Journal of Innovative Agriculture | Volume 9 Issue 1 | Pages: 49-61 | Doi : 10.37446/jinagri/rsa/9.1.2022.49-61

Research Article

OPEN ACCESS | Published on : 31-Mar-2022

Assessment of possibilities to establish model agricultural technology village in Southern Ethiopia

• Asmera Adicha
• Southern Agricultural Research Institute Jinka Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 96 Jinka, Ethiopia.

Dawit Darcho
• Southern Agricultural Research Institute Jinka Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 96 Jinka, Ethiopia.

Gedion Ermias
• Southern Agricultural Research Institute Jinka Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 96 Jinka, Ethiopia.

Kutoya Kusse
• Southern Agricultural Research Institute Jinka Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 96 Jinka, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The available technology demonstration approaches like farmers' training centers in the region are very narrow with lots of technology deficiency, less capacity, placed in inconvenience niches, and poor setup. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the possibilities to establish a model technology village in the Agricultural Growth Program implementing districts of the South Omo zone. The multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select six sample kebeles. Data for the study were collected from 279 randomly selected households. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a narrative approach. The major crop technologies identified were improved variety, inorganic fertilizer, seed rate, and spacing. Major livestock technologies identified were improved cattle, shoat, poultry, and forage types. Major natural resource management technologies identified were soil and water conservation, soil fertility management, and agroforestry practices. About 54%, 84.2%, and 57.7% of sample respondents from Semen Ari, Debub Ari, and Bena-Tsemay districts know the existing technology demonstration approaches such as farmers' training center, model farmer-based, and pre-extension demonstration approaches respectively.  However, all types of agricultural technologies demonstration approaches and farmers' demands were not being taught, introduced, and demonstrated. Therefore, it can be concluded that establishing a model agricultural technology village on selected kebele based on farmers/agro pastoralists' demand for the crop, livestock, and natural resource management technologies could improve the productivity of smallholder farmers/agro-pastoralists.

Keywords

crop, livestock, natural resource management, technology village

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