Enhancing sorghum yield through demonstration of improved sorghum varieties in Tanqua-Abergelle Wereda, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

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.

Promotion of Improved Sorghum Technologies through Large-Scale Demonstration in Gololcha Woreda, Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

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Cluster-based Improved Sorghum Production and Commercialization in Nyangatom Woreda of South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…This greater yield advantage was achieved through the proper use of recommended technology packages such as the use of the improved variety, appropriate fertilizer, chemicals, seed rates, and good management practices. This yield result was in agreement with the study by Abady et al [19] , Kinfe & Tesfaye [20] , and Birhane et al [21] . The result also conformity with EIAR [22] "suggesting the positive effects of improved technology demonstrations over the existing farmer's practice towards enhancing the yield of sorghum with its positive effect on yield attributes".…”

Response of Sorghum Varieties to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Strategies in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria: Productivity, Nitrogen, and Water Use Efficiencies

“…This was attributed to the high mean grain yield produced by Improved Deko. This agrees with the findings of[19] who reported higher benefit-cost ratios on sorghum varieties with high grain yields. Total Cost of Production, Total Revenue Generated and Net Profit of Sorghum as influenced by Years of Production, Fertilizer Micro-dose Application Strategies and Varieties at experimental sites…”