37
for farmers because of lower production costs and less labour input, particularly if
combined with herbicides. Reduced tillage appears to be an option on Vertisols in
teff. The development of tillage methods with less need for traction animals will
facilitate livestock intensification based on milk or meat production and promote
pro-poor development pathways, as the tillage cost for farmers without oxen and
female-headed households is particularly high. Factors that have been found to promote the adoption of CA include access to inputs and credit, competence on CA
amongst extension agents, membership of farm organisations, farmers’ education
and farmers’ assets.
CA should not be promoted as a stand alone approach but rather as part of an
integrated farming system, focusing on crop and livestock intensification including
improved germplasm, integrated soil fertility management, fodder production,
change in composition of livestock and stall feeding. Such an integrated approach
can make it possible for farmers to retain part of the crop residue for mulch, as
mulching is essential for maintaining long-term productivity of the soil. Experience
shows that bundling agricultural technologies into a package gives far better results
than promoting the technologies individually. However, such a change in the production system will not take place unless backed by appropriate policies that
strengthen the extension systems for CA and improve access to subsidies/credit for
purchasing inputs necessary for the uptake of CA.
References
Adimassu Z, Alemu G, Tamene L (2019) Effects of tillage and crop residue management on runoff,
soil loss and crop yield in the Humid highlands of Ethiopia. Agr Sys 168:11–18
Areya T, Nyssen J, Govaerts B, Deckers J, Sommer R, Bauer H, Gebrehiwot K, Cornelis WM
(2016) Seven years resource-conserving agriculture effect on soil quality and crop productivity
in the Ethiopia drylands. Soil Tillage Res 163:99–109
Araya T, Cornelis WM, Nyssen J, Govaerts B, Getnet F, Bauer H, Amare K, Raes D, Haile M,
Deckers J (2012) Medium-term effects of conservation agriculture based cropping systems for
sustainable soil and water management and crop productivity in the Ethiopian highlands. Field
Crops Res 132:53–62
Astatke A, Jabbar A, Tanner D (2003) Participatory conservation tillage research: an experience
with minimum tillage on an Ethiopian highland vertisol. Agr Ecosyst Environ 95:401–415
Aune JB, Bussa MT, Asfaw FG, Ayele AA (2001) The ox ploughing system in Ethiopia: can it be
sustained? Outlook Agr 30:275–280
Aune JB, Coulibaly A, Woumou K (2019) Intensification of dryland farming in Mali through
mechanisation of sowing, fertiliser application and weeding. Arch Agron Soil Sci 65:400–410
Baudron F, Jaleta M, Okitoi O, Tegegn A (2014) Conservation agriculture in Africa crop-livestock
systems: expanding the niche. Agric Ecosyst Environ 187:171–182
Baudron F, Thierfelder C, Nyagumbo I, Gérard B (2015a) Where to target conservation agriculture
for African smallholders. How to overcome challenges associated with its implementation?
Experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa. Environment 2:338–357
Baudron F, Mamo A, Tirfessa D, Argaw M (2015b) Impact of farmland exclosure on the productivity and sustainability of a mixed crop-livestock system in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia.
Agr Ecosyst Environ 207:109–118
Brown B, Nuberg I, Llewellyn R (2018) Research capacity for local innovations: the case of conservation agriculture in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique. J Agr Res Extens 24:249–262
The Prospects for Conservation Agriculture in Ethiopia
for farmers because of lower production costs and less labour input, particularly if
combined with herbicides. Reduced tillage appears to be an option on Vertisols in
teff. The development of tillage methods with less need for traction animals will
facilitate livestock intensification based on milk or meat production and promote
pro-poor development pathways, as the tillage cost for farmers without oxen and
female-headed households is particularly high. Factors that have been found to promote the adoption of CA include access to inputs and credit, competence on CA
amongst extension agents, membership of farm organisations, farmers’ education
and farmers’ assets.
CA should not be promoted as a stand alone approach but rather as part of an
integrated farming system, focusing on crop and livestock intensification including
improved germplasm, integrated soil fertility management, fodder production,
change in composition of livestock and stall feeding. Such an integrated approach
can make it possible for farmers to retain part of the crop residue for mulch, as
mulching is essential for maintaining long-term productivity of the soil. Experience
shows that bundling agricultural technologies into a package gives far better results
than promoting the technologies individually. However, such a change in the production system will not take place unless backed by appropriate policies that
strengthen the extension systems for CA and improve access to subsidies/credit for
purchasing inputs necessary for the uptake of CA.
References
Adimassu Z, Alemu G, Tamene L (2019) Effects of tillage and crop residue management on runoff,
soil loss and crop yield in the Humid highlands of Ethiopia. Agr Sys 168:11–18
Areya T, Nyssen J, Govaerts B, Deckers J, Sommer R, Bauer H, Gebrehiwot K, Cornelis WM
(2016) Seven years resource-conserving agriculture effect on soil quality and crop productivity
in the Ethiopia drylands. Soil Tillage Res 163:99–109
Araya T, Cornelis WM, Nyssen J, Govaerts B, Getnet F, Bauer H, Amare K, Raes D, Haile M,
Deckers J (2012) Medium-term effects of conservation agriculture based cropping systems for
sustainable soil and water management and crop productivity in the Ethiopian highlands. Field
Crops Res 132:53–62
Astatke A, Jabbar A, Tanner D (2003) Participatory conservation tillage research: an experience
with minimum tillage on an Ethiopian highland vertisol. Agr Ecosyst Environ 95:401–415
Aune JB, Bussa MT, Asfaw FG, Ayele AA (2001) The ox ploughing system in Ethiopia: can it be
sustained? Outlook Agr 30:275–280
Aune JB, Coulibaly A, Woumou K (2019) Intensification of dryland farming in Mali through
mechanisation of sowing, fertiliser application and weeding. Arch Agron Soil Sci 65:400–410
Baudron F, Jaleta M, Okitoi O, Tegegn A (2014) Conservation agriculture in Africa crop-livestock
systems: expanding the niche. Agric Ecosyst Environ 187:171–182
Baudron F, Thierfelder C, Nyagumbo I, Gérard B (2015a) Where to target conservation agriculture
for African smallholders. How to overcome challenges associated with its implementation?
Experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa. Environment 2:338–357
Baudron F, Mamo A, Tirfessa D, Argaw M (2015b) Impact of farmland exclosure on the productivity and sustainability of a mixed crop-livestock system in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia.
Agr Ecosyst Environ 207:109–118
Brown B, Nuberg I, Llewellyn R (2018) Research capacity for local innovations: the case of conservation agriculture in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique. J Agr Res Extens 24:249–262
The Prospects for Conservation Agriculture in Ethiopia