Effect of Weed Management Methods on the Growth and yield of Ginger in Metu, Illubabor Ethiopia

A field experiment on ginger weed management was conducted at Metu from2009 and 2011 with the objective of identifying effective weed management for ginger under Metu condition. Different weed management methods were compared in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments were: hand weeding at 30,60,90, days after planting, .hand weeding at 45,75,105,135 &165 days after planting, hand weeding at 60,90,120,& 150 days after planting, mulching at planting followed by hand weeding at 45 and 75 days after planting, . mulching at planting followed by hand weeding at 60 and 90 days after planting, hand weeding at 30 and60 days after planting followed by mulching followed by one hand weeding as needed,  The result showed that the major weeds at both locations were: Cynodon spp., Cyprus spp., Digitaria spp., Gyzotia scabra, Bidens polynchyma, Nicandra physaloides, Commelina spp., Bidens pilosa, and Ageratum conyzoides. hand weeding at 30 and60 days after planting followed by mulching followed by one hand weeding as needed, hand weeding at 45 and 75 followed by mulching followed by one hand weeding as needed and weed free and weedy controls.The result reveled   a highly significant (p < 0.01) difference between treatments The result showed that as weeding frequency increased yield of ginger also increased. One early hand weeding between 30 and 45 days was critical to secure high yield of ginger. Mulching at planting followed by two hand weeding at 60 and 90 days after planting gave higher yield compared with the clean weeding treatment. Similarly hand weeding at 30 and 60 days followed by mulching and followed by one hand weeding also gave similar yield with clean weeding. Mulching at planting enhanced early germination and growth of ginger compared with non mulched ginger. On the other hand, the result also showed that ginger was poorly competed with weeds that when the first hand weeding was delayed from 30 to 45 and 60 days after planting ginger growth was affected resulting in tremendous yield loss. The result also clearly showed that three hand weeding at 30,60 and 90 days after planting was not adequate under Metu condition.  When weeding was totally ignored throughout the growing period yield reduction amounted 95.5 %

A Report on Climate Smart Feed and Forages Training Bale Zone, Oromia

Livestock production and productivity are very low in Ethiopia. Poor quality and inadequate quantity of feeds are major constraints in the Ethiopian highlands. The farming system in Bale zone, where AICCRA project has been operating, is dominated by production of wheat as a major food and cash crop. Most grazing lands changed to cultivated lands due to increasing human population. Wheat straw has been the major livestock feed in the area, which is low in palatability and nutritional value. As a result, livestock production and productivity have been declining from time to time. Therefore, the introduction of climate smart feed and forage innovations into the area becomes crucial. It will have an added value to supplement the available feed and forage and, in the long run, transform livestock production and productivity. To overcome the livestock feed and associated problems, the government seeks active engagements from NGOs, government lead projects, national and international research institutions, higher education institutions, and private sectors. To achieve this objective, capacitating experts, development agents and farmers is crucial. In line with this objective, AICCRA and TAAT projects have been jointly working and providing training on climate smart feed and forage innovations, organizing experience sharing visits and practicing a forage seed supply scheme in a revolving seed system approach. More than 400 households (>36% female), 18 DAs and 8 experts engaged in the recently organized theoretical and practical training program. The training was delivered from 10-22 July 2023 at each kebele level in two districts (Sinana and Goba). Representative farmers from eight kebeles managed to attend the training. This report covers the trainings delivered at kebele level, objectives of the training, mode of training delivery and the number of beneficiaries

Crop residues management and nutritional improvement practices

Crop residues are the second most important feed source for livestock next to grazing lands in the crop-livestock mixed production system in Ethiopia. However, their contribution to livestock feed in pastoral and agropastoral areas is insignificant. The major crop residues are cereals, namely, maize, teff, sorghum, wheat and barley, which account for more than 80% of the total acreage and production of the major food crops in the country. In the last three decades, crop residue production has sharply increased as farmers use more land to grow cereals and use improved technologies. However, the adoption of crop residues as feed for livestock to improve productivity is low because of its poor quality. It is known that crop residues are low in protein and energy content, and high in fibre