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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_2
The Prospects for Conservation
Agriculture in Ethiopia
Jens B. Aune
Abstract About 90% of the farmland in Ethiopia is tilled by the ard plough (the maresha) pulled by a pair of oxen. Animal traction is therefore the major output from the
livestock system in Ethiopia, whilst the output in terms of milk and meat production is
significantly less. This study summarises the effects of conservation agriculture (CA)
on yield, soil properties, soil erosion, labour use and economic return in Ethiopia, as
well as factors determining the adoption of CA in the country. An approach for the
upscaling of CA in Ethiopia is proposed. By summarising results from different field
experiments that compare conventional tillage to reduced tillage, the change in yield
(%) was −4.0, +0.8 and −0.1 for maize (Zea mays), teff (Eragrostis tef) and wheat
(Triticum aestivum), respectively. The yield difference between conventional tillage
and zero tillage was −24.8% in maize. Factors that have been found to promote the
adoption of CA include access to inputs and credit, the competence of CA amongst
extension agents, membership of farm organisations, farmers’ education and farmers’
assets. Studies on technology adoption in Ethiopia show that it is preferable to bundle
technologies together in the form of a package. CA should therefore not be promoted
as a stand alone approach, but rather as part of an integrated farming system focusing
on crop and livestock intensification through the use of improved germplasm, integrated soil fertility management, weed and pest management and fodder production as
well as partial stall feeding and changes in the composition of livestock. Conservation
agriculture has implications in farming systems beyond crop production, and this
should be reflected in the approach for the upscaling of CA.
1 Introduction to Conservation Agriculture (CA)
Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on the principles of minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and diversification through rotation/associations
(Thierfelder et al. 2018). CA can be considered as a form of climate-smart agriculture
J. B. Aune (*)
Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric),
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
e-mail: jens.aune@nmbu.no
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_2
The Prospects for Conservation
Agriculture in Ethiopia
Jens B. Aune
Abstract About 90% of the farmland in Ethiopia is tilled by the ard plough (the maresha) pulled by a pair of oxen. Animal traction is therefore the major output from the
livestock system in Ethiopia, whilst the output in terms of milk and meat production is
significantly less. This study summarises the effects of conservation agriculture (CA)
on yield, soil properties, soil erosion, labour use and economic return in Ethiopia, as
well as factors determining the adoption of CA in the country. An approach for the
upscaling of CA in Ethiopia is proposed. By summarising results from different field
experiments that compare conventional tillage to reduced tillage, the change in yield
(%) was −4.0, +0.8 and −0.1 for maize (Zea mays), teff (Eragrostis tef) and wheat
(Triticum aestivum), respectively. The yield difference between conventional tillage
and zero tillage was −24.8% in maize. Factors that have been found to promote the
adoption of CA include access to inputs and credit, the competence of CA amongst
extension agents, membership of farm organisations, farmers’ education and farmers’
assets. Studies on technology adoption in Ethiopia show that it is preferable to bundle
technologies together in the form of a package. CA should therefore not be promoted
as a stand alone approach, but rather as part of an integrated farming system focusing
on crop and livestock intensification through the use of improved germplasm, integrated soil fertility management, weed and pest management and fodder production as
well as partial stall feeding and changes in the composition of livestock. Conservation
agriculture has implications in farming systems beyond crop production, and this
should be reflected in the approach for the upscaling of CA.
1 Introduction to Conservation Agriculture (CA)
Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on the principles of minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and diversification through rotation/associations
(Thierfelder et al. 2018). CA can be considered as a form of climate-smart agriculture
J. B. Aune (*)
Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric),
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
e-mail: jens.aune@nmbu.no