Ethiopian Agriculture and its civilization?

The book has specified Ethiopian ever endowment as land of agriculture, situated among the diverse right combinations of agricultural suitability factors. Despite the assumed fact that goes in contrary to the assertion that Ethiopians must have been central-piece of global agricultural civilization and so agricultural product surplus, age factor alone could not witness anticipated advances of the industry in the discourse. Ethiopian agricultural resource landscapes are input-output responsive as are demonstrated in patchy system, are endowed with icon of agricultural ecology allowing diverse specialty in every space and time; are fully supported by nature with minimum risk; support gain maximization in the right technology combination; are amenable to extrapolation; but are at speedy and serious course of dwindling and fading away due mainly to mis-use and abuse; and at birth of cost sharing generations..

Research and development with grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L) in Ethiopia

The research and development progress and suggestion in grasspea, would help re validation of the crop in total production. There is less to invest on adaptability of the crop once the utility values are stepped well. The crop is promise of the climatic wave era, that is now. Nature has already trained grasspea, how hardy it should be in adapting extremes of climatic and nutrient variability. This information sold as is evidenced from the so far efforts and historical blueprints. This old crop will have to be promoted to make use of in a safe way. Science, is demanded to formulate grasspea a safe to use, valuable to sale and nutritive to feed

A Guide to Accelerated Breeding Cycle in Chickpea to Enhance Rate of Gain

Speed breeding is time saving based approach and is among genetic improvement enhancers approach through genetic recombination and fast generation reconstitution in plant breeding. Genetic gain acceleration enables combating the gap between demand and supply. Dagnachew et al., (2016), have reported a positive yield and seed quality gain over the four decades of Ethiopian chickpea research improvement endeavor. Increasing the number of generations per unit of time (over a given period) improves the overall efficiency in the delivery rate of defined variety or product/s. Amy et al., (2018) have reported that under controlled environment of growth chamber, speed breeding approach achieved up to 6 generations per year for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum wheat (T. durum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and pea (Pisum sativum), and 4 generations for canola (Brassica napus), instead of 2–3 under normal glasshouse conditions.Under uncontrolled open field condition Asnake et al (unpublished) has reported 4 generations per year in chickpea, with possible further potential. It was also noted that the approach can easily be adopted, integrated with other conventional and/or advanced breeding approaches like molecular breeding. This manual tries to elaborate the approaches /which is flexible/ in chickpea speed breeding with the goal to achieve multiple generations per year without losing breeding values (the useful attributes of the products). Single Seed Decent (SSD) Technique is preferred approach along the speeding generation to be made in the course

The Economics of Targeting and Sustaining a Niche Market: A Case Study of Green Pod Chickpea Marketing in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a leading producer of chickpea in Sub-Saharan Africa and the crop plays substantial role in household food and nutrition security, soil fertility restoration and national export earnings. Recent market studies show that farmers often sell chickpea in grain form and it reaches the final consumer through complex and long supply channels involving various market actors. However, Green Pod Chickpea (GPCP) marketing is a recently evolving phenomenon as a niche market, and there has been a considerable boost in its supply over the past five years. The objective of this paper is to critically examine the main driving forces behind GPCP marketing and assess whether it is a viable and sustainable option for smallholder farmers. Despite the relevance of multilayer evidences, the research and development efforts to understand, evaluate and support GPCP marketing scheme are very much limited—the issue has not received the attention it deserves. Farmers are still relying on old varieties with very minimal extension support and the degree to which the niche market would be able to absorb the growing number of aspiring GPCP market participants is still unclear. In nutshell, there is limited information and knowledge about the size and characteristics of GPCP market. To the best of our understanding, this study is the first of its kind to critically examine the viability of GPCP marketing scheme, and we hope that the findings could help bridge the knowledge gap, provide policy inputs and serve as reference for further studies in the area. To answer the research questions, we have collected data from chickpea producers, extension workers and market actors, and the data has been analyzed using descriptive and econometric methods. The findings clearly show that GPCP marketing is variety-specific: the market strongly favors the localized black and improved Marye varieties mainly due to their taste. To make GPCP buying decision, market actors such as consumer and vendors consider certain crop parameters and attributes including, pod color, pod size, freshness, neatness, pods per plant, variety (Desi or Kabuli) etc. As the multiple regression results show, proximity to market, gender, livelihood status, family size, harvesting and post-harvesting costs, grain and GPCP price gap, and access to finance are the main factors affecting the amount of GPCP traded. Some farmers sell GPCP out of necessity motivated by cash deficit, whereas others are highly market-oriented and put effort to exploit the niche market led by profit maximization. The structure and functioning of GPCP market is quite different from that of grain market: it is less complex and involves few intermediaries with short supply chain. To widen market base, availing more GPCP products options and value addition efforts (cleaning, peeling, cooking, roasting, packaging, and labeling) could be crucial entry points. Besides, the research and extension system should address the concerns of GPCP producers and engage them during variety release, training provision and capacity building sessions. To shade more light on the scalability and future prospect of such marketing scheme, further studies pertinent to its structure and functioning are vital. At policy level, mainstreaming it into the food and nutrition product stream could have paramount importance

Recent Developments in Genomic Selection for Minor Gene Quantitative Disease Resistance Plant Breeding

To speed up the development of improved crop varieties, genomics assisted plant breeding is becoming an important tool. With traditional breeding and marker assisted selection, there have been several achievements in breeding for diseases resistance. Most research for disease resistance has been focused on major disease resistance genes which are highly effective although very vulnerable to breakdown with rapid changes in pathogenic races. In contrast, breeding for minor gene quantitative resistance can produce more durable plant varieties although it is very slow and challenging breeding. As the genetic architecture of the plant disease resistance shifts from single major R genes to many minor quantitative genes, the most appropriate approach for molecular plant breeding is genomic selection (GS) than marker assisted selection or conventional breeding. With the advent of new genomic tools, GS has emerged as one of the most important approaches for predicting genotype performance to improve genetically complex quantitative traits. Consequently, GS helps to accelerate the rate of genetic gain in breeding by using whole genome sequence data to predict the breeding value of offspring. GS breeding for quantitative resistance will therefore necessitate whole genome prediction models and selection methodology as implemented for classical complex traits. With the implementation of GS for yield and other economically important traits, whole genome marker profiles are available for the entire set of breeding lines, enabling genomic selection for disease resistance with no additional direct cost. Therefore, recent developments in GS including a two stream GS + de novo GWAS models (GS+) and GS for combined highest level of quantitative resistance with R genes (QR +R gene) individuals are expected to further advance disease resistance plant breeding and briefly discussed

Assessment of seed quality parameters in different seed sources of chickpea (Cicer arietinum (L.)

In Ethiopia, chickpea is an important grain legume next to faba bean and common bean. Quality seed production and associated technologies could be mentioned among the major challenges that limit chickpea production and productivity in Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess the quality of seeds at different generation classes as obtained from various sources that would contribute an estimate of more than half the chickpea seed suppliers. Thirty one seed samples taken from ten different formal seed sources and four seed classes were used to test physical, physiological and seed health parameters. The result of the laboratory study indicated that seed sources and classes have affected highly significantly the moisture content and hundred seed weight. Correlation analysis showed that seed purity had positive and highly significantly influenced standard germination, vigor index, seedling dry weight and hundred seed weight. Similarly, vigor index was correlated positively and highly significantly with speed of standard germination and root length. Considering seed health as standard quality parameters showed that no seed sources and classes met the standards set by the national seed quality. The seed regulatory unit should be considered in the future in enhancing the seed standard levels and on undermined factors associated to seed health

Harnessing Chickpea Value Chain for Nutrition Security and Commercialization of Smallholder Agriculture in Africa

This proceedings on "Harnessing Chickpea Value Chain for Nutrition Security and Commercialization of Stallholder Agriculture in Africa’ is the outcome of the First International Chickpea Workshop held in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia – the location which represents the major chickpea growing areas in the country as well as Center of Excellence for the national chickpea research. As it is the first of its kind in that scope, the First International Chickpea Workshop created a vibrant interaction among our global partners and individuals from the chickpea communities. In looking forward, it has been strongly believed that the workshop not only documents what has been achieved by the different interaction levels but also demonstrates that the NARS could play significant role in promoting science and knowledge to resolve agricultural bottlenecks of their own. Accounting for ~2.5% of world and more than 55% of Africa's chickpea production, Ethiopia stands to the top 10 global chickpea producing countries while it is the 1st producer in Africa. Research advances in breeding and crop management practices over the four decades resulted in the development and release of proven technologies that brought a dramatic productivity increase from less than a tone to close to two tons in just a decade and half, comparable to many high input cereals, which has significantly improved the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. In addition, the crop has emerged as one of the major agricultural export commodities next to coffee, sesame and beans. As a result, Ethiopian chickpea has now been shifted from a simple precursor crop to a principal component of the cropping system that significantly contributed in leveraging poverty reduction..

Tapping the Economic Potential of Chickpea in Sub-Saharan Africa

Chickpea is a nutrition-rich, cropping-system friendly, climate-resilient, and low-cost production crop. It has large economic potential in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, where it currently accounts for only approximately half a million hectares of the approximately 12 million hectares of total chickpea production land worldwide. This review highlights the opportunities for promoting chickpea production and marketing to tap the vast economic potential in SSA. The region can potentially produce chickpea on approximately 10 million hectares, possibly doubling the global production, and the region could become one of the highest consumption geographies of this healthy crop. Chickpea could easily be integrated into existing cropping systems including rice-fallows and cereal monocropping systems. Successful cases studies of the crop in the region are highlighted. The region could tap into the potential at scale through intervention in the agricultural policy environment and development and promotion of improved chickpea production technologies supported by well-organized extension services and sustainable seed systems. These interventions could be complemented with value addition and product quality improvementsÍ for SSA chickpea to benefit from high-value markets

Physicochemical Properties and Effect of Processing Methods on Mineral Composition and Antinutritional Factors of Improved Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Varieties Grown in Ethiopia

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop grown and consumed all over the world because it is a good source of carbohydrates and protein. However, presence of antinutritional components restricts its use by interfering with digestion of macronutrients during consumption. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate physicochemical properties and effect of processing methods on antinutritional factors and mineral composition of improved chickpea varieties (Natoli of Desi and Arerti of Kabuli) grown in Ethiopia. The experiment was factorial with complete randomized design. The result indicated that physicochemical properties such as seed mass, seed density, hydration capacity, swelling capacity, unhydrated seeds, and cooking time of Arerti and Natoli chickpeas had 260.69 and 280.65 g/1000 seeds, 3.48 and 3.61g/ml, 1.07 and 1.03 g/g, 2.12 and 1.94ml/g, 1.64 and 14.75%, and 21.00 and 246.33 min, respectively. After processing, Zn, Fe, and Ca contents of improved chickpea varieties had 4.48 to 5.85mg/kg, 8.52 to 10.17mg/kg, and 536.56 to 1035mg/kg, respectively. The antinutritional factors, tannin and phytic acid, in the raw chickpeas were reduced to 25 to 82.25% and 5.89 to 57.35%, respectively. The results of the current study showed that Arerti of Kabuli variety showed low antinutritional factors and better physicochemical properties, specifically low cooking time, than Natoli of Desi variety. All processing methods were effective in reduction of antinutritional factors; however, boiling was found to be the best for reduction of antinutritional factors

Assessing the Competitiveness of Smallholders Chickpea Production in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Chickpea is an important food legume in Ethiopia which provides sources of livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers. Currently, it has become an important high value crop that promotes commercialization. This study attempted to assess the competitiveness of smallholders’ chickpea production in the central highlands of Ethiopia. To this end, the domestic resource cost coefficient (DRC) analysis was employed using farm household surveys, price and trade data. Current evidences showed that there has been a significant upswing in the trends of local chickpea prices both in nominal and real terms since the last eight years. As a result, chickpea has become an important cash crop in high potential major chickpea growing areas where farmers dispose the largest proportion of their chickpea production (82%) for marketing purpose.One of the major challenges of Ethiopian chickpea export is related to the bulk of the chickpea trade (84%) being absorbed by the local markets. Moreover, the current Ethiopia’s export market share has remained at 4% while the largest proportion (94%) is destined to low value export markets. Despite all those limitations, Ethiopian chickpea exportis highly competitive in major export markets as evidenced by the DRC value which was found to be 0.20. Therefore, the competitiveness of Ethiopian chickpea in high value markets could be improved by focusing on quality, volume, and supply continuity