New approaches with dramatic results

for increasing production of tef and other field crops

Sue Edwards & Hailu ArayaInstitute for Sustainable Development

withTareke Berhe & Zewdie GebretsadikSasakawaGlobal Africa Association

Environmental Constraints

Dry and/ or cold areas with low production potential

Low soil suitability

Low and erratic rainfall

Steep slopes and mountains

Severe and very severe land degradation

Low to medium climatic production potential

High climatic production potential

Ethiopia - production constraintsand opportunity

Area 1.12 million sq km ; population over 80 million; 84% rural = 16 mill rural families

Where ISD works with farmersTigray Region12 woredas (districts)57 communities

Amhara Region5 woredas (districts)

Regions to which ISD is expanding work in 2011

Average yield (kg/ha)

Crop type Check (no input) Compost Chemical fertilizer

Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw

Faba bean 1,378 2,121 2,857 4,158 2,696 3,783

Barley 1,115 2,478 2,349 4,456 1,861 3,739

Durum wheat

1,228 2,342 2,494 3,823 1,692 3,413

Teff 1,151 2,471 2,143 3,801 1,683 3,515

Maize 1,760 3,531 3,748 4,957 2,900 3,858

Hanfets* 858 2,235 1,341 3,396 1,199 2,237

Finger millet

1,142 2,242 2,652 4,748 1,848 3,839

* Hanfets is a mixture of barley and durum wheat Source: ISD data

The crops grown in compost-treated fields also had a higher grain index

SWI plot in Tahtai Maichew

Row planted plot in July 2009

Mature Wheat in GimbichuDecember 2009

Normal wheat: 39 grains/ear

Row planted wheat : 56 grains/ear

Wheat Yield in q/ha equivalent from 7 farmers

Some examples of sorghum diversity

Finger Millet transplanted on ¼ ha

Finger Millet row planted starting to flower in July 2009

Finger Millet & Sorghum yields from 3 farmers

Sorghum has usuallhy 1,200 seeds per head

Farmer practice Row planted

Farmers’ conventional practice (broadcasting seed at the rate of 25 kg/ha or more) vs. Row planting (drilling seed in a line at the rate of 2.5 kg/ha).

SCI with Tef – Debre Zeit, data from Dr Tareke & Ato Zewdie

High tillering in tef

Transplanted tef in rows

Tef panicles heavy with seed