Synthesis of research issues and capacity building in water and land resources management in Ethiopia

This paper presents an overview and synthesis of the key research and capacity building issues arising from the workshop presentations and the papers. Three days of intensive deliberations by professionals from various research, development and governmental organizations, and of diverse disciplines, backgrounds and nationalities have clearly acknowledged that water management issues remain very crucial for poverty alleviation and rural development in Ethiopia – the overwhelming proportion of the population depends on smallholder agricultural production, which is highly constrained by water availability (absence of perennial rivers, high spatial and temporal availability of rainfall, etc.). This situation, over the years, has generated a critical need for efficient water and land management to reduce production risks and hazards, and enhance stable agricultural and livestock production. Recent decades have witnessed various efforts in the area of irrigation and supplementary irrigation (and other development initiatives), employing various water harvesting technologies, construction of micro dams, diversions structures, etc., which were largely combined with traditional yield-enhancing methods to facilitate sustainable smallholder agricultural production.Most of these efforts did not only fall short of their desired objectives of improving smallholder production conditions but also generated a host of other problems which aggravated smallholder production conditions: the large scale irrigation schemes (e.g. Awash Basin and elsewhere) resulted in secondary soil salinization where large tracts of land have gone out of production; the spontaneous construction of micro-dams across the country (especially in Tigray) is associated with human and livestock health hazards that in some cases has resulted into abandonment of the dams; the production potential of extensive watersheds remain largely unexploited or inappropriately utilized, resulting in extensive degradation of fragile lands, and so on. The potential for effectively integrating crops and livestock management in the context of growing water in complementary crop-livestock systems remains largely unexploited, especially from the perspective of efficient water and land utilization. The limited success of most of the technologies in Ethiopia calls attention to a dire need for research and capacity building to understand the complex issues of water and land management, so as to enhance national and local capacity to deal with water and land management issues to enhance food security, poverty alleviation and national economic development.Length: pp.204-216Water resource managementCapacity buildingPovertyLand resourcesIrrigation managementDrainageWater harvestingLivestock

Context and Process in International Teacher Recruitment: The Experiences of Global Educators Outreach (GEO) Teachers from Africa in the U.S.A.

This study examined the experiences of three teachers recruited from African countries to teach in Chicago‘s public schools. The purpose of the study was to highlight the experiences of the teachers through the lens of changing global dynamics that make such international recruitment of teachers more likely than ever before. It was apparent through this research that the movement of the teachers from developing countries to the United States of America had professional, economic and social impact on the teachers, their families and their communities. Although the teachers interviewed were hopeful that the skills they are gaining could one day benefit the communities they left behind, they face serious challenges as they adjust to living in a new environment. There is need for further research on this subject because this new trend of officially recruiting teachers from developing countries to the United States is increasing as shortages of teachers in the U.S. is growing, but the potential impact on education is not yet fully known

The effect of environmental variability on livestock and land-use management: The Borana plateau, southern Ethiopia

The Borana people are the predominant ethnic group on the Borana Plateau in southern Ethiopia. Though traditionally transhumant pastoralists, they have recently increased their reliance on crops. Rainfall in the region averages between 353 mm to 873 mm; variability in rainfall is quite high, with coefficients of variation ranging from.21 to.68. The past decade has witnessed a dramatic increase in land allocated to crops, and land in pastures that are either becoming privatised, or accessible to only a small sub-group of people. In this paper, we derive an empirical model of stocking rates and land allocation, which is then used to estimate the effects of exogenous parameters on stocking densities, land allocated to crops, and land allocated to private pastures. Results indicate the following: a) regions with high coefficients of variation in rainfall have lower livestock densities and less land allocated to crops, b) communities with greater numbers of households and higher population densities have larger indices of non-cooperation, higher stock densities, and more land allocated to crops, c) heterogeneity within a community, measured by the distribution of wealth levels, is positively related to an index of non-cooperation, and to higher stock densities, d) higher relative prices of livestock and shorter distances to market are associated with greater stock densities as well as greater land allocated to crops, e) the greater is mobility into an area, the higher are stock densities, and the lower is the cooperation level, whereas outward mobility by community members has no effect on either stock densities or the level of cooperation reached, f) the proportion of members engaged in wage work outside has a significant negative effect on the ability of the community to cooperate. Outside wage work also increases land allocated to crops, but has a significant negative effect on land allocated to private pastures, and g) the greater is the index of non-cooperation, the higher are stock densities and the greater is land allocated to crops.

Effect of tillage on the growth and yield of cowpea varieties in Sudan savanna agroecology of Northern Nigeria

Field study was conducted during the rainy seasons (July-November) of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 at the Research Farm of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Minjibir, Kano State, Nigeria; to compare responses of six cowpea varieties to tillage. The treatments consisted of tillage systems (zero tillage, flat tillage and ridge tillage) as the main plot and cowpea varieties (IT89KD-391, IT90K-277-2, IT97K-461-4, IT97K-499-35, IT98K-131-2, and IT98K-506-1) as the sub-plot. The treatments were arranged as split plot laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Zero tillage was significantly superior in influencing days to maturity, canopy height, intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (IPAR) and leaf area index but not total dry matter and grain yield of cowpea. A positive and significant association was recorded for days to physiological maturity and canopy height across the tillage systems with a correlation coefficient of ≤ 40% for days to maturity and ≥50% for canopy height. Though flat tillage showed a positive correlation with intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (IPAR) and leaf area (LAI), but this association was not significant. However, ridge tillage showed a positive and significant correlation with IPAR and LAI (r =0.378*** and 0.384***). All the tillage systems showed a high and significant positive correlation with cowpea dry matter and fodder yield (r= 0.54*** to 0.77***). Across varieties, grain yield was better with flat tillage than zero and ridge tillage systems, with 10% yield advantage over the two. Zero and ridge tillage were similar in their effects on grain yield. Except for IPAR, LAI and total dry matter (TDM), the interaction effect of cowpea varieties and tillage systems was significant. Our result point to the fact that extensive soil tillage (especially, conventional tillage) may not be necessary for cowpea production in this agro-ecology with a high percentage of sand and a sandy loam as soil textural class. Following our result, we may recommended varieties for the different tillage systems as follows: IT98K-131-2, IT97K-461-4, IT90K-277-2, IT98K-506-1 (grain) and IT89KD-391/IT97K-461-4 (best for fodder) for zero tillage system; IT90K-277-2, IT97K-499-35, IT98K-131-2 and IT98K-506-1(grain) and IT89KD-391/IT97K-499-35 (best for fodder) for flat-tillage; IT98K-131-2, IT90K-277-2, IT98K-506-1 and IT97K-464-4(grain) and IT90K-277-2/ IT89KD-391 (best for fodder) for ridge tillage

Influence of Imazaquin Seed Treatment on Control of Striga gesnerioides and its Consequence on Yield and Yield Components of Selected Cowpea Genotypes

The effect of Imazaquin seed treatment on Striga control, yield, and yield components of cowpea were investigated in Nigeria, in 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. Imazaquin at 0.00, 0.06, and 0.24 kg a.i. ha-1 was the main plot treatment; cowpea genotypes (Achishiru, IT97K-1263, IT97K-390-2, IT98K-133-1-1, TVU-1283, TVU-1542 and TVU-1908) were the subplots. The untreated control recorded the highest number of Striga m-2 which was 2.8 times higher than seed treatment with imazaquin at 0.06 kg a.i. ha-1, and 6.8 times higher than treatment at 0.24 kg a.i. ha-1. Achishiru had the most Striga infestation (4.29 m-2) in 2010 and TVU-1283 (5.61 m-2) in 2011; genotype IT97K-1263 had no Striga in 2010 and 2011. TVU-1542 and IT97K-390-2 recorded the highest grain yield in 2010 and 2011. Treating IT97K-390-2, IT98K-133-1-1 and TVU-1542 with imazaquin at 0.06 and 0.24 kg a.i. ha-1 reduced Striga parasitism in the field and increased grain yield and yield component of these genotypes. These treatment combinations are therefore recommended for Striga control. Keywords: genotypes, cowpea, imazaquin, Striga control, seed treatmen

A Discrete Choice Experiment to Elicit the Willingness to Pay for Health Insurance by the Informal Sector Workers in Sierra Leone

The current health care financing system in Sierra Leone is unsustainable and poses challenges ranging from increased in out of pocket health care expenditure to accessibility problems, particularly in rural areas where living standards are low and health care facilities are scarce. This paper investigates whether privately financed health Insurance can improve the accessibility to formal health care in Sierra Leone and mitigate the effects of OOPs on poor households. To do so, we estimate the Willingness To Pay (WTP) for health insurance among informal sector workers in Sierra Leone using a Discrete Choice Experiment approach. Eight informal sector activities were selected namely – petty trading, subsistence farming, commercial bike riding, cattle rearing, fishing, tailoring, mining and quarrying. A random effect logit model is used to estimate households’ WTP for an improvement in coverage, choice of health care provider and a reduction in waiting time. Our study reveals that households were WTP more to have better attributes (better coverage, less waiting time) and to go to a faith - based provider. Our findings also suggest that location – rural versus urban – matters in determining the WTP since urban households were WTP more for health insurance than their rural counterparts, (SLL 54,348 or $7.34) and (SLL 37,250.5 or$5.03), respectively

Simulating planting date and cultivar effects on dryland maize production using CERESmaize model

Open Access JournalMaize farmers and extension agents in dry sudan savanna need information on how planting date and the choice of variety affect grain yield. This study was conducted to test the ability of model to predict maize yields under varying planting dates. Data on two open-pollinated maize cultivars (TSB-SR and TZE-COMP4) sown on different dates (June 29th, July 13th, July 21st and July 28th) in 2006 and 2007 at Azir (11° 01.820´ N, 12°37.714´ E; 441 m) and Damboa (11° 10.379´; 12° 47.145´E; 396 m) in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria were used in running the model. Experimental data from Azir in 2006 was used to calibrate the model, while the data for 2007 at Azir 2006 and 2007 at Damboa were used for model validation. The model predicted days to anthesis at Damboa as reasonably well in both 2006 and 2007 (d-index >0.8), while at Azir, the prediction of days to anthesis was very poor in 2007. The match between predicted and observed grain yield were very good in 2007 at both locations. The root mean square error (RMSE) values for grain yield in 2007 were 431.5 and 226.5 kg ha-1 at Azir, and 799.5 and 611.5 kg ha-1 at Damboa for TZB SR and TZE COMP4, respectively, while the d-index values were all greater than 0.94. Generally, the model predicted decrease in grain yield with delay in planting date except for TZB-SR at Azir in 2006 where planting on July 13th gave higher yield than planting on June 29th. The grain yield values from the simulations suggested late June to early July as the optimum planting window for both varieties at both Azir and Damboa

Performance of cowpea grown as an intercrop with maize of different populations

Cereal-cowpea intercrops have a record of low yields in the West African savannah. Two potential ways to improve the yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp), when grown with maize (Zea mays L.), is by manipulating the plant population of maize and using adapted cowpea cultivars. A field trial was conducted at Samaru in northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria, to determine the performance of semi-determinate and indeterminate cowpeas grown under maize populations of 0, 17,777, 26,666, and 53,333 plants ha-1. The radiation transmitted into cowpea was reduced by 50, 30 and 15% for a maize population of 53,333, 26,666 and 17,777 plants ha-1 respectively, compared with 0 plants ha-1. Maize population of 0 to 26,666 plants ha-1 favoured better cowpea performance compared with 53,333 plants ha-1 because at these lower plant populations, maize plants had lower leaf area indices which allowed maize canopy to transmit more light into the understorey cowpea. The negative effects of shade were more pronounced in the semi-determinate cowpea than in the indeterminate. Therefore, in high maize populations, indeterminate spreading cowpeas should be grown; while semi-determinate cowpeas should be planted in low to moderate maize populations because of their intolerance to severe shade. RÉSUMÉ La culture des céréales en association avec le niébé a souvent été associée à un faible rendement dans les savanes Ouest-Africaines. Il existe deux façons probables d’améliorer le rendement du niébé (Vigna unguiculata Walp) cultivé en association avec le maïs (Zea mays L.) ; la manipulation de la densité populationnelle du maïs et l’utilisation des variétés de niébé adaptées. Un essai en plein champ a été réalisé à Samaru dans la partie nord de la savane de Guinée au Nigeria, afin de déterminer la performance de niébés semi-déterminé et indéterminé cultivés en association avec différentes densités de maïs (0, 17,777, 26,666, and 53,333 plants ha-1). Comparé à un champ semé seulement au niébé, la radiation solaire transmise au niébé était réduite de 50, 30 et 15% respectivement pour des densités de maïs de 53,333, 26,666 and 17,777 plants ha-1. Une densité de maïs allant de 0 à 26,666 plants ha-1 favorisait mieux la performance du niébé qu’une densité de 53,333 plants de maïs par ha. Ceci parce qu’à cette faible densité, les plants de maïs avaient une faible surface foliaire et pouvaient ainsi transmettre un rayonnement solaire suffisant au niébé. L’effet négatif de l’ombre causé par la couverture foliaire du maïs était plus prononcé sur le niébé semi-déterminé que sur le niébé indéterminé. Il apparait alors, que le niébé indéterminé devrait être cultivé en association avec une forte densité de maïs, tandis que le niébé semi-déterminé devrait être cultivé en association avec une densité de maïs faible ou modéré

Response of cowpea to sowing date and maize plant population in a Sudan savannah environment

Maize cultivation has recently expanded to the West African Sudan savannah and has the potential to play a key role in the cropping systems of the region where intercrop yields have been low. Staggering planting date and manipulating plant population of component crops are potential ways to improve yields of intercrops. A field trial was conducted to investigate the performance of contrasting cowpea cultivars when sown at different dates under varying maize plant populations at Minijibir in the Sudan savannah of Nigeria in 2008 and 2009. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with split-split-plot arrangement and replicated four times. Planting date (four and six weeks after sowing maize) formed the main plot; plant population (0, 17,777, 26,666 and 53,333 plants ha-1 ) was assigned to subplots and cowpea cultivars to sub-sub-plots. Results showed that the best grain yield potential for intercropped cowpea was achieved by sowing early in low to moderate maize plant populations. Early sowing was more conducive to achieving a higher number of branches, higher number of peduncles, higher number of pods, and higher fodder and grain yields. Cowpea performance reduced progressively with increase in maize plant population because of increased shading from maize plants. Growing cowpea under high maize population was more favourable for indeterminate cowpea cultivar whereas, growing under zero to moderate maize populations favoured semi-determinate cowpea cultivar most in grain production. Thus, when planning to grow cowpea with maize at full maize crop, farmers may need to seed indeterminate cowpea cultivar early under maize. At reduced maize plant populations, growing maize with semi-determinate cowpea cultivar will do. However, choice of maize plant population to use may depend on the income, food nutrition and feed needs of the farmer