Feed marketing in Ethiopia: results of rapid market appraisal

Despite the large livestock population in Ethiopia, the sector’s contribution at the micro or macro level is well below its potential due to various reasons, notably feed shortage and diseases, compounded by inefficiencies in the livestock input and output markets. Feed marketing studies are scarce in Ethiopia. This study is aimed at assessing the feed marketing system in Ethiopia to generate a general understanding of the feed supply and demand characteristics, feed marketing, feed prices, market places, market actors, and market institutions. The types of fodder supplied in the country differ from place to place depending on the type of crops grown as conditioned by the agro-climatic conditions. Buyers and sellers have various perceptions about the quality of the fodder supplied to the market. There are competing uses of crop residues and hay in Ethiopia. Crop residues and hay are transported in a variety of ways. Most of the crop residues are retailed in the open market. Hay is mostly sold in situ. Agro-industrial by-products from flour and edible oil mills, grind mills and local brewery are sold in all of the study areas. There are about 15 feed mixers and millers in the country as observed during the study period. However, only five of them are manufacturing purely for sale; others produce for own consumption and to sell surpluses. Feed prices are rising sharply. Available price data indicated that there are significant price differences between farm gate and wholesale prices of crop residues and hay. Among the crop residues teff straw is most expensive. Among agroindustrial by-products, linseed cake is most expensive, followed by cotton seed cake. Most of the feed trading is informal. Implications to improve the feed marketing system are drawn

Apiculture commodity development in Goma District: experiences from IPMS

Goma is endowed with different flora and adequate moisture which favors honey production. As a result, bee farmers started producing honey since time immemorial using traditional hives, mostly made of bamboo. Improved hive production in the Woreda started in 1987 among cooperatives formed during the military regime. In 2007, apiculture was identified as one of the priority commodity for Goma PLW through participatory priority commodities identification. Major constraints identified were shortage and/or substandard inputs supply, poor quality honey, lack of market, skill and knowledge limitations of bee farmers and technical staff. To address the challenges, value-chain development approach was exercised and in this regard the following developments were recorded. One interested honey shop was upgraded to become an apiculture input shop in Agaro town with financial assistance from OCSSCo/IPMS and technical assistance from the District Livestock Development and Production Agency (LDPA) and IPMS. This input shop supplied considerable inputs to bee farmers who also provide commercial services for their neighbours. One of the important inputs delivered to bee farmers was imported honey extractor but less demand was observed due to its high price. Moreover, one interested honey producers association named Wojin Gudina Honey Producers Association was formed and got legal identity. The association is expected to play market regulatory role, quality assurance, do bulking of member produce as well as non members to maintain bargaining power. About 44 interested farmers and 12 technical staff received skill and knowledge upgrading training and in this regard Jima University (JU) played a big role. More focus was given to transforming traditional to transitional hives (Kenya Top Bar), which was a change for the frame hives (modern hives) which had been introduced before. Twenty interested farmers received 123 transitional hives in Acha Afeta PA through credit and also transitional hive use has shown significant increase within and outside interested farmers in the last two years. To address market constraints, an effort was made to link honey producer with honey processing and export enterprises and in this regard Beza Mar honey processing and exporting enterprise has already started the process to buy Goma honey. Prior to this, an attempt was also made with another commercial processor but was not successful. The effects of various interventions are just emerging and are expected to come to full fruition over time. A household (HH) survey conducted by the project indicated however that adopters of improved apiculture technologies produced in 2008, on average, about birr 3,400 of honey per year compared to birr 225 by traditional bee keepers. Major lessons learned include that the intervention stimulated increased demand for improved hives and better use of existing hives. As compared to other Districts, involvement of private sector in the sale of accessories for improved bee hives and honey processing is emerging. Most of the honey produced from framed hives is extracted using locally made crude extractors with less or no food graded approval and also less quality honey. These extractors are operated commercially by private individuals, but require further technical support to improve quality. The development of a quality honey market is just emerging, however as indicated in the prices, no clear price incentive for quality honey is observed yet, probably because of the still relatively small volume entering into this market segment. Another indication of the still limited demand for clear honey is the increase in the numbers of traditional hives in the last two to three years

Fruit commodity development in Goma District through farmer-based improved fruit seedling supply system: Experiences from IPMS

In Goma, fruits considerably contribute in improving the nutritional status and income of the community. However, its production and productivity has been very low. The objective of this case study is to share best practices and lessons learned from farmer-based improved fruit seedlings supply system that could contribute to enhance fruit production in Goma Pilot Learning Woreda (PLW). The assessment result highlights that fruits production in Goma is a recent phenomenon and all fruit farmers got their first planting material from unknown sources and hence agronomic and cultural practices required for each fruit type is less known. Consequently, constraints such as extended periods to fruiting, failure to set fruits, unmanageable fruit tree height, diseases and pests, low yield, etc. are very common. Above all, introduction of various fruits to Goma Woreda was made much earlier than the institutional, skill and knowledge of the OoARD (the Office of Agriculture and Rural development) staff handling them. In addition, key technical limitation to fruits development identified through participatory commodity development approach includes scarcity of improved planting materials, large canopies, poor quality fruits, long time to maturity, among others. IPMS and OoARD initiated farmers-based improved fruits planting materials multiplication and distribution system in trying to solve the problem. Six model farmers (3 female, 3 male) were trained and engaged in grafting avocado and produced 2,052 grafted avocado seedlings from internationally known varieties such as Hass, Ettinger, and Fuerte which were sold to 163 households in 28 Peasant Associations (Pas) at Birr 25 per seedling. The farmers earned Birr 42,000 among them in total. Also mother trees of Hass, Ettinger and Fuerte were established in each model farmer’s plot for sustainable scion supply. Taking the advantage of this successful demonstration, OoARD started a scaling out program by including 3 additional model farmers. The 9 model farmers have now raised 17,000 avocado and mango root stock seedling at their own cost amounting to Birr 85,000 which will be ready for grafting starting from January 2010. In addition 3 copy farmers in Kilole PA are also engaged in improved fruits seedlings production. The effort demonstrated that farmers could be good sources for technology multiplication and distribution, which has been a key challenge in technology uptake not only for fruits but for many other commodities in Ethiopia

Forage Based Fallow Management Strategies for Intensified Land Use and Resource Conservation in Small Holder Farms

Intensification of land-use is inevitable for long term food security in the east African highlands, but technological options need to be environmentally safe. How forages can be used as a basis for intensified grain and fodder production from the same land unit, and serve as a profitable fallow during necessary crop-free rest period is the purpose of this study

Commercialization of vegetable production in Alamata Woreda, Northern Ethiopia: processes and impact

The Raya valley in Tigray where Alamata Woreda is located, has fertile soil, suitable climate and rich water resources to grow various crops including vegetables. Surface water from seasonal rivers/streams and small dams and ground water extracted from deep and shallow wells with various water lifting devices are the two main sources of water for irrigation in the Woreda. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study conducted by the Woreda stakeholders and facilitated by IPMS identified (irrigated) vegetables as a potential marketable commodity in 2005. Using the commodity value chain approach, production, input supply and marketing problems and opportunities were identified. Major problems were lack of interest partly as a result of market failure in the past, lack of agronomic and irrigation knowledge and skills resulting in lack of use of advanced agronomic inputs (e.g. seeds) and underutilization of modern irrigation facilitates (most of the deep wells established were not used and/or underutilized). Different extension approaches were used including study tours to change the mind-set and to acquire knowledge for experts and farmers. Following various production interventions, market linkages were created which resulted in better prices (from 0.70Birr/kg before 2005 to 3-5Birr/kg in the following years). Farmer to farmer communications, trainings, workshops and media coverage facilitated the further dissemination of knowledge and skills between PAs in Alamata and neighboring Woredas. As a result of these interventions, the area of irrigated onion, pepper and tomato tripled in size from 351 ha in 2004/05 to 1113 ha in 2008/09. The lion share of this increase was due to a ten fold increase in onion area from 84 ha in 2004/05 to 824 ha in 2008/09. Most of this increase took place in the spate irrigated areas where plots previously used for cereal crops (sorghum and teff) were converted to vegetables. Both women and men farmers benefited from the intervention. Many farmers managed to construct houses in town and were able to own different assets. The further expansion of the (irrigated) vegetable production in Alamata is feasible. However, more attention needs to be paid to improving productivity, especially in the spate irrigated areas since no clear evidence was found that area increase was accompanied by productivity increase, indicating lack of adequate institutional and farmers’ knowledge and skills. Also adverse weather conditions during the 2008 harvesting season, resulted in considerable crop spoilage and lower prices – indicating the risk associated with this commodity under rain-fed conditions. Finally, potential salinity problems should also be taken into account

Changes in response to integrated interventions in the value chain of vegetables in Atsbi-Womberta District of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

With irrigated vegetables development, interventions on the uses of improved inputs such as water lifting devices; varieties; on-farm water, nutrient and pest management, and access to credit and market information were introduced in Atsbi-Womberta district, Ethiopia. Besides, skill and uptake capacity of vegetable growers, extension service providers and vegetable traders were improved accordingly. The response to the integrated interventions in the valuechain of vegetables indicated that the total annual income increased from less than 16,733 in 2000 to more than 3.0 million USD in 2008. Simultaneously, beneficiaries increased by 82% while irrigated vegetable coverage by 87%. These successful changes in income attributed to improved capacity of actors to manage irrigated vegetables effectively in response to emerging opportunities and challenges including shifts in irrigated crop choices in reply to nutrient mining, pest load and market demand. Hence, the introduction of highland pulses in rotation with vegetable successfully breaks the pest load and increase soil fertility while simultaneously generating high income. Moreover, the presence of attractive market for vegetables and alternative crops triggers the expansion of water harvesting and utilization, increased crop diversification and sharpened the choice of marketable crops to optimize income

Partnerships for enhancing market-led innovation processes-experiences and lessons from IPMS Ethiopia

The IPMS project proposes to ‘contribute to improved agricultural productivity and production through market-oriented agricultural development, as a means for achieving improved and sustainable livelihoods for the rural population’ in Ethiopia. To accomplish this goal the project supports development and (action) research on innovative technologies, processes and institutional arrangements in three focus areas i.e. i) knowledge management ii) innovation capacity building of public and private sector partners, farmers and pasoralists; iii) market oriented production technologies and input/output marketing and financing; contributing to evidence-based policy making to support innovation processes and capacity development. Adopting the Innovation systems perspective, the project acknowledges multiple sources of innovation and the critical role of institutions. The activities deploy the use of partnerships and linkages along the value chain to promote complementary investments in necessary areas and sectors to generate innovations and impact. Innovative approaches to production, NRM, technology adaptation and delivery, service delivery, marketing and, institutional change, linked to market demands and the capacity of the communities and its individual members to handle such innovations in a sustainable manner are being introduced and adapted in pilot sites. Learning from these experiences is an integral aspect to draw lessons for scaling up. This paper summarises the experience of IPMS in developing and nurturing innovative partnerships and lessons learnt, to date

Shifting towards market-oriented irrigated crops development as an approach to improve the income of farmers: Evidence from northern Ethiopia

Rainfed crop production in the semi-arid areas is associated with high risk of rainfall variability which occasionally leads to complete crop failure. Most of the farmers in Atsbi-Womberta district of Eastern Tigray region, northern Ethiopia, have been classified as food insecure. To improve farmers’ livelihoods in the district, interventions targeted at resource conservation and better use of conserved water for market-oriented irrigated crops development have been promoted. This paper analyses the process and outcome of shifting towards market-oriented irrigated crops development and compares variation in income between beneficiary and nonbeneficiary households. The transformation processes are based on market-oriented diversification into high value irrigated crops, based on a value chain approach, and demand driven, participatory and knowledge based extension. The paper also assesses the response of smallholder farmers to emerging opportunities and challenges, and the spectrum of transformation processes and strategies followed to bring changes in smallholder farmers’ income. The changes associated with the interventions were systematically captured using household level surveys, specialized studies and key informant interviews. Results show that farmers gradually shifted to non-cereal, more market-oriented irrigated crops, in which the share of market-oriented irrigated crops increased from 27% of the total irrigated land in 2004 to 89% in 2009. Similarly, the total irrigated area increased by about fourfold and the number of beneficiaries by about threefold due to improved use of conserved surface and groundwater, and investment in farmer skills and water lifting devices. Moreover, crop diversification and intensification of households increased in response to emerging opportunities and challenges. Annual cropping intensity shifted from mono-crop cereal to 2–3 high value diversified crop farming by some farmers. On aggregate, average income of beneficiary households increased by about ninefold compared to non-beneficiary households. In the transformation, there have been continuous and interconnected processes and strategies in improving the effectiveness of adopting and using new skills and knowledge in harvesting and productive use of water, and responsive capacity of the extension system and partners. The lessons imply that investment in resources conservation could be enhanced if linked with short-term income generating activities through linkages with markets

Quantitative Geomorphological Parameters Analysis for the Aynalem- Illala Streams, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Morphometric analysis is the measurement and mathematical analysis of the configuration of the surface, shape, and dimension of landforms. The objective of this study is to characterize the Aynalem and Illala streams using the morphometric parameter. The topographic map at a scale of 1:50,000 taken from the Ethiopian National Mapping Agency was used to characterize the linear and areal aspects. ASTER Digital Elevation Model with 10m resolution was used to characterize the relief aspect. The Arc GIS 10.4.1 was used during the morphometric analysis. The analysis result of the streams is summarized based on the linear, areal, and relief aspects. The area is characterized by a dendritic drainage pattern which is characteristics of massive hard rock terrain. The Aynalem and Illala streams are 4th and 5th order streams. Considering the number of streams in the Aynalem (75.81%) and Illala (74.66%) is composed of first-order streams that indicate a flashy flood and the mean bifurcation value of Aynalem (6.8) and Illala (4.7) shows that the Aynalem area is more structurally affected than Illala but both show less stream integration. The analysis of areal aspects such as elongation ratio, circularity ratio, and form factor has indicated that both streams are characterized as elongated streams, this implies that both streams are flowing in heterogeneous rock material, presences of structural effect, and slow runoff discharge.  The other areal aspect such as drainage density, stream frequency, infiltration number, and length of overland flow all show smaller values in both streams. This implies that the streams are characterized by a relatively permeable rock material with a higher infiltration capacity. The relief aspect of the Aynalem and Illala was also analyzed using basin relief, relief ratio, ruggedness number, hypsometric curves, and Hypsometric integral. The streams are characterized by a lower relief ratio and ruggedness number which implies a relatively flat slope and lower relief. The hypsometric curves and the Hypsometric Integral of the streams indicate that the Aynalem and Illala are at the maturity stage. This shows the area is characterized by higher erosion but less affected by recent structures. Based on the morphometric parameter analysis result it is possible to conclude that the stream development is dependent on the topography and geology of the study area and both streams show similar morphometric character