The Cradles of Adoption: Perspectives from Conservation Agriculture in Ethiopia

Abstract

Several technologies have been provided to farmers to increase production under the rainfed systems of Ethiopia. However, much attention has been focused on drought emergency relief and associated interventions. Conservation agriculture (CA), among others, has been recently encouraged as part of the sustainable intensification technology in the Ethiopian smallholder farming systems. However, CA research in Ethiopia has traditionally stayed for a long time on a station-based research approach over a controlled environment followed by demonstration plots conducted, in most cases, for a short period. Considering large natural agro-hydro-ecological diversifications and the socio-economic conditions of smallholder farmers, it is possible to envisage that various versions of CA may be adopted based on different climate and topographic settings. Hence it entails various forms of adoption research depending on the biophysical and socio-economic conditions. Therefore, adopting CA technology is not as simple as adopting the technology or its components, as adoption is not only based on benefits but is also a process of inculcating CA into the human and social elements (culture, gender, social, and beliefs), and integrating CA within the farming systems (e.g., crop type, rotations, and agronomic management), and production systems (e.g., irrigated, rainfed, and livestock). In this regard, a review of CA technology usage provides an important perspective to explore the findings and the functionality of current CA research systems regarding the nature of its development, promotion, and dissemination in Ethiopia. This manuscript explores how CA is viewed by local farmers and associated researchers using the results from station to farmer-designed on-farm studies in the Ethiopian highlands, including irrigated and rain-fed production systems. This review paper will be crucially important for researchers and policymakers to develop conservation agriculture as one strategic issue for future sustainable irrigation and natural resource conservation.