Abstract
Technological change has been the major driving force for increasing agricultural productivity and promoting agriculture development in developing countries. To improve the agricultural productivity and farmers’ livelihoods, several agricultural technologies (improved crop varieties and related agricultural practices) were introduced by various agencies to the farmers in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Thus, the objective of this study is to identify these technologies, and evaluate their characteristics and sustainability. The data were collected from farmers, agricultural extension workers, and agricultural experts, through a series of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and farm observations, selected through purposive and random sampling techniques. Results showed that extension systems, social networks, or research projects were the agencies that introduced the technologies to the farmers. Haricot beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and early and mid-maturing maize (Zea mays L.), as well as agricultural practices like row-sowing, banding fertilizer application, intercropping, and traditional rainwater-harvesting, were found to be in continuous use by the farmers. In contrast, the use of extra-early-maturing maize, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.), as well as the use of related practices, including harvesting maize at physiological maturity, seed priming and fertilizer microdosing, were the technologies that were discontinued at the time of pursuing this study. Most of the continuing technologies had a high potential for reducing the vulnerability of the rain-fed agriculture to rainfall variability. Regardless of sources, the national extension system supported technologies that were integrated into the system only. Most of the discontinued technologies were found to be introduced by the research projects. These technologies were not brought into the attention of policy-makers for their integration into the extension system. The farmers also disliked a few of them for unfitting the existing socioeconomic setting. Whereas, the technologies that were introduced by the social networks were found to be widely used by the farmers, though they were not supported by the extension system. This is because most such technologies offer better yield and income. For instance, social networks have popularized haricot beans and hybrid maize because of their higher benefits to farmers. Farmers consider both socioeconomic and agroecological conditions for selecting and using technologies, whereas the extension system centers on existing agroecological conditions for recommending and supporting agricultural technologies. Consideration of both socioeconomic and agroecological settings would increase the prospect of a technology for sustainable adoption. Overall, rainfall variability, high price and poor access to improved seeds, farmers’ poor economic conditions, and the inadequate linkage between extension systems, social networks and research projects, remain critical factors influencing the sustainable use of agricultural technologies. It is, thus, commendable that policymakers should consider local socioeconomic and agroecological settings in recommending and supporting agricultural technologies besides instituting a strong consortium of extension systems, research institutes, research projects, social networks and farmers for improved agricultural technology development, extension system and sustainable adoption.
Highlights
The sustainable use of agricultural practices has become an important issue in the development-policy agenda for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially as a way to tackle land degradation, low agricultural productivity, and poverty [1]
The objective of this paper is to identify and characterize, and to explore the factors that influence the sustainable use of the improved crop varieties and related practices, which were introduced to the farmers by the national extension systems, social networks and DCG (Dryland Co-ordinating Group of Norway) project in 2006-7 and 2010-11 in the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Agricultural experts stated that improved crop varieties and agricultural practices were introduced to the farmers via the national extension system, social networks, or research projects
Summary
The sustainable use of agricultural practices has become an important issue in the development-policy agenda for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially as a way to tackle land degradation, low agricultural productivity, and poverty [1]. To achieve increased agricultural productivity and improved food security, investment in agricultural research and extension is a key factor [2]. This is because the growth generated by agriculture in SSA is several times more effective at reducing poverty and shortages in food supply [3]. As part of the intensification, the demand for improved technologies, including improved seed and fertilizer, has increased in Ethiopia [8], which could maximize the productivity of farmland with new agricultural inputs [9]. The supply of improved technologies like improved seeds is a key factor in Ethiopian agricultural production [10]. As part of achieving Ethiopia’s 10-year Growth and Transformation
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