Effects of Cluster Farming and Crop Technology Dissemination on the Livelihoods of Farmers: The Case Chobi District West Shewa Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Enhancing productivity among smallholder farmers is widely perceived as a key strategy that is achieved through promoting an agricultural cluster farming approach. The adoption of improved agricultural production technologies is central to increasing production and productivity. This study was conducted in the Chobi district of the West Shewa zone with the objectives of this study to introduce improved crop technologies and to enhance crop productivity. In the Chobi district, six types of crop technologies were promoted in the 2019/20 production season. The district is a previously unaddressed area in improved crop production technology and a total of 234 farmers (197 male and 37 female) benefited with a total of 68.97 quintals disseminated improved seed. In the information-sharing field days held a total of 499 stakeholders participated. From the 13 improved varieties that cover 164.3 hectares of land, a total output of 3753 quintals of grain was harvested. The yield effect of different crop varieties in the Chobi district scores higher yield in barley 32 Qt/ha and maize 80 Qt/ha than the national and regional average. The yield from linseed is 11 Qt/ha higher than the national average and the productivity of potato 120 Qt/ha is higher than the regional mean yield. Therefore, the study recommends a cluster farming with a full crop production package is crucial to enhance the income gains of smallholder farmers and the concerned stakeholders have to engage in the dissemination of climate-smart and resilient crop production technologies and extension services.