feedstuff of the upper and lower stover components varied (P<0.01) among genotypes. N and DMD were 0.05-0.09% and 1.7-3.6%, respectively higher (P<0.0001) in the upper fraction of the stover than in whole stover. Thus evaluation and estimation of the amount and quality of maize stover available as a feedstuff should consider harvest at high cutting height to increase quality. G x E interactions were observed in yield and in some stover attributes in the upper and lower fractions, but these were not consistent.ii Common bean varieties varied (P<0.05 to P<0.0001) in yields of seed and haulm and in the nutritive value of haulm fractions (leaf, stem and pod wall) when harvested at seed maturity. There was extensive leaf loss at seed maturity which decreased haulm quality.Seed and haulm yields were correlated (r=0.87). Seed yield was generally not related to haulm quality as N% or DMD%. The variation in yield and haulm feedstuff quality was also examined in common bean varieties harvested at early se...

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A diagnostic appraisal of the sorghum farming system and breeding priorities in Striga infested agro-ecologies of Ethiopia

Cited by 41 publications

References 14 publications

A Diagnostic Appraisal of Sorghum Farming in Striga Endemic Areas of Eritrea

A Diagnostic Appraisal of Sorghum Farming in Striga Endemic Areas of Eritrea

Gamification of farmer-participatory priority setting in plant breeding: Design and validation of “AgroDuos”

Options for improving the yield and nutritive value of maize and grain legume residues for ruminants in East African farming systems

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