Cluster-based pre-scaling up of improved faba bean variety technology demonstration at Arsirobe District of Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Large Scale Demonstration (LSD) of Faba bean was conducted at Arsi robe district of Oromia regional state of Ethiopia. The district was selected due to its potential for Faba bean production. One cluster was formed in collaboration with district level agricultural experts.Generally the cluster size covered 4.6 hectares of land. A Faba bean varity called “Ashebeka” was demonstrated along with its full-recommended packages. Training were given for a total of 46 participants (39 farmers, 3 DAs and 4 SMS) at different stage on agronomice practice of Faba bean and chemical applications. To raise farmer’s awareness on the performance of the Faba bean techinologies, a field day was organized and by this field day, a total of 74 participants were attended the field events (59 farmeres, 7 Experts and DAs and 5 distinguished guests were attened the events). From the varity demonstrated at study district the variety was acceptable during field visit and field day by farmers due to its disease tolerant and well adaptation and its productivity after harvesting (the varity has a yield advantage overe the Ethiopial national average yield of fababean (21quintals per hectare CSA 2020 and “Ashebeka”; Avarage Yield=30.2; quintals per hectare was recorded in the study area.

Background and justification

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is believed to be one of the earliest domesticated legumes next to chickpea and pea [1,2].

It is an important pulse crop produced all over the world for both foods, feed & it serves as a cheap source of protein. It also plays a great as an excellent crop for fixing atmospheric nitrogen [3,4].

In Ethiopia, faba bean is grown in the highlands (1800–3000 m.a.s.l.). Both Amhara and Oromiya are the two major pulse-producing regions in Ethiopia [5]. Among the twelve pulse species grown in Ethiopia. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of pulse crops grown in the cooler highlands [6].

Next to China ,Ethiopia is the second largest faba bean producing country in the world. The crop occupies close to 466,697.68 hectares of land with an annual production close to 10,067,518.28 quintals [7]. Even though Ethiopia is the world's second largest producer of faba bean, its share is not exceed 7% of world production [8].

The major factors that are usually mentioned for the low yield of faba bean in Ethiopia include climatic, edaphic, biotic (diseases, pests and weeds) factors, and poor agronomic practices [9].

Majority of the farmers use low yielding of the local varieties which contribute for low production [10,11].

When comparing the yield of fababean in Ethiopia :it is below the world average due to several factors: among these lack of improved seed is a key [12]. Therefore, this activity was aimed at promoting high yielding and most adaptable faba bean varity called “ Ashebeka” in the study area by a new extension modality i.e Large Scale Demonstration (LSD) or cluster-based farming with following general and specific objectives.

Objective

General objective: Generally, this activity was aim to contribute for Food security by promoting newly released Faba bean technologies through Large Scale Demonstration (LSD).

Specific objectives are:

1. To access and utilization of improved Faba bean technologies

2. To aquainte the Large Scale Demonstration (LSD) approach for the concerned body and to understand the benefits of LSD approach

3. To create awareness on the importance of Faba bean technologies among stakeholders,

4. To document best practices, experiences, and lessons learned from the large-scale demonstration of Faba bean varieties.

Materials and methods

Description of the study areas

The activity was implemented in Arsirobe district of potential among Faba bean producing districts of Oromia regional state in 2019/20 cropping season.

Arsi robe district: Arsi robe district is situated at a distance of about 225 km from Addis Ababa and 98 km from the Eastern Arsi zone capital city, Asela. The district is situated in Eastern Arsi Zone, Oromia regional state of geographical locations. The district has a bimodal rainfall pattern consisting of along rainy season “kiremit” from July to September and short rainy season “belig” extending March to May. It has an Latitude (DMS) of 09° 36' N and Longitude (DMS) 39° 08' E. [13,14]. Barley, fababean, Bread wheat from cereals and Oil seeds, specifically flax, nueg and rape seed, are important cash crops grown in the district [14].

Input utilization

A Faba bean Variety called “Ahebeka”was demonstrated along with its full-recommended packages. Planting was also done in a row at a seed rate of 200 kg ha^-1, NPS fertilizer were applied at the rate of 121 kg ha^-1. Ploughing, weeding, and other agronomic management practices were applied by farmers according to the recommendations.

Method of data collection

Data on Yield was collected and comparison with Ethiopian national average yield was made among the varieties planted in the study area (Cluster).

Data analysis method

The collected data (quantitative data) was analyzed by using average grain yield and package comparison among study areas were made.

Locations and farmers selection

The activity was implemented in Arsirobe one of potential of Faba bean producing districts of Oromia regional state in 2019/20 cropping season. Arsi robe was from Arsi zone Oromiya regional state. Was selected for Large Scale Demonstration (LSD) program.

Direct and indirect beneficeries of farmers

In general, 16 farmers (16 Male) were got an improved variety of Faba bean called “Ashebeka” according to the land allocated for the demonstration program, so that they were directly benefited in the activity and 16 farmers (Male) were benefited directly from input (improved seed) and 46 farmers (28 Male and 18 Female) were benefited from the training provided on different training topics sponsored by byEthiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and facilitated by kulumsa Agricultural Research Center (KARC) and 72 participants (53 Male and 19 Female) were also participated/benefited in the field days and in experience shring events directly.

Faba bean: As indicated in Table 1: One district was namely Arsirobe from Arsi zone, among fababean growing districts was selected for Faba bean techinologies demonstration in Large Scale Demonstration (LSD) program.

A Faba bean cluster which contains 4.6 hectares of land was formed in collaboration with the district level experts and “kebeles” level Development Agents (DAs).

Faba bean varity demonstrated and popularized: Regarding the varity demonstrated and promoted in large scale demonstration. In large scale demonstration on one cluster which covered 4.6 hectares of land in Arsi zone which was coordinated and facilitated by Kulumsa Agricultural Research center.

Trainings provided on faba bean techinologies for the beneficerice farmers as well as other stakeholders

As indicated in Table 2: In general Training were given for 46 participants for different stakeholders on agronomice practice of Faba bean, chemical applications and safety mechanisms.

Again as indicated in Table 2, a total of 39 farmers (23 male and 16 female) were attende on different topics of training. Regarding developing agents (DAs) an awerness creations were made on the Faba bean related issues by this a total of 3 DAs (2 Male and 1female) were attended. Different experts also gain different training on fababean techinologies in this regards a total of 4 experts (3 male and 1 female experts at district level were attended training on Faba bean techinologies related.

Field days

To raise farmer’s awareness on the performance of the Faba bean techinologies, field day was organized ,by this field day, a total of 74 participants were attend the field events. Among these 59 participants were farmers (43 Male and 16 Female),4 participants were Development Agents (DAs) (3male and 1 female) again 4 of participants were also experts (3 Male and 1 Female), 5 participants were others invited special guests (4 Male and 1 Female) were attended the field days and belived that awareness were created among participants of the field days including experts, SMS, DAs and among participant farmers (Table 3 below).

Faba bean productivity at study area

❖ Status of “Ashebeka” varity popularized in LSD in 2019/20 cropping season

As indicated in Table 4 below an actual grain yield of the variety Ashebeka was collected from 4.6 hectares of land from Arsi robe district of Arsi zone of Oromia regional state and a minimum of 18.7 quintals per hectare, a maximum grain yields of 42.1 quintals per hectare and an average grain yields 30.2 quintals per hectare per cluster were scored.

Summery, conclusion and recommendations

Ethiopia is one of the major faba bean growing countries in the world but with a low average national yield (≤ 2 t ha^-1) compared to yield levels in other countries [9]. The objective of this study was to demonstrated high yielder fababean varity colled “Ashebeka” along with its full-recommended packages.

The activity was implemented in oromia of Ethiopia in 2019/20 croping season. Arsirobe from Arsi zone Oromia regional state was selected for Faba bean techinologies demonstration in Large Scale Demonstration (LSD) program due to the area has a potential for fababean.

The actual yields of varity of fababbean was collected and analised per cluster and there was a promising average yield was recorded the varity “Ashebeka” in the study area showed higer yield than the average Ethiopian national average fababean yield 21 quintals per hectare [7].

To raise awerness among stakholders traings were prepared by these traings a total of 39 farmers (23 male and 16 female) were attende on fababean techinologies. Regarding developing agents (DAs) an awerness creations was made on the Faba bean related issues by this a total of 3 DAs (2 Male and 1 female) were attended. Different experts also gain different training on fababean techinologies in this regards a total of 4 experts (3 male and 1 female experts at district level were attended.

To raise farmer’s awareness on the performance of the Faba bean techinologies, field day was organized,by this field day a total of 72 participants were attend the field events. Among these 59 participants were farmers (43 Male and 16 Female), 8 of participants were experts and DAs (6 Male and 2 Female), 5 participants were others invited special guests (4 Male and 1 Female) were attended the field days and belived that awareness were created among participants of the field days including zonal experts, SMS, DAs and among participant farmers.

As conclusion: During the implementation year of the the activity based on the data collected and from recerchers observation points of view concluded that the following points were addressed.

1. Access and utilization of improved Faba bean technologies were enhanced

2. The Large Scale Demonstration (LSD) approach was well aquainted and understood among stakeholders

3. Awareness on the importance of Faba bean technologies were created among stakeholders.

Recommendations

In general cluster based approach with new verity and input utilization demonstration was successful in terms of yield. Therefore, based on this result the researcher recommend farmers and other development practitioner to focus more on Large Scale Demonstration (LSD). Again the author recommend the farmers to produce in cluster farming approach for scale up activity with best performed Faba bean varity has to be done in areas where Faba bean is not scaled up especially in areas where Faba bean is potential like study area.

Faba bean is potential crop in the highlands of Ethiopia in general. The crop is primarily used for household consumption and generating income for farmers and improve soil fertility. The average yields of the varity “Ashebeka” demonstrated has yield advantage over the Ethiopian national Faba bean average 21 quintals per hectare [15]. Therefore, implementing LSD approach can improve yield, so it should be better for farmers and development practioners to use it as a good extension approach.

Now a days commercialization is an agenda for the goverments of Ethiopia so the cluster-based (Large Scale Demonstration) approach is a good start to met the commercialization issue. Therefore, concerned body should exercise the Large Scale Demonstration (LSD )as one extension modality.

The Authors would like to acknowledge EIAR (Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute) for its financial support. Farmers and development agents directly involved for the completion of pre scaling up improved fababean research activity also heartily acknowledged. During clustering and at different follow up stage and field days Arsirobe district office expert also contribute a lot and for this the authors also acknowledge them for their commitment.

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