Agricultural Research and Extension in Ethiopia

Tafa Jobie, Director for Crop Research

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Ethiopia

July 2015

Milan, Italy

Outline • Country Profile • Background of Ethiopia’s Agriculture • Agroecology, Production Systems & Major Crops

Cultivated • Agricultural Research in Ethiopia: Historical

Perspectives & Current Status • Major Themes of Research • Agricultural Extension in Ethiopia: Historical

Perspectives & Current Status • The Seed Value Chain & its Challenges

Ethiopia: Country Profile

Ethiopia is situated in East Africa, bordered by Sudan, Kenya, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti.

Ethiopia: Country Profile

Cereal belt of Ethiopia, well known in the SSA; >50% of

country’s wheat supply

The western, south &

Southwest parts are

coffee zone

Ethiopia: Country Profile

Lies between 9 degrees North latitude & 38.7 degrees East longitude

• Surface area is about 1.2 mill sqr. Km, of which 65% is arable

• Population is over 80 million • Altitude ranges from -126 mas (Denakel area, inf

Qafar) to 4620 masl (Ras Dashen, Northwest) • For the central highland plateaus, where most

crops are grown, altitude ranges from 1800 to 3000 masl

Background: Ethiopia’s Agriculture

• About 12 million smallholder households

account for approximately 95 percent of agricultural GDP and 85 percent of employment

• Nearly 55 % of all smallholder farmers operate on one hectare or less.

Background: Ethiopia’s Agriculture

• Agriculture in Ethiopia is the main form of

livelihood for the majority of the population

• The agricultural sector greatly influences economic performance, accounting for about 46% of the national GDP, and over 84% of export commodities

Major Policy & Strategy Directions for Ethiopian Agriculture

Agricultural Development-led Industrialization that aims at transforming the countries economy

Commercialization of selected & strategic industrial & food security crops, in major clusters identified

Diversification

Agro-ecology and Production Systems

• In Ethiopia, 33 different Elaborated Agroecological Zones (EAZs) are recognized, which are suitable for the production of diverse food, feed, fiber and stimulant crops.

• Classified on basis of temperature, elevation

and length of crop growing period.

Agro-ecology and Production Systems contd…

• About 60% of the

total land Dry land;

• There are cool alpine to humid tropical highland areas where most small cereals (wheat, barley, tef maize etc) and legumes are produced

• The highlands have bimodal type of short and main rainfall patterns.

Agroecology % area share

A2 (Warm Arid Lowland Plains) 19.76

M2 (Warm Moist Lowlands) 15.12

SM 2 (Warm Sub-moist Lowlands) 9.63

M3 (Tepid Moist Mid Highlands) 8.05

SH2 (Warm Sub-humid Lowlands) 7.11

SH3 (Tepid Sub-humid Midhighlands) 6.63

SM 3 (Warm Tepid Sub-moist Midhighlands) 5.17

71.47

The first seven agroecologies with largest share of are account for nearly 72 % of the total area

Production systems The production system is dominantly rain fed and irrigation

contributes less than 5% There are two major production systems in the country 1. Crop –Livestock mixed production systems

a) Cereal based mixed production system b) Cash crop based mixed farming systems These areas are with better rainfall and accommodates about 70 % of the livestock and human population

2. Pastoral and Agro-pastoral production system These are areas which are dry, arid and semiarid Accommodates about 30 % of the livestock population

Major crops cultivated in Ethiopia

CROPS Priorities Cereals – Wheat, maize, tef, sorghum, barley, rice Oilseeds – Sesame, noug, safflower, rapeseed Pulses – Chickpea, lentil, faba bean., soybean., haricot bean Spices – Ginger, cardamom, black pepper, garlic, black

cumin, coriander, fenugreek Industrial – Coffee, tea, cotton

Tropical Fruits – Mango, avocado, pineapple, banana, citrus Vegetables – Capsicum, green beans, onion, tomato

Roots & tubers – potato, sweet potato, enset, cassava Aromatic, medicinal & bio- energy

– Some aromatic, medicinal & bio-energy crops (castor, jatropha)

Agricultural Research in Ethiopia: Historical Perspectives

• Relative to other African countries, agricultural research in Ethiopia is quite young.

• Agricultural research started with the establishment of Ambo and Jimma Colleges of Agriculture in 1947

• And later the Imperial College of Agriculture and Mechanical arts (today’s Haramaya University) in 1953.

• However, organized agricultural research activities and actual relations between agricultural research and development started with the inception of the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) in 1966 (Tsedeke et al., 2004; Efrem Bechere).

The National Agricultural Research System Today

• Since 1993, the Agricultural Research System has been decentralized into regional research centers, the former IAR still maintaining some strategic and well-built research centers for national commodity coordination.

• The Regional Research Institutes were soon established by proclamation to be more organized and bear more responsibility for research coordination in their respective regions.

Agricultural Research in Ethiopia is conducted by:

Federal Research Institute/EIAR

Regional Research Institutes /RRIs

Higher Learning Institutions/HLI

Distribution of Research centers

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute Centers

OARI HQ

OARI Centers

Region Zonal Boundary Main Road

Bako Agr.Mech.RC

1. Haro Sabu 2. Bako 3. Adami Tulu 4. Mechara 5. Fedis 6. Sinana 7. Bore 8. Yabello

1. Fiche 2. Nekemt 3. Bedele 4. Ziway

1. Bako 2. Asela 3. Jima

Holeta Ziway

Agricultural Research … • Currently, more conducive

environment is being created for research as an apex body, The National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has been established to coordinate research and resource follow in the entire research system of the country.

• The NARC is now planning to transform the Ethiopian Agricultural Research by taking countries which are more advanced in Agricultural Research (Brazil, South Africa, India et c.) as benchmark

• The various research institutes &

HLI will be part of the NARC, creating better synergy as well as human and capital capacity to stand in a better position to deliver improved agricultural technologies,

National Council of Agri

Research

Federal Research Institute

Regional Research Institutes

HLI

Organization at the grass root level: research centers At research centers, research is conducted by case teams. – Cereals Case Team – Pulses & Oil Crops Case Team – Horticultural Crops Case Team – Coffee & Spices Case Team

• Each case team is composed of multi desciplinary researchers to deliver complete package of technologies to the extension system – Breeder – Agronomist – Pathologist – Entomologist – Weed scientist – Agricultural Economist – Extensionst

Major Themes of Research

The release of improved cultivars

Higher grain yield

Better quality

Pest resistance

• Yield advantage to existing best cultivars

• Stability & genetic uniformity

• For food • Industrial quality

• To major diseases • Insects • weeds

Monitoring & Management of Crop Pest

Diseases

Insect pests

Weeds

• Cultural •Host plant resistance •Chemical •Biological •Integrated (IPM)

A Capse- in-Point of crop management intervention is the battle against wheat rusts

• The epidemics of yellow & stem rusts is becoming recurrent since 2010.

• In 2010, there was severe out break of yellow rust, devastating a popular Mega variety, Kubsa

• In 2013, there was sever out break of stem rust, devastating another popular Mega variety, Digelu

• In 2014, sever out break of stem rust occurred again devastating same Digelu variety,

• and in 2015, there is probability that outbreak can occur.

• Hence, recently the outbreak of wheat rust epidemics has become a recurrent phenomena

Foto Stem rust: by Wubshet, 2014, Sinana

Foto yellow rust: by Tafa, 2014

Source: CIMMYT, Addis Ababa Office

Yield Losses of Bread Wheat Mega Variety, Digelu due to Stem rust, 2013 (Bekele et.al)

District Kebele

Farmers

fields

Yield losses (%)

Lowest highest Mean

Gassera Koloba Sarara 9 54.5 82.6 74.7

Koloba.sa’ada 13 52.4 92.3 83.0

Denmbel 7 40.0 91.4 64.1

Agarfa Ambentu 7 50.0 77.3 59.5

Ali 3 0.0 33.3 15.9

Sheneka 6 0.0 71.7 45.1

Elani 9 16.7 50.0 34.3

Sinana Ilu Sanbitu 12 0.0 68.8 40.9

KolobaTemona

Suleman 9 18.8 47.5 43.2

3 9 75 25.8 68.3 51.2

1000-Kernel weight reduction levels of bread wheat variety Digalu in three stem rust epidemic districts of Bale zone, Meher

season, 2013 (Bekele et al.)

1000-Kernell weight reduction (%)

District Kebele Farmers fields Lowest highest Mean

Gassera Koloba Sa raara 9 50.5 63.0 58.2 Koloba.sa’ada 13 36.4 73.9 61.0 Denmbel 7 13.0 79.9 44.8 Agarfa Ambentu 7 25.5 72.8 47.0 Ali 3 34.0 36.4 34.8 Sheneka 6 4.9 66.8 39.5 Elani 9 17.7 74.5 39.5 Sinana Ilu Sanbitu 12 9.8 45.4 30.0 K.T.Suleman 9 9.0 54.1 33.7

3 9 75

Agronomic studies

• Optimum fertilizer rate recommendations • Cropping system, tillage system etc.. • Planting time, seed rate

Socioeconomic and Extension Research

• Farming system surveys and characterization • Constraints identification and ranking

according to priorities for intervention • Adoption rate and status of agricultural

technologies and practices • Impact and feedback assessment

Training is usually offered to farmers, DAs & Experts on the use of improved technologies

Theoretical training & planning for season • Land preparation • The choice of varieties, fertilizers (DAP, Urea), splitting • Seed distribution • Management of diseases, weeds, insects

Field level practical training: • Practical training for producers, experts & DAs

joint evaluation of overall field performance at different crop stages

Seed production techniques • Roughing out off types & mixtures • Avoiding mixture of different varieties up on harvesting & storing • Post harvest: seed inspection at lab (testing physical purity,

mixture, germination % etc) & statement of confirmation for use

Research Centers can play prominent roles in Agricultural value chains to enable the production and marketing of high

quality grain and seed

• As we are moving to industrialization and as the situation demands, Agricultural Research Centers have currently began to actively involve in grain & seed quality assuring of industrial commodities (the durum wheat, malt barley, oil c crops etc..), in a value chain spinning from seed to grain or production to marketing.

• This includes the rendering of service to farmers,

farmers’ cooperatives and other institutions to test quality parameters of industrial crops in an effort to serve as third and independent party between producers and industries.

For example, with the capacity created by Agricultural Value Chains Project in Oromiya (AVCPO) of Durum wheat, Sinana Agricultural Research Center is playing a vital role in durum wheat value chain, including the service provision to other research centers which are embarking in the durum wheat value chain.

Variety Moisture content

Gluten % Protein %

Zelene Index

Ejersa 11.6 30.0 13.3 72.9

Bakkalcha 11.6 27.8 12.7 69.1 Dirre 11.4 19.5 10.3 52.9 Tate 12.0 20.0 10.2 53.2 Toltu 11.5 24.4 10.9 58.5 Obsa 11.6 26.0 11.7 61.8 Ude 12.6 21.9 11.4 41.8

Agricultural Extension in Ethiopia: Historical Perspectives

• Began in 1931, with the establishment of Ambo Agricultural School, but not do extension work in the sense of the term that we understand today (Belay, 2003)

• Limited extension activities began with establishment of Ministry of Agriculture in 1943

• Real extension work began in early 1950s with the establishment of the Imperial Ethiopian College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, Now Haramaya University.

• Since 1963, the Ministry of Agriculture overtook the mandate of extension work

The current Agricultural Extension System in Ethiopia

• The current extension system pursued by Ethiopian Government is the Participatory Demonstration & Training Extension System.

• In this approach, the aim is to transfer full package of agricultural technologies & practices (cultivar, pesticide, fertilizer, better cultural practices etc…) of specific commodities.

• Extension activates are responsibility of regional agricultural bureau which are fully responsible in the planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of extension programs.

• The extension directorate of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has the task of coordinating inter-regional extension work, providing policy advice on nationwide agricultural extension issues, advising regional bureau of agricultural in the areas of extension management and administration, developing extension training materials and organizing training programs in agricultural extension for regional extension personnel

Research-Extension-Farmers Linkage • The Research-Extension-Farmers Linkage is ensured by

Agricultural Development Partners Linkage Advisory Council (ADPLAC).

• ADPLACs are organized at all levels from the federal level through

regional agricultural bureaus down to zonal, Wereda and finally Kebele level.

• Key members are: – Bureau (offices) of Agriculture (Chair) – Research Institutes/centers(Secretary) – Seed Enterprises – Cooperative Agency (offices) – Local administrators – Farmers’ Primary Cooperatives’ Unions – Farmers – Higher Learning Institutions – NGO, who work on agricultural development

Key Roles of ADPLAC

• Meet annually or twice a year to review past achievements and plan for joint extension works and technology delivery in the immediate season.

• Sort out unaddressed bottlenecks, emerging challenges to agricultural production to bring to the attention of research & extension system.

• Provide feed back on the performance of adopted agricultural technologies and practices such as the performance of a specific crop cultivar in the face of major diseases.

• At the very grass root level, the smallest administrative unit, Kebele, Development Agents (DAs) are responsible for the extension work at farm level and to provide overall technical guidance to the farmers.

• Ethiopia has one of the densest agricultural extension systems in the world, with one DA for every 476 farmers (ATA).

Farmers’ Training Center (FTCs)

• FTCs are central to Ethiopia’s extension system and serve as an entry point to field level extension delivery, by providing training, technology demonstration, and other services.

• Each FTC, supported by at least three development Agents (DAs), plays a vital role in ensuring a bottom up extension approach.

• Currently, there are close to 11,000 FTCs, of which 4,924 (or

45%)4 have functional demonstration plots on which they are conducting trainings (source: ATA).

The Seed Value Chain • High quality Early Generation Seed (EGS) i.e. breeder, pre-basic & basic

seed are usually produced by research centers; Seed producers take over and produce series of Certified seeds.

• Informal (local, farmers’) seed system covers over 70% of supply

• Formal seed system covers less than 30% of supply

• Until recent time, the main actor of the formal seed producer had been the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE) but recently, the seed system, like the research system, has been decentralized and regional seed enterprises (OSE, ASE, TSE, SRSE) are playing significant role in the formal seed supply chain.

• Most of the Seed Enterprises do not have enough land to produce sufficient certified seed. However, Oromia Seed Enterprise, by support of the regional government, has acquired well over 25,000 ha of land in the major cereal belt of Ethiopia, Arsi and Bale. Thus, OSE is supposed to significantly improve the supply of certified seed.

Challenges in the Seed Value Chain

Total 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 Informal 10,821,810 11,427,794 11,927,093 12,010,042 10,136,744 Formal 447,936 358,967 429,791 464,001 361,231 % Informal 96.03 96.95 96.52 96.28 96.58 % Informal 3.97 3.05 3.48 3.72 3.441

Source: Abebe Atilaw & Lijalem Korbu

Comparison of area coverage (ha) by the informal & formal seed system during 2005-2010

Challenges in Seed …

• Insufficient supply of EGS seed by the research centers

• Mismatch between demand assessed and the supply

• Inefficient marketing system • Low level of involvement of the private sector