metema pilot learning site diagnosis and program design - IPMS ...

METEMA PILOT LEARNING SITE DIAGNOSISAND PROGRAM DESIGNJuly 2005

Table of Contents1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 62. FARMING SYSTEM, CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRIORITIES................................ 72.1 Description of Metema Woreda ..............................................................................................72.2 Priority farming systems.........................................................................................................142.3 Priority crop commodities.......................................................................................................162.4 Livestock priorities...................................................................................................................182.5 Natural resources....................................................................................................................193. Institutions ............................................................................................................ 213.1 Marketing..................................................................................................................................213.2 Input supply..............................................................................................................................233.3 Rural Finance...........................................................................................................................243.4 Agricultural extension service................................................................................................263.5 Gender and HIV/AIDS service ..............................................................................................293.6. School and Woreda Net ........................................................................................................294. PRIORITY COMMODITY DESCRIPRTION, ANALYSIS AND POTENTIALINTERVENTIONS .................................................................................................... 315. Outline of Programme of Work for Metema Woreda PLS..................................... 605.1 Priority commodities and natural resource management technologies ..........................605.2 PLS knowledge management – general (RBM code 100 series)....................................605.3- PLS public institutional capacity building (RBM code 200 series)..................................625.4 PLS sustainable livelihood development (RBM code 300 series).............................645.4.1 Sesame (Both farming systems)................................................................................................655.4.2. Cotton..............................................................................................................................................695.4.3 Fruit...................................................................................................................................................715.4.4. Rice .................................................................................................................................................735.4.5 Sorghum ..........................................................................................................................................755.4.6 Irrigated Vegetables (Onion, Pepper)..........................................................................................765.4.7 Lowland pulses (Soya bean, Mung bean, groundnut) ..............................................................785.4.8 Natural Resources related commodities- Incense, Gum and Bamboo ..................................795.4.9.Cattle Beef.......................................................................................................................................805.4.10. Dairy..............................................................................................................................................825.4.11. Goat...............................................................................................................................................845.4.12 Poultry............................................................................................................................................865.4.13 Apiculture.......................................................................................................................................872

List of Maps, Tables and AnnexesMap 1. Map of Ethiopia with IPMS Pilot Learning Sites (PLS) ................................... 6Map 2. Soils map of Metema Woreda ........................................................................ 8Table 1. Land use of Metema woreda........................................................................ 8Map 3. Rainfall map of Metema Woreda .................................................................. 11Table 2. Name of Peasant and town association of Metema Woreda...................... 10Map 4. Elevation map of Metema woreda ................................................................ 11Table 3. Livestock population in the Metema Woreda.............................................. 12Table 4. Livestock Development and Health Desk staff in Metema woreda............. 14Table 5. Type of crop, area and expected production (2002 – 2004)....................... 17Table 6. Livestock population of Metema woreda .................................................... 19Table 7. Number and duration of tapping incense trees in Metema ......................... 19Table 8. Estimated Boswellia tree cover (ha) and estimated tree population by PA inMetema .................................................................................................................... 20Table 9- Number of staff and educational level of the Woreda Office of agriculture. 27Table 10. Cotton ... 31Table 11. Rice .............................................. 35Table 12. Sorghum – 37Table 13. Sesame – ... 39Table 14. Tropical fruits –(Banana, papaya, mango, guava, avocado) ..... 42Table 15. Vegetables –(Onion and pepper) ....... 44Table 16. Lowland pulses – (Soybean and Mung bean, groundnut) ........................ 46Table 17. Gum ......................... 48Table 18. Incense ...................... 49Table 19. Bamboo ...................... 50Table 20. Cattle Fattening ........................................................................................ 51Table 21. Dairy......................................................................................................... 54Table 22. Goat (meat) .............................................................................................. 55Table 23: Poultry production .................................................................................... 57Table 24. Apiculture (Production)............................................................................. 58Table 25. Project support for PLS knowledge management system (first year) ....... 61Table 26- Potential woreda staff (Training of Trainers) to be included in theinnovative methods training...................................................................................... 62Table 27. Potential Woreda staff to be included in technical training of prioritycommodities ............................................................................................................. 63Table 28. Project support for PLS general capacity building support (first year)*..... 643

Table 29. FTCs with potential for priority Commodities and NRM technologies in bothfarming systems ....................................................................................................... 64Table 30. FTCs with potential for NRM technologies in both farming system .......... 65Table 31. Project support for Sesame production .................................................... 66Table 32. Project support on sesame input supply................................................... 67Table 33. Project support for sesame marketing improvement ................................ 68Table 34. Project support for cotton production........................................................ 69Table 35. Project support for cotton input supply ..................................................... 69Table 36. Project support in improving cotton marketing.......................................... 70Table 37. Project support on fruit production............................................................ 71Table 38. Project support on fruit input supply ......................................................... 72Table 39. Project support on fruit marketing............................................................. 72Table 40. Project support for rice production............................................................ 73Table 41. Project support for rice input supply ......................................................... 73Table 42. Project support in rice marketing .............................................................. 74Table 43. Project support in sorghum production..................................................... 75Table 44. Project support in sorghum input supply .................................................. 75Table 45. Project support for sorghum Marketing .................................................... 76Table 46. Project support to improve production of vegetables................................ 76Table 47. Project support to improve input supply of vegetables ............................. 77Table 48. Project support to improve marketing vegetables..................................... 78Table 49. Project support for Lowland pulses production......................................... 78Table 50. Project support for Lowland pulses input supply ...................................... 79Table 51. Project support for Lowland pulses Marketing.......................................... 79Table 52. Project support for cattle beef production................................................. 80Table 53. Project support cattle beef input supply.................................................... 81Table 54. Project support in cattle beef market ........................................................ 81Table 55. Project support on dairy production.......................................................... 82Table 56. Project support on dairy input supply ....................................................... 83Table 57. Project support on dairy market................................................................ 84Table 58. Project support on goat production........................................................... 84Table 59. Project support on goat input supply ........................................................ 85Table 60. Project support on goat marketing............................................................ 85Table 61- Project support for poultry production ...................................................... 86Table 62- Project support for poultry input supply .................................................... 874

Table 63- Project support for poultry marketing ....................................................... 87Table 64- Project support for Apiculture production ................................................. 88Table 65- Project support for Apiculture input supply............................................... 88Table 66- Project support for Apiculture marketing .................................................. 89Annex 1. List of workshop participants Metema PLS, March 3-4, 2005 ................... 90Annex 2. Metema PLS planning workshop program, March 3-4, 2005 .................... 92Annex 3 -Amount of short and medium term credit delivered by multipurposecooperatives for purchase of inputs and goat production, 2004. .............................. 93Annex 4. Total number of cooperative members and total capital as of October 2004,Metema woreda ....................................................................................................... 94Annex 5. List of WALC members and telephone address........................................ 95Annex 6. Market price of some commodities (2004/05) ........................................... 96Annex 7. Peasant associations visited and farmers held discussions during the PRAprocess..................................................................................................................... 97Annex 8. List of participants in the project introduction workshop ............................ 98Annex 9. Cropping calendar (Eth. calendar) of some crops grown in Metema woreda................................................................................................................................. 99Annex 10. Tree population of Boswellia sp. distribution in some dominating PAs.. 1005

Metema Pilot Learning Site diagnosis and program designBy IPMS Team1. INTRODUCTIONThe International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development (MoARD) initiated a 5 year project in June 2004 with thefinancial assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).The project, entitled: “Improving productivity and market success” (IPMS) ofEthiopian farmers, aims at contributing to a reduction in poverty of the rural poorthrough market oriented agricultural development.The IPMS project will assist by bringing knowledge on technologies generated byInternational and National Research Institutes as well as from other sources to theattention of the technology transfer agents and the farming community. It will alsofacilitate the feedback on these technologies. Such assistance will be provided to 10pilot learning sites (PLS) across the country; (See map 1) Metema district is one ofthe 10 sites selected. To further enhance the utilization of such knowledge and theintroduction of technologies, the IPMS project will also provide assistance toextension, input supply, marketing and finance institutions, including cooperatives.Such institutional support will be in the form of technical assistance, capacitybuilding, supply of demonstration and training materials, some limited funds forinnovative institutional arrangements and studies aimed at developing innovativeinstitutional arrangements.Map 1. Map of Ethiopia with IPMS Pilot Learning Sites (PLS)6

2. FARMING SYSTEM, CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRIORITIES2.1 Description of Metema WoredaMetema woreda is located about 900 km northwest of Addis Ababa and about 180km west of Gondar town. Metema is one of the west most woredas of the AmharaRegional State. The woreda has an international boundary of more than 60 km longdistance between Ethiopia and Sudan. Metema is found North of Quarra and Alefa,west of Chilga south of Tach Arma Choho woredas and east of Sudan border. It isone of the 18 woredas in North Gondar Zone. According to the woreda Plan for2004, there are 15,675 rural agricultural households (excluding the newly resettledhouseholds) and about 4,991 urban households. According to this estimate, the totalpopulation of the woreda is 91,216 people. Out of the total, 3918 are rural and 1497are urban women households. The original residents of the area are Gumuz. Untilrecently, they practice slash and burn and hunting wild animals. They producesorghum as the staple crop and remain to be the major food crop in the area. Sincethe settlement programmes of the last and current governments, the area ispopulated and the natives became small in number. They are concentrated in fewareas and live close to each other. They are found in only three PAs (Kumer Aftit,Tumet and Shinfa). The total number of the indigenous people would be around 500households. Hence much of the area is recently settled by new comers from thehighlands. During the group’s visit to the woreda, it was known that 11,000 settlerswould be received during 2004/05. About 3,000 settlers were received when theteam was in the woreda.The altitude of Metema ranges from as low as 550 to 1608 m asl while the minimumannual temperature ranged between 22 o C and 28 o C. Daily temperature becomesvery high during the months of March to May, where it may get to as high as 43 o C.Nearly all of the land in the woreda is in the lowlands except some mountain topswhich fall outside. At the time of the visit, the temperature was around 36 o C. Metemais one of the woredas in the country where the climate is harsh and governmentallows a 30% hardship allowance.According to the available digital data, the mean annual rainfall for the area rangesfrom about 850 to around 1100 mm. These values are not in agreement with whathas been reported by the OoA. Based on this digital data, about 90% of the woredareceives mean annual rainfall of between 850 and 1000 mm. Metema has a unimodalrainfall. The rainy months extend from June until the end of September.However, most of the rainfall is received during the months of July and August.Rainfall during these months is erratic, combined with the poor workability of most ofthe soils, farm operations are also affected. The soils in the area are predominantlyblack and some are soils with vertic properties. Due to the season, soils in most ofthe areas visited were observed with excessive cracks, which could be as deep as0.75 m in some places. There are about 9 types of soils in the area where about aquarter of the size of the woreda is Haplic Luvisols and about 22% are Vertisols orsoils with vertic properties. On the other hand, Humic Nitosols account for about 6%(Map 2). Seasonal waterlogging, especially during the heavy rainfall months, is sohigh that the need to use broad bed makers (BBM) becomes essential. On the otherhand planting appropriate crop like rice becomes essential. During the visit of theteam, it was possible to observe about 5,000 BBMs lying outside of the office of7

Agriculture. ILRI developed this farm tool some years ago and a consortium ofnational institutions and ILRI were involved in disseminating it. With regards tofertility, the soil in this area is believed to be fertile. Consequently, farmers andinvestors in the area do not apply fertiliser. Farmers in the woreda extensivelycultivate sesame, cotton and sorghum and raise mainly goats and cattle.Map 2. Soils map of Metema WoredaAccording to the woreda Office of Agriculture (OoA), the total area of the woreda isabout 440 thousand ha. Much of the woreda under acacia dominated forest andgrasslands (Table 1).Table 1. Land use of Metema woredaLand use typeArea (ha)Cultivated land (103,908)• Smallholder 71,324• Commercial farms 13,908• Potential cultivable land 18,676Forest + Grassland 312,300Uncultivable land 23,877Total area 440,0858

The natural vegetation of Metema is predominantly composed of different acaciaspecies with a lot of hyparrhenia grass under grown. Metema is one of the woredaswhere gum and incense is collected. The main specie for incense production isBoswellia papyrifera, while Acacia seyal and A. polyacantha are used for gumproduction. There is an extensive area covered with the incense specie and thereare 3 private companies involved in harvesting incense with a capacity of about 500qt annually. According to the woreda 2004 plan, the potential harvestable gum andincense of the woreda could be 98,000 qt. The area is also known for growingbamboo. On the way from Gondar to Shekdi (woreda town), one can easily see thatmany of the houses were made of bamboo. Because of the presence of ticks,farmers burn the hyparrhenia grass. Farmers also assume to benefit from new grassgrowth after fire. Many of the roadside places were on fire whe we travelled toMetema Yohanes (border town) and Gondar. The natural bamboo growing areas arealso set to fire and this practice is believed to initiate new growth. Neem (Azadiractaindica) plants are abundantly available as roadside plantations in the towns, and asshade plants in the rural areas. The OoA had distributed these neem seedlings in theworeda some years back. These neem trees could be good source of naturalagrochemical, particularly against storage pests for sorghum. There are 5 treenurseries in the woreda and only 1 horticulture seed multiplication. The area of eachtree nursery is about 0.5 ha each, while the horticulture nursery is 2.5 ha. In thehorticulture nursery there were few types of fruit trees including, avocado, guava,papaya, orange and banana (Kenya type). Provided this nursery is well managed, itcould be used as a place where new introductions could be tested and multiplied fordissemination to the area.There are 19 private fruit and vegetable farms. Out of these, 12 are located veryclose to the woreda town using Genda Wuha river. These farms operate more than 2ha on an average. One of these is an irrigation cooperative farming about 5 ha andgrowing different lowland fruits and vegetables. The three crops cover around 90%of the woreda cultivated area (Table 2). The yield of sorghum is between 18 and 20,while that of sesame is between 4 and 6 qt/ha. Seed cotton from the locally grownvarieties could yield about 8 qt/ha, while many of the improved varieties introducedby Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) and MoA could yield from15 to 20 qt/ha. In addition to this, ARARI introduced number improved varieties ofsesame and sorghum to the area. Other than those introduced by ARARI, theMinistry of Agriculture (MoA) has also introduced a new variety of cotton calledGedera from Israel, which have been proven to be well adapted to the area.The total area of the woreda is estimated at 4,400 sq. km (Table 1) and subdividedinto 18 PAs and 2 town associations. There has been no digital data with PAboundary made as for the PLS in Tigray.9

Table 2. Name of Peasant and town association of Metema WoredaNumberHouseholds Total populationNAME of PA Male Female Total Male Female Total1 Kokit 1445 55 1500 2735 2691 54262 Mender 6, 7, 8 743 243 986 832 1052 18843 Metema Yohanes 749 1333 2082 2845 3509 63544 Das Gundo 1010 240 1250 1063 1315 23785 Kumer Aftit* 478 183 661 807 752 15596 Genda Wuha 446 88 534 1132 976 21087 Meka 530 108 638 862 1220 20828 Agam Wuha 618 119 737 1278 1104 23829 Shinfa* 863 232 1095 1824 1729 355310 Tumet Menduka* 889 167 1056 1318 1958 327611 Zebach Bahir 809 79 888 1225 1678 290312 Awlala 369 91 460 - - 187113 Gubae Jejebit 615 81 696 1124 917 204114 Lencha 395 41 436 747 910 165715 Shashge 679 62 741 1428 1262 269016 Kemechela 419 28 447 1190 1015 220517 Awasa 2169 271 2440 2347 2854 520118 Achera 511 30 541 1394 1338 273219 Shehdi 01** - - - - - -20 Shehdi 02** - - - - - -Total 13,737 3,451 17,188 8,230 8,296 52,302* PAs where the natives live** Town associationsSource: Office of Agriculture Metema, 2005Except for the very small areas under vegetables and fruits, crops in all farms(smallholder and commercial) are grown under rainfed conditions. There is no belg(short rains) in the woreda but the Meher rains start in June and last until the end ofSeptember. Last year rainfall was relatively small and also started late and manyfarmers have been affected as a result. Evaporation rates are high in Metema. Meanannual rainfall is estimated to be between 700 and 900 mm, while the mean annualtemperature is 31 o C (according to the OoA). Erratic and some times shortage ofrainfall are the major constraints of agriculture in the woreda. On the other hand,when the rainfall is heavy, waterlogging is another crop production problem. Rainfallis usually intense and short in duration even though the rainy months seem to beextended. There is a newly set up weather station (about 4 years), but was difficult toobtain weather data from the station. It should however be possible to buy the datafrom the National Meteorology Service Authority (NMSA) in Addis Ababa. Based onavailable digital data, the rainfall pattern of Metema woreda is shown on map 3below.10

Map 3. Rainfall map of Metema WoredaMap 4. Elevation map of Metema woreda11

Livestock resources and production systemLivestock production is an integral part of the production system. Production of cattle(milk, meat), goat (meat) and poultry is a common practice. Cattle are exported tothe Sudan while goats are mainly used for the local market. There is a smallholdermilk and butter production system mainly for the local market. Transhumance cattleproduction system is a common phenomenon with highland cattle moved to thelowlands during the main rainy seasons from June to October in search of feeds.Honey production is another common practice in the Woreda mainly in the forestareas. There is a huge feed resource in the Woreda and hay making has recentlybeen introduced in some selected PAs.Table 3. Livestock population in the Metema WoredaSpecies Number RemarkCattle 124,000 Mainly under extensive grazing system andtranshumance mode of production by highlandfarmersSmall ruminant 34,655 >75% goatsDonkeys 7,000 All Senar male donkeys for transportationCamel 592 All male for oil extractionPoultry 64,799Bee colonies 23,789 Mostly wild, up to 80 beehives per household)Source: Metema Woreda OoARD, 2005The cattle population in the Woreda is quite high. The major cattle breed is Fogerazebu crossbred. The Rutana cattle originally from the Sudan and Fultata cattle froNiger and Nigeria are minor cattle breeds. There is preference to the Rurana cattledue to their larger frame, better milk yield and traction power. Fulata cattle arehumpless and have small dewlap. Cattle are used for traction, meat, and milkproduction. There is no information on the number and distribution of these cattlebreeds/types. There is a plan to introduce Barca and Fogera cattle for milkproduction from the highlands. An ox fetches about 1,500 and a cow about 1,200Birr. Milk is sold at about 4 Birr a liter. Butter fetches about 25 Birr/Kg during the dryseason and about 16 Birr/Kg during the wet season. Local cheese or ‘Ayib’production is not common, but farmers sell the ‘buttermilk’, locally known as‘Wegemet’ at about 1 Birr/liter. Theft of cattle is a common problem and animals aresold in the Sudan after crossing the border illegally. As a result, hiring herdsmen is acommon practice. Children herd calves and in return are paid in kind with theproduce of a cow’s milk per week which they accumulate and process into butter forsell in the local market.The main small ruminant resource is goat production. Rutana goats are preferred bythe community due to their large size. This goat breed/type is hairy at the back.There is a small proportion of sheep population locally known as the ‘Gumuz sheep’.Goat production is based on extensive grazing and are sold at local markets. Pricesrange from 200 to 500 Birr per goat, and about 250 Birr per sheep. The Office ofAgriculture plans to distribute about 6,250 goats per year.12

There is a substantial poultry resource in the Woreda. Production is predominantlysmallholder backyard scavenging type of system using local chicken. The local priceis about 20 Birr for female and 35 Birr for male chicken. The price of an egg is about50 cents. There are no exotic breeds and there is no large scale commercial poultryproduction in the Woreda. The Woreda per capita egg production is estimated at 3,and there is a plan to increase this by one egg to four. The Office of Agriculture plansto increase egg production by 45,000 per year and there is a plan to introduce about300 female and male exotic chicken, mainly RIR breed, annually.There are about 14,000 bee colonies under traditional production system. Due to theextensive forest cover of the Woreda, most colonies are wild and as such are kepton trees. Very few farmers keep beehives in the backyard. There are about 860transitional beehives. The current per capita production of honey is estimated at 1.54kg per year and there is a plan to increase this to 2.6 kg. The Office of Agricultureplans to increase the number of transitional beehives to 2,185 and the number ofbee colonies to 10,000 per year.Livestock are important sources of both power and cash for the smallholder farmers.Commercial farmers use tractors for ploughing. Oxen are used to plough fields for allcrops and to thresh sorghum, while donkeys are used for transporting produces andwater for the smallholder farmers. Despite the large population of livestock,especially cattle and goats, productivity is low as in many other parts of Ethiopia.Unlike the other PLSs so far investigated, experts in this PLS believe that livestockfeed is not a limiting resource in the woreda. However, the farmers in the woreda donot exercise hay making and dry season feed will remain to be a problem. This isespecially so because farmers burn grasses for eliminating ticks and initiating newgrass growth during the rainy season. The proportion of cattle to the number ofhouseholds is smaller than the small ruminants, especially goats in the woreda. Thiscould be because the area is extensive and feed is not limiting. The major source oflivestock feed is grass in the bushes, mainly hyparrhenia spp. Highlanders fromother neighbouring woredas also bring their livestock in search of feed. This maycontribute to disseminating diseases from the neighbouring highlands and viceversa. There are a number of livestock diseases reported in the area and both thefarmers and experts consider them more limiting than feed shortage.Important livestock diseases in Metema include Black Leg (during rain season),Bovin Pastureolosis (during the transition period between dry and wet season),Anthrax, Pests (ticks), Lumpy skin disease, Streptotrycosis (Fungal), Tick borndisease (Anaplasmosis, Babisiosis). For sheep and goats, internal and externalparasite (Menge, ticks, etc), Antrax, Ovine Pasteorolosis, goat Pox, Streptotrycosis,Orf (viral disease around mouth and leg) are the common diseases reported.Newcastle disease, coccidiosis, avian pox and hystomoniasis are common poultrydiseases.The human resource at the Woreda Livestock Development and Health Desk isshown in the following table..13

Table 4. Livestock Development and Health Desk staff in Metema woredaExpertiseNumberVeterinarian (Desk representative) 1Animal Health Assistant 1Skins and Hides Technician 1Animal Breeding Expert 1Livestock Feeds Development t 1Apiculture Junior Expert 1Total 62.2 Priority farming systemsExcept under few instances, altitudinal differences are not significant (Map 4).However, some areas in the southwest seem to have lower elevations. It was difficultto identify distinct farming systems as in the other previous PLSs. However twofarming systems were identified.1. Cotton, rice/livestock farming system2. Sesame, cotton, sorghum and livestock based farming system (hereafter referredto as sesame, cotton, sorghum, livestock cotton/livestock system)Farming systems1. Cotton, rice/livestock farming systemFour out of the 18 PAs belong to this farming system. They are Meka, Awlala, GendaWuha and Kemechela. They are found northeast of the woreda. These PAspredominantly grow cotton followed by sorghum and sesame in few areas. Cropsgrown are similar in the whole woreda. The PAs in this farming system have somedifferent features in terms of suitability for crop production and amount of rainfallreceived. These PAs are relatively colder in temperature, have higher in altitude andrainfall and soils are black and waterlogging is a problem. Farmers in these PAspractice slightly early planting of crops.Majority of the soils in this farming system have vertic property. Many of the areasare also flat. As a result majority of the soils are only suitable for growing cotton andrice. Cotton is grown in bigger plots year, while sorghum and sesame are planted invery smaller areas. Some 10 years ago, rice was a well accepted crop and waswidely grown in these PAs including Kokit and Agam wuha from the other farmingsystem. At that time, there was 1 polisher in Shehdi (the woreda town) where allfarmers bring and polish their rice. However, the polisher was transferredsomewhere else and farmers were discouraged to grow rice. During the PRA,farmers said that if they get a polisher they would be happy to grow rice again.During the last day of the group’s stay in the woreda, it was found out that a newpolisher is already in the woreda since two years but farmers were not aware aboutit. There will be a need to inform that the instrument is available so that they will startgrowing rice. This kind of problems could be avoided if private polishers come intopicture.14

There are few perennial rivers in this farming system, among which Genda Wuha isone. This river is used for irrigation by few small-scale commercial farmers nearShehdi town. As the river passes through the PAs in this farming system, it could beused by others as well. Different fruits and vegetables could be grown using thisriver. The remaining 14 PAs can grow any of the three dominant crops (sesame,cotton and sorghum) depending on the market values and season. These PAs havesoil which is suitable to grow any of the three main crops.In general, land is not a problem in Metema woreda. Previously settled and theindigenous farmers officially have 5 ha, but many farmers cultivate more than this.Some farmers have even reported that they have up 30 ha. For the newly settledfarmers however 1 ha of land is given at arrival and another 1 will be given in thesecond year.Livestock production, mainly cattle and goats are important. Cattle meat, apiculture,small ruminants, and poultry are important marketable commodities. Milk was rakedas the last marketable commodity by the woreda experts. However, there is no acultural barrier on the sale of milk. Milk during the rainy season is sold at less than1.50 per litre, while it is very difficult to get milk during the dry season. Currently, milkis sold at about birr 4 per litre, while butter is sold at birr 23/lt. In the middle of the dryseason cattle move to far away places in search of feed and water and milkbecomes unavailable or very expensive. During the fasting periods (April), butter issold at 14-15 birr/lt. Livestock production is similar in both farming systems. Amongthe livestock commodities, apiculture is one the most untapped potentials in thearea. It is considered as the second most important priority commodity amonglivestock commodities in the woreda. However, bee colonies sometimes becomewild and too difficult to harvest on the traditional beehives.2. Sesame, cotton, sorghum and livestock based farming system (hereafter referredto as sesame, cotton, sorghum, livestock cotton/livestock system)Fourteen PAs belong to this farming system. Sesame, cotton and sorghum are themajor crops in this farming system (in order of importance). A farmer could grow anyone of these crops. The environmental conditions are equally suitable for thesecrops. The choice is set by the farmer upon observation of the season, high or lowrainfall and possible market prices. Altitude and rainfall in this farming system islesser than the other farming system. Some literatures indicate that rainfall rangesbetween 700 and 900, but the digital data indicate that it is more than this (Map 3).Whatever the case may be, this farming system would receive rainfall at the lowerrange. The altitude range for this farming system would also be between 550 and700 m asl (personal observation). Farmers and agriculturists believe that theunderground water table is high. In some places sufficient amount of water could beobtained at less than 10 m deep. The government is developing deep wells for thenewly arriving settlers in the woreda. The maximum depth of the newly dug wells isabout 82 m. this being the case, the under ground water resource could support thedevelopment efforts, especially for growing tropical fruits. As a result of thetemperature, evapo-transpiration is extremely high. Therefore, this requires efficientand appropriate irrigation system in place. On the other hand, two of the three riversare found in this farming system making it more potential for fruit and vegetable15

development. This area is also extensive and is the place where the naturalplantations for gum and incense are located.Currently, the price of sesame is about birr 520 per qt while cotton is sold at birr220/qt. Sorghum is an important crop in the area because the relevance of these twocrops cannot be realised without sorghum. Sorghum is sold at birr 160/qt. Allcommercial and smallholder farmers grow sorghum because the flour is the mainfood crop for all households and labourers. Labour is in short supply especiallyduring peak weeding, harvesting and incense and gum collection periods of the year.Labourers come from the highlands of Gondar and even from Tigray. Theselabourers require the supply of food (sorghum flour) from the farm owners(Smallholder or commercial farms) during the major farm operations. Sorghum flouris considered part of daily wage in Metema. Sorghum is not only planted as ahousehold source of food but also as an indirect source of cash. Hence, sorghum isan important commodity and will be hard to de-emphasise it. However, the activitiesneeded for sorghum from the project may not be much. The continued importance ofsesame and cotton can not be realized without due emphasis on sorghum. On theother, the area under sorghum is substantial (14,822 ha). If high yielding and strigatolerant varieties are grown, some of the land could be released for the othercommercial crops.2.3 Priority crop commoditiesSesame, cotton and sorghum are currently the important marketable cropcommodities in Metema. However, research results from ARARI indicate thatsoybean is an important potential crop for the area. This crop has been tested in thearea and yielded about 18-23 qt/ha. Rice was grown in the woreda on about 400 hasome 10 years ago. Currently, rice is not widely grown in the area because thevariety that was grown in the woreda was affected by shortage of rainfall. In additionto this, the absence of polisher further discouraged farmers from growing rice. As aresult, only 8 ha were under rice in 2004. However, there is a workshop in Bahir Darwhich makes threshers and rice polishers. ARARI has also now developed a newvariety called Kokit that could tolerate shortage of rainfall and is adaptable to thearea. Many other rice varieties are also being tested and researchers believe thatthere are promising cultivars for Metema. Collectively, these conditions may thenencourage farmers to grow rice again.Groundnut and mung bean (Sudan misr) could be other potential crops for the area.They are grown by few of the native farmers. Other farmers in one of the southernPAs have also tested and obtained encouraging results from groundnut. Some of thesoils are suitable for growing this crop. Mung bean is an expensive crop and is soldat birr 17/kg in Addis supermarkets. Some of the areas that produce mung bean areShewa Robit in the north central areas. The indigenous people have also beengrowing this crop for many years.In irrigable areas banana, papaya and mango are potential fruits for the area. Somesmall-scale irrigated commercial farmers contacted during the participatory ruralappraisal (PRA) showed very high interest to plant the dwarf banana (Cavendishdwarf) variety. Papaya and mango are also other important fruits widely preferred onirrigated farms. Some of these farmers have already planted mango but are16

experiencing problems due to fruit abortion. Seed was collected from Addis andplanted without grafting. The existing papaya plants are tall and also difficult tomanage. Solo varieties would be appropriate for this area. This variety has big andtesty fruits which are easy to manage. The important feature is that it is ahermaphrodite meaning that any seedling plant will bear fruits.Other horticultural crops like onion and pepper are also potential vegetable crops.Onion is imported from Sudan and sold in both Metema and Gondar. It is possible togrow this crop in the irrigated areas in Metema. There are onion varieties developedby research that could be easily grown in Metema. In addition to the use of rivers,onion, pepper and other vegetables could be grown using under ground water. Thedevelopment of household drip irrigation systems in Ethiopia may also contribute tothe expansion of these vegetables. The OoA has a 2.5 ha seed multiplication sitejust outside of the woreda town. Different fruits are grown including banana, mangoand papaya. However, the site is poorly managed and the varieties grown there arethe same to those of the farmers. This site could have made an impact in introducingnew technologies to the area. With a small investment the site could be used as aback stopping in terms new innovative technologies to be introduced to the area. Thesite has a diesel pump and a yearly budget of birr 18,000.On the other hand, the Amhara Regional State through ARARI is trying to introduceother commercial commodities Vernonia galamensis L. (vernonia) to the area.Vernonia is being tested at the ARARI research plots in Metema. Vernonia is anindigenous weed plant grown in many parts of the country. The average seed yield isbetween 2 to 2.5 t/ha. Amongst the Vernonia spp., the Ethiopian vernonia has thehighest oil content of up 41.9% with up to 80% vernolic acid, used in paintformulations, coatings plasticizers, reagent for many industrial chemicals. This croprequires 5-9 months from planting to harvesting depending on the temperature of thearea. As the crop is still in its introduction phase no one in the woreda was aware ofthe current price, market channels, etc. The plant was observed growing well inresearch plots in Metema. However, care has to be taken that this species does notbecome a potential weed.Table 5. Type of crop, area and expected production (2002 – 2004)Sr. Crop2002 2003 2004No.Yield(qt/ha)Area(ha)Production(qt)Area(ha)Production(qt)Area(ha)Production(qt)1 Sesame 5 14,108 70,540 21,872 109,360 40,668 203,3402 Cotton 8* 13,381 107,048 20,690 165,520 21,074 168,5923 Sorghum 15 16,142 242,130 25,154 377,310 14,822 222,3304 Maize 15 1,036 15,540 1,621 24,315 2,016 30,2405 Teff 5 675 3,375 672 3,360 300 1,5006 Finger millet 10 254 2,540 448 4,480 375 3,7507 Noug 4 47 188 41 164 120 4808 Soya bean 20 - - 378 7,560 46 9209 Pepper 6 - - 3 18 27.5 16510 Chickpea 4 - - 27 10811 Sweet potato 100 - - 38 3,800 24 2,40012 Rice 20 104 2,080 0 8 16017

13 Tomato 200 - -0 0 4.9 980Total - 45,747 - 70,917 - 79,512.40*For local varieties. The newly introduced improved varieties could yield up to 15 qt/ha.In general, the area has a good potential for growing different crops provided reliableirrigation water or rainfall is available. There are 3 rivers which could be used forirrigation and have a potential of irrigating 400 ha (currently identified). Currently,49.5 ha are being irrigated where papaya, mango and other vegetables are grown.With the current attempts of introducing new crops to the area, sustainable watersupply is going to be critically important. With the high average temperatures of theworeda, drip irrigation should also be encouraged in the area.The market oriented priority crop commodities for Metema woreda are thereforeidentified as follows (in order of importance):1. Cotton, rice/livestock farming system1 st Cotton2 nd Rice3 rd Sorghum4 th Sesame5 th Fruits (Banana, papaya, mango, guava)6 th Vegetables (onion, pepper)2. Sesame, cotton, sorghum/livestock farming system1 st Sesame,2 nd Cotton3 rd Sorghum4 th Soya bean5 th Fruits (Banana, papaya, mango, guava, avocado)6 th Vegetables (onion, pepper)7 th Groundnut8 th Mung bean (green gram)2.4 Livestock prioritiesProduction from most livestock commodities is poor. Even though experts andfarmers believe that livestock feed is not a problem, getting milk and butter, in themarket during the dry season is very difficult. If available, the price is very expensive.For example, the price of butter has increased from 14 to 22 birr a litre (liquid butter).Livestock productivity is therefore poor due to poor management; low geneticpotential, low quality feed supply and the prevalence of various animal diseases.There are 3 cattle breeds in the woreda. They are Fogera, Rutana (Sudanese breed)and Fulta (Fulani breed from West Africa).Important diseases of cattle are trypanosomosis and tick borne diseases. In addition,anthrax, black leg and pasteurolosis are also important diseases. Feed from18

hyparrhenia is the main source of feed. In some areas, sorghum stalk is left on thecrop fields while in some areas farmers cut and transport the stalk. It is used as a dryseason feed supplement. The major animal feed resources during both the dry andwet seasons are natural grazing land which is dominated by hyparrhenia species.Hay making is not a practice in the area.Table 6. Livestock population of Metema woredaNo. Livestock type Number1 Cattle 136,9102 Goats 32,0243 Sheep 1,6864 Donkey* 7,1645 Poultry 7,1276 Bee hives** 23,789* All male donkeys** There are about 3,500 participant farmers and 23,453 bee coloniesSource: Metema woreda Office of Agriculture (2004).The marketable livestock commodities for both farming systems are shown below.1 st Cattle (Beef)2 nd Sheep and Goat3 rd Poultry (eggs, meat)4 th Apiculture5 th Dairy (milk, butter)2.5 Natural resourcesWater induced soil erosion is not a major problem in Metema due its topography.However, wind erosion is a problem, though it is minor. Therefore, soil erosion is notan issue of concern. Instead, deforestation through cutting and forest fire are majorenvironmental issues of concern. Metema has a high coverage of Acacia dominatedwoodland. Important species include Boswellia papyferia for incense productioncovering about 68,000 ha. Acacia Seyal and A. Polyacantha also grow naturally andgood sources of gum production. The resource base is classified as dense (above1000 trees/ha), medium (500-1000 trees/ha) and sparse (below 500 trees/ha).Tapping seasons of these resources start in mid October and ends in June everyyear. The following table shows the tapping duration.Table 7. Number and duration of tapping incense trees in Metema1 st Tapping 30-40days2 nd Tapping 25-30days3 rd Tapping 22-25days4 th Tapping 20-22days5 th Tapping 15-20days6 th Tapping 10-15days19

7 th Tapping 7-10days8 th Tapping 7-10days9 th Tapping 7-10daysBoswellia spp. is predominantly growing in Awasa, Tumet, Shinfa, Das Gundo,Lemlem Terara, Ashera, Akushera, Genda Wuha, and Zebach Bahir, Lencha,Shashgae, Gubay Jejebit, Meka, Kemechela, and Metema Yohannes. However, themajor Boswellia growing PAs are indicated below. Bamboo is also naturally found inMetema, even though its area coverage is well documented. Locally, it is used forconstruction purposes and is also illegally smuggled to Sudan for the same purpose.Table 8. Estimated Boswellia tree cover (ha) and estimated tree population by PA inMetemaName of PA Coverage(ha)TreepopulationDas Gundo 15,855.00 1,434,500Tumet Menduka 960.25 546,500Shinfa 2,088.00 2,204,000Lencha 5,895.54 5,895,540Shashage 5,677.04 5,128,912Gubay Jejebit 6,186.00 5,151,500Lemlem Terara 1,932.13 1,620,130Zebach Bahir 3,050.00 2,684,000Awasa 8,750.00 8,968,750Metema Yohannes 3,455.00 3,496,460Total 53,848.96 37,130,292Apart from the forest resources identified as commodities other forest resources thatenable to keep the ecology (niche) for other resources need to be protected. Hencespecific measures shall be identified in the process for conservation, enrichment andmanagement of natural forests.Three major rivers namely Shinfa, Guang and Genda wuha drain along the woreda.Their potential for irrigation reaches to about 400 ha in total. Some of the riverssubstantially reduce their volume of water during the dry season. Ground water isavailable between 10m and 16m in the plains (valley bottoms)Intermittent flow of some of the rivers and the flow the river in deep gorges are themajor constraints for the utilization of the water resource to its potential. From thedevelopment perspective, survey of the reaches of the river and lifting the waterusing diversion is necessary. Where subsurface flow is also a problem use of daycut-offs and other alternatives (Gryones) are suggested for action trial. On the otherhand irrigation water management (e.g. scheduling, application systems, etc) shouldbe given attention, as the risk of salinity is prevalent due to the favourable climaticcondition.20

3. Institutions3.1 MarketingCooperativesThe Metema woreda office of agriculture cooperative desk is organized under fourteams consisting of cooperatives promotion, credit administration and distribution,audit service and non-agricultural cooperatives promotion. The office is mandated forthe organization and development of cooperatives in the woreda. The nonagriculturalco-operatives were organized to undertake small business like weaving,black smith, trade, small hotels etc. They have a total capital of birr 100,654 obtainedfrom UNDP at 3 % interest.There are 18 peasant associations (PA) in the woreda of which 12 are organizedunder multipurpose co-operatives. The rest 6 PAs will establish their owncooperatives in the near future. Out of the total of 17,188 households in the woreda,only 2999 (2653 male and 346 female) or 17 % are organized under multipurposecooperatives. It is believed by government that cooperatives are found as one of theimportant vehicles in promoting agricultural development and enhance thelivelihoods of the farming communities. Hence, according to the new structure, onecooperative is planned to be established per PA.Some of the functions of the cooperatives include: coordination of short term creditfor purchase of input like DAP, Urea, seed, sprayer etc in collaboration withAgricultural Input Supply Corporation (AISCO) and Metema Cooperative Union andmedium term credit for purchase of bee hives and goats for production incollaboration with DPPC and regional bureau of cooperative. The cooperatives alsobuy crops (sesame, cotton and sorghum) when prices are low at the time of harvest,transport to Gondar or Bahar dar and sell at a better price, purchase and distributeinput like cotton seed from factories. The cooperatives also lent out limited amount ofmoney to cover expenses like weeding, oxen rental etc. Two cooperatives (Kumerand Gorogoro) provide milling service. The short term credit for input was given at 12% interest, out of which 8.25 % will be given to AISCO and 4.25 % is allocated forthe cooperatives. The medium term credit was given by the disaster prevention andpreparedness commission (DPPC) and from the revolving fund to purchase beehive, 5 female goats and one male goat/person as a package. Almost all farmers inMetema woreda are settlers who come from different parts of the country and aresubsidized at the initial stage of their settlement (see annex - and - ).The new structure of the cooperative team within the bureau of agriculture willrequire 10 staff members. However, there are only 4 members at present. Efforts arebeing made to persuade farmers to join the cooperatives. However, due toinadequate staff and overlapping of activities, it was not possible to go out to the fieldand organize as more farmers as possible. The cooperatives are managed by 13members (1 chair person, 1secretary, 1 treasurer, 3 loan committee, 3 auditcommittee, 1 accountant, 1 member, 1 purchaser and 1 sales man).It was reported that there are three potential rivers (Genda wuha, Guang andShenfa) available in the woreda. Water tables in most parts of the woreda are highabout 10 meters). In spite of these opportunities, use of irrigation is very low and noirrigation cooperative has been established so far.21

The Metema Cooperative Union was established in 2000. The union is located inMetema town and has 6 cooperative members. Part of the financial sources of theunion is from the individual share purchased by the cooperatives. Each share has avalue of birr 2000. Kokit cooperative has the biggest share (7x2000=birr14, 000) andthe smallest share is purchased by Shenfa (2x2000=birr4000). The other sources offinance are from regional bureau of cooperatives, DPPC, UNDP etc.Some of the activities of the union include: Buying and selling agricultural products,input supply, supply of consumable items like coffee, provide short term credit topurchase cotton seed and sesame. From 2003-2005, the Union lent out birr 445,000to 5 cooperatives at 3% interest to purchase cotton seed. The cooperatives areagain expected to sell the cotton back to the union. However, the cooperatives arefree to sell the product any where if they get a better price than the union.The union gets 30 % profit and distribute 70 % (10 % for share dividend and 60 %from the transaction) among member cooperatives. In 2003/04, the union distributedbirr 9425.20 profit to cooperatives from share of coupons and crop sales. The unionhas a total capital of birr 1,417,798.90 of which, birr 238,794.16 is fixed asset and aliability of birr 1,179,004.74.There are only 8 peasant associations who have market place in their localities. Therest 10 PAs either sell their products to traders or multipurpose cooperatives. Thereis a need to establish market places so that farmers would be able to sell agriculturalproducts and get a better price.Some of the problems of the union and cooperatives include: less number ofcooperative members, lack of market information, officials of cooperatives are notactively participating in the development process of the cooperative, rather tend tofocus on their own business, crop price instability, shortage of capital, crop purchasesites are very far apart and difficult for members of the cooperatives to transport andsell their products to the cooperative, lack of knowledge and management skills ofcooperative leaders, shortage of store to keep their products, misuse of cooperativemoney, lack of flexibility by cooperative purchasers in determining crop prices at thetime of purchase. This is because price for commodities will be fixed by thecooperatives prior to purchasing crops at the market. Only 7 out of 12 cooperativesincluding the union have an accountant.Local and improved, delta pine varieties of cotton seed costs birr 1.00 and birr 8.00,respectively. However, due to lack of standards, farmers were forced to mix and soldboth varieties of products at birr 2.00/kg.OthersAmbassel trade organization is the major purchaser of sesame. It was reported thatAmbassel try to dominate the market by dealing with individual farmers and providecash advance before the crop is harvested. Farmers are then obliged to sell productsbased on previous commitment made with Ambassel. Traders also come fromShehedi (woreda town), Gondar and Addis Ababa and try to offer a better price thanthe cooperatives and attract farmers to sell their products.22

There are eight companies who are involved in the production and marketing of gumand incense. There is a plan to organize cooperatives in incense and gumproduction and marketing.Live animals, honey, cotton, sesame, sorghum are the major commodities traded inMetema. Live animals like cattle, honey, hide and skin, etc are illegally smuggled tothe neighbouring Sudan. Because of the involvement of intermediaries in themarketing chain, cooperatives have to compete with traders in order to buy productsfrom farmers.3.2 Input supplyThe input supply team of the woreda office of agriculture was vacant for more than ayear and activities have remained very slow. Until very recently, the person in chargeof the credit and distribution expert of the cooperative team was handling the inputactivities in addition to his responsibility.Major function of the input supply desk is to coordinate the purchase and distributionof inputs like cotton seeds, sesame, fertilizer, chemicals, bee hives, poultry, goat etc.The input team together with the development agent will also follow up and performfield supervision, status of germination potential of seeds.The other function of the input supply desk is to follow up the budget allocated forpurchase of inputs mentioned above, procurement and distribution.Chemical fertilizer and other inputSoils in Metema woreda are relatively fertile and chemical fertilizer use is extremelylow. In addition, farmers do not use commercial fertilizer on Sesame, which is one ofthe cash crops in the woreda. As a result only 196 quintals of DAP and 119.5quintals of Urea had been distributed in 2004/05. AISCO and Ambasel, the majorsuppliers of fertilizers, pesticide and herbicide have moved out of the woreda and areoperating on a remote from the zonal office in Gondar. Due to high prevalence ofpests and weeds, demand for herbicide and pesticide is high. A total of 2,375 lts(2,175 lts of endosulphan and 200 lts of malathion) and 300 kg of Sevin have beendistributed to farmers in 2004/05.Seed input for Sesame is mainly obtained through farmer to farmer exchange. Adi(improved variety) has been supplied through improved seed agency . However, thebulk of cotton seed for planting is procured from Des (akale and delta pine varieties),a private cotton processing factory in Gondar. The woreda has huge potential forfruits and vegetables production. However, due to lack of knowledge, plantingmaterial, subject matter specialist in the field of fruits and vegetables etc, input ofsuch crops were not distributed as widely as expected and the potential could not beexploited. Very few farmers and investors produce these crops using traditionalmethod of irrigation on a small plot of land and sell to residents in Metema.Last year, 2000 BBM (broad bed maker) and 160 treadle pumps (metal and concretetype) were distributed to farmers. No demand assessment has been undertaken bythe regional office before distribution. BBM and treadle pump costs birr 90 and 55023

espectively. It was reported that the water table in most parts of the woreda is about10 meters. Treadle pump can efficiently be used up to 6 meters depth. Hence, use oftreadle pump will be very minimal in the case of Metema. It is suggested thatmotorized pump would be more convenient for most parts of the woreda.Demand for chemical sprayers is very high. During 2004/05, 13 matebe and 16 solotype sprayers had been distributed by Ambassel through the cooperatives.Oranges and bananas are brought all the way from Addis Ababa by very few tradersand sold in the town. Onion (adama red variety) is smuggled from neighbouringSudan as contraband and is sold at 2 birr/kg in Metema, Shehedi town.Although the woreda has a high potential of honey production, supply of modern beehive is very low. Only 30 Kenyan top bar type and 600 locally made bee hives andthe necessary equipments were distributed in five cooperatives through fundsprovided by DPPC at 12 % interest. In 2001/02, 553 farmers received locallypurchased goats for production through funds obtained by DPPC and revolving fundfrom the Regional Cooperative Bureau at 12 % interest. The intended package was5 female and 1 male goats. However, money allocated for the purchase of theseanimals was only sufficient to cover 3 female and 1 male goats. Three hundredfarmers received 240 cocks, one each and 60 farmers received 5 chickens plus onecock each as a package. The cocks and chicken were brought from Andassa andKombolcha farms.OthersThe other player in the supply of improved cotton seed (gedera variety) and Sesame(adi variety) inputs was through the Ethiopian Improved Seed Agency. In 2004/05cropping season, 500 quintals of gedera cotton seed variety was imported fromIsrael and distributed to investors and farmers by Kokit and Shinfa cooperatives.It was reported that cost of the seed was very expensive (24.50/kg) as compared tothe local variety (1 birr/kg). Investors were forced to purchase this seed on a creditbasis without their interest. Yield of gedera variety was very poor and seed arrivedlate after investors had already purchased other cotton seed varieties. Distribution ofDelta pine and Akala improved varieties of cotton seed to farmers was unplanned,expensive, low yield etc.3.3 Rural FinanceThe Amhara Credit and Saving Institution (ACSI) is the major provider of credit andsaving service for the rural population. Some of the objectives of ACSI are:• to provide credit and encourage poor rural and urban households to establishtheir own means of income generating ventures,• encourage saving cultures,• reduce poverty,• help women to increase their household income and social participation sothat they will be able to contribute to the economy etc.Credit repayment schedule varies from one investment type to the other. Example,credit for purchase of oxen, DAP, Urea, chemical, seed is for 8 months, trading24

(honey, salt, coffee, tea rooms etc) is for 12 months, sheep and goat production isfor 3 years. ACSI will focus more and encourage people to save their money andrelay on their own income. ACSI has 10 branches and 174 sub-branches in theAmhara region, of which two sub branches are in Metema woreda. One of the subbranches is located at the capital of the woreda, Shehedi town and the other islocated at Shinfa, a small town in the same woreda. Since 2002, interest for all typesof credit has increased from 12.5 % to 18 %, including transport cost for ACSI staff totrain farmers about the importance of credit, saving, supervision expenses, creditevaluation etc. in the respective peasant associations,The Metema sub branch was established in 1999 and has lent out a sum of birr 5,357,540 to 2618 clients until the end of 2004. The Metema sub branch has 10 staffmembers, of which 7 are technical staff and three guards. The following services arerendered by the Metema Amhara Credit and Saving Institution sub branch:a. Group credit and saving: In order to get credit, 5-7 people should form a groupand elect a chair person. The chair person controls the group and keeps an eye onhis fellow group of any misusing of money. He will report to the centre group leader ifhe believes that the person in his group is misusing his money. Several groups forma centre. One centre has 10-15 groups of 85 to 105 people. There are 30 centres inthe woreda. Out of 20 PAs (18 rural and 2 urban), 14 or 70 % are covered by theMetema credit and saving sub branch. Farmers who would like to take credit for thefirst time will submit request through the PA. The PA committee composed of (chairman, V/chair, DA, representative from youth, representative from elders, etc) willscreen farmers by taking certain parameters given by ACSI. These are: Farmerswho are believed to be hard working, economically active (18-60 years of age),socially acceptable, motivated, reside at least for 5 years in the PA, ownership of oneor no oxen, no outstanding dept etc. The loan officer will further screen the loandocument and disbursement of cash will be effected. The sub branch will also givetraining about ACSI, credit policy, saving culture etc. It was reported that group creditis some times risky. There are evidences that some farmers have disappeared aftertaking the loan and members of the group had to pay the credit for the others. Thishas created a negative impact on group credit. Hence, there is the opinion that creditbe given on individual basis rather than in groups.ACSI insists repayment of credit to be effected immediately after harvest. However,price of crops tend to be very low due to high supply during December/January andfarmers are obliged to sell their products at low price to pay their credit. In order tosolve this problem, it was suggested that credit be paid some time between April –May during which farmers will be in a better position to get a higher price for theirproducts. The other option is for ACSI to receive the credit in two instalments. Thefirst payment is at the beginning of the harvest and the other after few months.The maximum amount of loan for a farmers is birr 5000. A farmer is obliged to opena saving account and deposit 5 % of the principal plus a saving of 1 % of theprincipal every month.The Metema sub branch has no problem with repayment of credit from farmers.Because of the high demand for credit, ACSI has decided to expand its credit limit25

from birr 5000 to birr 250,000 so that interested farmers and traders can satisfy theirneeds and expand business.Traders who are taking credit from ACSI are required to open a saving account anddeposit 3 % of the principal plus 1 % of the loan every month.b. Asset loan: This loan is mainly given to government employees for construction,purchase of household goods etc. 10 % advance deposit is required before the loanis dispersed. For this group, if loan is less than birr 5000.00, repayment will be madewithin 12 months and if greater than 5000.00, repayment should be effected within 3years. Salary of the person is taken as collateral and one person as a pledge.Interest is calculated at 18 %. Maximum loan can’t exceed birr 15,000 or USD 1744.c. Money transfer services: The Metema sub branch administers retirement fundfrom the Ministry of Social Security Authority. Salaries will be paid every month to122 retired persons.d. ACSI in collaboration with Ministry of Trade and Industry has started provision ofcredit to rehabilitate job less youth in Metema woreda who completed their highschool. Each member will be given birr 1500 to start the business.OthersBesides the microfinance institution, cash credit is provided to purchase inputs bymulti purpose cooperatives, disaster prevention and preparedness commission,regional cooperative bureau, NGOs etc.3.4 Agricultural extension serviceThe new agricultural extension service in the Woreda has now been reorganized asof January, 2005 and is operating under the leadership of the Head and Vice Headof the Agricultural and Rural Development office. The woreda is divided in to twoparts and extension activities are shared between two group leaders. Both groupleaders will have the following similar staff members under their supervision.1. Team Leader2. Extension & Training Expert3. Crop Production and Protection Expert4. Horticulture and Fruit Expert5. Animal Production and Feed Development Expert6. Soil Conservation and Water Development Expert7. Agro-forest and Forestry ExpertThe following extension staff report to both group leaders and operate in the wholeworeda.1. Rural Energy and Mines Resources Development Expert2. Home Economics Junior Expert3. Irrigation Agronomy Expert4. Veterinarian5. Senior Animal Health Assistance26

6. Junior Animal Health Assistance7. AI Technician8. Hide and Skin Technician9. Apiculture Technician10. Crop Protection Technician11. Forest and Agro-forest TechnicianAlthough the new structure requires the above staff members, the current manpower in the extension are only 9 experts and technicians and 33 developmentagents of which 19 are Technical Vocational Training College graduates. Five out of9 experts and technicians (veterinarian, hide and skin technician, apiculturetechnician, crop production technician and forest and agro forest technician) arecommon for both teams and operate in the whole woreda. The other 4 experts (2team leaders, animal feed and production and crop production experts and 33development agents divide the woreda in to two and share extension activities.If team leaders require technicians, they will take from the pool who are common forboth teams.Extension and training, crop production and protection, horticulture and fruit, animalproduction and feed development, irrigation agronomy, AI technician, apiculturetechnician and crop protection directly deal with agricultural production. Soilconservation, rural energy and mines resources development, forest and agro-forestdeal with natural resources management. Home economics, veterinarian, animalhealth assistants, hide and skin technician are also under the extension group.Table 9- Number of staff and educational level of the Woreda Office ofagricultureDepartmentElementary (1-6)JuniorSec. 7-8High School9-1212 +1 Certificate Diploma BSc MSc DVM TotalOfficeheadV/officeheadPlan andprogramPersonnelandgeneralserviceExtension(group 1)Input &marketingExtension(group 2)Extension(group 1and 2)1 1 1 31 2 1 41 14 6 7 174 1 11 1 171 14 2 11 1 185 1 2 1 927

Foodsecurity1 1anddisasterpreventionCooperative1 1 4 6promotionandinspectionEnvironmental2 3 5protection& landadministrationTotal 5 6 15 12 5 33 3 2 1 82Source: Metema woreda office of agriculture, February, 2005Development agents (DAs) in the Woreda are involved in the distribution of inputsand assist in the collection of credit repayments for inputs supplied to farmers bycooperatives, members of credit committee in the PA etc. They also perform regularextension activities which include teaching on timely ploughing, weeding, harvesting,maintain optimum seed rate, use of quality seed, etc. It is also important for the DAto teach farmers visit their field regularly and check if there is any pest attack, flood,water logging etc. Livestock extension teachings include preparation of compost,maintaining optimum number of livestock etc. Farmers are also advised to reportcases like outbreak of animal disease to veterinarians or DAs. Ten FTC sites havebeen identified and construction of five FTCs has been completed in Meka, Kokit,Shinfa, Dass, Mender 6, 7, 8 PAs. Three FTC graduates comprising of animal, plantand natural resource have been assigned in all five sites. Next year 6 plant and 5animal sciences, 7 natural resources and 4 animal health assistants will graduatefrom the TVTCs and will be assigned in the woreda. It is indicated in the 3 yearsstrategic plan that each household member (working and non working) should beable to earn birr 10.00 per day or 3650 birr per year. In order to accomplish thistarget, the extension service has two approaches, the household package and theminimum package.Household package: Each development agent will work with an average of 50households. Income of these farmers will be assessed from the type of crop theyproduce, livestock resources, labour force etc. Three types of combination ofenterprises will be offered to the farmer to choose among the menus. Example, onecombination of menu could be goat production, sesame and Cotton the other couldbe fattening, fruit crop, sorghum, vegetable production etc Farmer will choose onefrom the combinations. A business plan will be prepared as to when inputs will beavailable, when to start and finish the activities, cash requirements, input out putrecording sheets, etc. The DA will make close follow up to all 50 households.Minimum package: All farmers who are not in the household package willparticipate in the regular minimum package program including use of improved seed,timely planting and weeding, optimum use of inputs etc28

3.5 Gender and HIV/AIDS serviceThe Metema Woreda women affairs desk is organized within the head of people’sparticipation and organization office. The desk has two women affairs experts.The office was established in 2003 and started the actual work in 2004 with theobjective of gender mainstreaming, avoid harmful traditional practices, encouragepre marriage HIV tests, the dangers of untimely marriage, how to assist HIV/AIDSpatients etc. In this exercise, after testing for HIV/AIDS two rural marriages werecancelled. In both cases it was men who were found positive. There is one hospitalin Metema who perform HIV/AIDS tests. Women's affairs have offices at theregional, zonal, woreda and PA level. Vice chair of the PA follows women affairsissue. Although women affairs desk do not have its own structure below the PA, theoffice uses people’s participation and organization's structure. According to thewomen's desk, 697 rural women have organized themselves in association and havebirr 2871 capital. 110 women in Shehedi town have also formed an association witha monthly contribution of birr 0.25-2.00. In all sector organizations, there is a focalperson who deals with women affairs. Girls club has been established at high schoollevel and follow with problems associated with juvenile delinquencies, handleteacher student relationship, increase girls participation in the school activities etcand report to the association at all levels. Parents committee has been established atall schools and oversee girl students’ issue. Women who organized themselves willbe given priority to get credit from ACSI to run small business.In an effort to reduce the spread of the disease, the woreda HIV/AIDS office provideteaching services like: voluntary counselling test (VCT), provide training tocommunity based organizations, prevention of mother to child transmission(PMTCT), care and support for HIV/AIDS positive and orphans. According to theoffice, about 51 orphans aged below 15 years had been supplied with educationmaterials from global funds of the G 8 countries, organize anti HIV/AIDS club atschools, distribution of condoms at hotels, shops etc. Focal points have beenestablished in all government offices and are giving training on HIV/AIDS to theirrespective employees.Community Voluntary Prelimondo (CVM), an NGO based in ITALY invited womenassociation, teachers, church people, and government employees in Gondar andgave training for 5 days on HIV/AIDS. One teacher and a student have been givenone day training in poster preparation. Child right workshop was also organized forMetema Kebele officials and sector government offices by Prelimondo.Because of lack of reagent to undertake HIV/AIDS test, absence of technician in thehospital etc., voluntary counselling test (VCT) could not be undertaken for a longtime. However, out of 212 people who took VCT in 2004/05, 45 people or 22.2 %were found positive. Of these, 23 were men and 12 women.3.6. School and Woreda Neta. School net29

There is one junior high school (up to grade 10) in Metema woreda, Shehedi town.The school is equipped with 16 plasma TVs and School Net has already started atthe same time like the other woredas. . The program is a one way (only listeningincluding picture) transmission. Two teachers from the Junior High School and twostaff members from Civil Service Reform have been trained in the use of the plasmaTV and some basic computer training including Introduction to video conferencing,Introduction to computer, basic net working, MS word, MS excel, MS access, MSwindow, Internet explorer, web page design and basic PC trouble shooting for 35days in Gondar by Neuro net with financial assistance from UNDP. Ato SolomonNega and Nega Aseffa from Metema woreda civil service reform and Ato GashawAlemu and Tewolde Kasahun from the school have taken the training. Six subjectsare given at the junior high school level through 6 channels.Major problem encountered are:- There is no electric power in the town. The school is forced to use diesel fuel andfound it difficult to cover the cost.- Education materials were sent on CD. Due to lack of computer, the school was notable to use the materials. Even if they manage to get computer from some whereelse, the materials are prepared in adobe acrobat and subjects like math will bedifficult to convert to word and print.b. Woreda NetGenerator house, satellite room and meeting hall construction has almost finished.The program was supposed to start last December, 2004. In this system, two waycommunications with picture and sound will be transmitted where participants willreceive and send messages. According to Ato Solomon, there will be anothertraining on web site for three weeks for the above staff in Addis Ababa. The trainingis supported by information communication technology authority and there is a planto connect sector woreda offices.30

4. PRIORITY COMMODITY DESCRIPRTION, ANALYSIS AND POTENTIALINTERVENTIONSThe following tables provide a brief description of production, input supply and marketingaspects of the priority commodities together with areas requiring attention and potentialinterventions as suggested by farmers and professionals during the Woreda planningworkshop. In addition, the possible institutions to be involved in executing these activitiesare also shown.Table 10. CottonBoth systemsProductionCotton production has been in Metema for many years. It is hard to trace when production started.Farmers have developed own systems on cotton production and management. Cotton productionin Sudan is a major source of money for the economy. The environment of Metema is similar tothat of Sudan. In addition, unlike other arid areas in Ethiopia, Metema receives a relatively higherbut also reliable rainfall. There are 4 rainy months (June to September). This extended rainfallperiod can support long seasoned crops. Farmers grow both improved and local varieties.Productivity of the local variety is very low compared to any one of the improved varietiesintroduced to the area. About 8 qt/ha is produced from the local variety while it is possible toproduce 15-20 qt/ha seed cotton. In addition, fibre length and strength of the local variety is alsolower compared to the improved varieties. However, the amount of seed in a boll is so high that ithelps farmers benefit during sale because of heavier seed weight. The presence Flea beetle canbe a major devastation during the seedling stage. Damage can be 100% in a very short time ifappropriate chemicals are not applied on time. This needs therefore for farmers to have thechemical at hand when they decide to plant cotton.The presence of ginnery in the near by town of Gondar (180 km away) is another added advantageto producing cotton in Metema even though it may have problems of its own.The average land holding in the woreda is very high compared to other areas in the highlands. Theproportion of land under cotton is mainly dependent upon the market. New cotton varieties havebeen introduced to the area through ARARI and MoA. The new varieties are Gedera, from Israel,Akala SJ2 and Delta Pyne from Melka Werer Research Centre and Hirhir from Humera. All thenewly introduced varieties have performed better than the local one. However, because of highseed prices (Gedera birr 24/kg, other improved varieties 8.65, local variety was only birr 1/kg). Thishad raised farmers’ expectations. The price of both the high and the poor quality varieties were thesame. However, due shortage of labour cotton is picked three time as in other cotton growingareas. It is rather kept on the ground until all other farm operations (sesame and sorghumharvesting) are completed. As a result the quality is affected and hence the selling price.Currently, the Amhara national government has identified Metema as one of the woredas wherecotton and sesame are the priority commodities. The past year cotton was produced on 21,074 hain the woreda. Assuming that most of the farmers have planted the local variety about 17,000 tonsof cotton have been produced.Areas which need to Potential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksbe addressedLong experience incotton production butTraining of both experts and farmers Melka Werer/EARO,ARARI

production andmanagement of cottonis still poorLocal variety is of poorquantity and quantityLimited number ofvarieties introducedOoA – extensionIPMS – TAIntroduce high yielding improved varieties Werer/EARO ARARIIPMS –TAIncrease number of varieties to be Werer/EARO, ARARIintroduced for a wider choiceIPMS –TALack of productionknowledge on newlyintroduced cottonvarieties (Gedera)Planting method ofcotton is traditional(broadcasting)Flea beetle and bollworm (Podagrica spp.)causing major lossesduring seedling stageExpensive cost oflabour affecting qualityand quantity (NB.Farmers wait until allbolls are ready for oneharvest)Waterlogging problemShortage of rainfallMovement of livestockon cotton fields (beforepicking) affecting qualityProvide training for extension staff and forfarmersIntroduce and popularise cotton drillers andtrain farmersTraining on the threshold and applicationtimeStrengthen cooperatives and privatechemical suppliers to the farmers.Encourage private pest control servicegivers/suppliersUse of family labour should be encouraged.The new settlers are good source of labour(until they establish their own farms)Introducing mechanism to shorten farmoperations prior to cotton picking (use ofsorghum thresher to shorten the time spenton sorghum threshing) to get time to pickcottonSelect areas which are suitable or plant riceand training of farmers on the use BBMUse adaptable varieties, or change to othertolerant crops (sorghum or sesame)Timely harvesting, but if problem persists,by laws will be needed to control themovement of livestock during this time bythe societyBOA, IPMS, MelekaWerer Research centerIPMS, EARO/MelkaWerer Rural technologycentresOtherinternational institutionsExtension Teams,EARO/Melka WereCooperative TeamIPMS -TACooperatives TeamOoA, IPMSOoA- Extension TeamsIPMS - TAARARI/Melka WererOoA- Extension TeamsIPMS - TACooperatives Team,WALCOoA Extension TeamsIPMS - TAInput supplyAgricultural Input Supply Corporation (AISCO), Ambasel, Cooperatives and some times OoA areinvolved in input supply. However, the area is believed to be fertile and application of fertilizer isnearly inexistent. There is ample farmland that is not managed by farmers. They practice shiftingcultivation. Hence use of fertilizer is low. However, farmers used few improved varieties lastseason. There are private chemical suppliers and farmers buy and use from them. The situation oninput supply also true for the commercial farmers. Currently the OoA is supplying cottonseed. Twoof the improved cottonseed varieties come from Melka Werer and one from Israel. Knapsacks arefreely available to farmers including commercial farmers and become in short supply as a result.The OoA has about 100 knapsacks.32

Areas which need to beaddressedHigh prices of plantingmaterials (Gederavariety birr 24/kg, theothers are birr 8.65/kg)Potential interventionsEncourage contract farming (Selectappropriate varieties that do notsegregate in order to get cheapand good seed) also developsmall scale ginneriesResponsibilities/tasksMelka Werer/ARARI/ IPMS - TAShortage of chemicalsand/or late arrival andshortage applicationequipments (Knapsack)Variety mix up and noReliable seed sourceThere is no input use incottonfarmingParticularly in large scalefarmsUnreliable cottonseedsupplyOrganize seed grower groups andencourage community based seedmultiplication schemeEncourage private pesticidedealers to avail appropriatechemicalsEncourage cooperatives to availnecessary chemicalsMaintenance breeding and supplyof certified seeds.Establish community based seedsupply systemDemonstrate the effect of fertilizersand pesticides on yield increaseEstablish cottonseed producersfrom either commercial or smallscale farmersInput supply, IPMS – TAInput supply, IPMS – TAMelka Werer, EARO, ARARIMelka Werer, ARARI, IPMS andOoAMelka Werer/OoA-extensionIPMS-TACreditThe Amhara Credit and Saving Institute (ACSI) is operational in the woreda. There are alsointentions that it will open a Rural Bank in the woreda town. Some cooperatives have been givenmoney to buy seed cotton from commercial farmers who received the Israeli variety (Gedera).Areas which need to beaddressedCredit not available forbuying cotton seed andpesticidesPotential interventionsFacilitate credit for cottonproductionResponsibilities/tasksOoA/ACSIIPMS – TAMarketingMarketing of cotton is done on an individual basis. Traders come to the woreda and collect theseed cotton or some cooperatives may also buy and sell the product. There is one farmers unionand it is weak in its capacity. The marketing of cotton is carried out without considering the qualityof the cotton produce. Both the newly introduced varieties that have higher lint length and strengthare equally valued with the poor local variety. As a result farmers we discussed with showed theirdissatisfaction. However, there is the weight compensation that the improved varieties give at leasttwice as much as the local variety. The available ginnery is also said to cause some problemsbecause of it capacity and also spending time for maintenance during picking time. Cottonproduced in Metema is organic and may have a chance for better price if proper market outlets areorganised.Areas which need to beaddressedPotential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksFluctuating market prices Provision of timely market Trade promotion Bureau33

Quality of cotton is notconsidered during themarketing of cottonCooperatives do nothave own stores formembers to store theirproducts and escapebad market periods.Lack of marketinformationHigh profit margins byAmbasel, ginnery andprivate tradersLack of knowledge oncotton quality pricingService cooperativeslack cash for buying andselling cottonLack of labour affectingtime of picking due tooverlap of sorghumharvesting and threshingThis affects quality andhence price.High loss of cotton interms of quantity andquality due to lack ofappropriate packagingsystemLack of alternativeginneryinformation system at Woreda levelEncourage quality grading systemand quality based pricingCreate Linkage betweenproducers and textile industryCapacitate producers to search forSolutionsEncourage co-ops to focus onpurchasing of high quality cottonCapacitate cooperatives to haveown stores (Currently, 4 stores witha capacity of 10,000 qt each arebeing constructed) as they needmore of these.Direct linkage between producers,textiles and private exportersneededEstablish market informationsystem at Woreda levelOrganise cooperatives for sellingown produces by linking them withthe main exporters and textiles or(Shorten market chain)Training of both experts andfarmers (service cooperatives) onquality cotton production andfacilitate contract farmingOrganise and capacitate servicecooperative/unionsTo timely pick cotton, introductionof time saving sorghum threshersis importantConduct study on appropriatepackaging system and packagingmaterialAssess the possibility ofintroducing small scale ginnery toMetemaIPMS-TARegional Marketing agency,IPMS - TARegional Marketing agency,IPMS - TARegional Marketing agency,IPMS - TARegional Marketing agency,IPMS - TAMelka Werer/ARARI/InterestedTextilesIPMS-TAOoA/CooperativesIPMS - TAOoA/IPMS - TAEARO/Melka Werer, Textilefactories, IPMS - TARegional Investment OfficeEARO/Mwelka Werer, IPMS - TA34

Table 11. RiceCotton/Rice/livestock farming systemProductionRice was produced on only 8 ha last year, but was produced in more than 400 ha some years ago.Farmers in this farming system and two other PAs (Agam Wuha and Kokit) from the other farmingsystem have suitable soils for this crop. Farmers are interested to grow again provided they aresure that there is the sheller in the woreda. Since then, new varieties suitable for Metema havebeen screened. Among these varieties Kokit has been developed for Metema woreda. All theother varieties already identified are also suitable for Metema. There is a research site which ismanaged from Gondar. However, there is one technical assistant based in Metema. Farmersbelieved that they had developed the food habit for rice. In addition the productivity was also veryhigh and the market value was also good enough to encourage production. Below will only besome important problems and possible solutions, but is not exhausted because the crop is nearlyout of production. The major issue they raised every time was the lack of equipments.Areas which need to be Potential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksaddressedPoor yield of due torainfall fluctuationLack technical support(mainly lack of polisher)Difficulty of threshingusing oxenWeed was a problem insome fieldsPlant appropriate varieties that are suitableto the area (Kokit, NERICA and othervarieties) based on the weather condition ofthe area.Introduce and popularise small scale ricepolishersIntroduce and popularise small scale RicethreshersTiming weeding is a requirement for betteryieldDemonstrate the importance of herbicideuseInput from WARDAARARI,OoA – extensionIPMS - TAARARI,RegionalOfficeOoA – extensionIPMS - TAInvestmentOoAIPMS – TA, ARARIInput supplyMuch cannot be said about in put supply on rice as at now, but the things on the ground areencouraging in general. New varieties are developed for Metema and the necessary equipments,which were missing, are already in the woreda since about two years. Use of fertilizer in Metemain general is very low. However, with the reintroduction of rice where continuous cultivation may berequired, fertilizer use will be inevitable in the future.Areas which need to beaddressedPolisher installed atworeda town but the ricegrowing PAs, are some 5to 37 km away. On theother hand, the polisher isdefective and it breaksseed during polishingLimited number of ricevarieties availableCreditPotential interventionsIntroduction of small scale polishers closeto the major rice growing areasInstall existing polisher around the majorrice growing areaRepair the machine and put it in useIntroduce new varieties adapted to MetemaResponsibilities/tasksOoAIPMS – TACoopsMetema Research Sub-Centre/ARARI, IPMS -TA35

Use of fertilizer in Metema in general is very low. In the future when the need for fertilizer becomesa necessity, farmers may need to get credit from ACSI or others. Therefore much cannot be saidnow.Areas which need to be Potential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksaddressedGroup credit systemdiscouraging farmersWeak capacity of servicecooperatives to get andgive credit to membersCreate other convenient (farmer preferredcredit systems)Strengthen service cooperativesEstablish and strengthen credit and Savingsystem at Kebele levelACSI/ CooperativesTeam, IPMS-TAOoA-extensionIPMS - TAMarketingThere were no marketing problems when rice was produced in the area. This is also expected tobe the case after the reintroduction of the crop. The price of rice in Fogera is about 280 to 300birr/qt.Areas which need to beaddressedWeak financial resourcesof cooperatives maycause inability to collectand sell rice and hencemay discourage farmersin the futureInsufficient StoragefacilitiesRemoteness of the areamay make the cropcheaperPotential interventionsStrengthen cooperatives in financialresourcesStrengthen cooperative in infrastructure(storage)Value adding (packing and labelling)Find other market avenues (Sudan, ifpossible)Responsibilities/tasksCooperatives Team,IPMS-extensionOoA-extension,IPMS-TARegional MarketPromotion Bureau, OoA,IPMS - TA36

Table 12. Sorghum –Both systemsProductionSorghum is an indigenous crop to Ethiopia. The natives of the area have developed own variety.The yield of this local variety is about 12 qt/ha, while the improved ones, already tested, couldpotentially yield 22 qt/ha. Some farmers have obtained about 18-20 qt/ha. Both the local andnewly introduced varieties are resistant to striga. Farmers in the area practice kraaling on plotswhere the local sorghum will be planted. This process will also be applied to the fields to beplanted by other sorghum varieties also. Even those farmers who do not own livestock ask for helpfrom relatives and friends to do this. As a result, the crop can easily escape striga damage andfarmers can harvest a good crop. Both small holder and commercial farmers grow sorghum. Ahousehold at an average would allocate about 1.5 – 2 ha for sorghum. Even though sorghum maybe considered a food crop, it is the backbone for all activities in agriculture in Metema. Dailywages of labourers in big or small farms (sesame and cotton farms) include about 300 gm ofsorghum flour daily. The introduction of better yielding and striga resistant sorghum varieties mayhelp reduce area under sorghum where the land could be used to grow cotton or sesame. Inaddition, the market value of the local variety (red) is lower than the new varieties (white).However, sorghum is currently sold at more than 200 birr/qt. Commercial farmers consider thiscrop as a marketable commodity nowadays..Areas which need to be Potential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksaddressedPoor yield of localvarietiesPopularise high yielding and strigaresistant improved varieties(Gobiye, Yeju, Berhan, Teshale,Ashebir and Meko).ARARIOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAStriga is a major problem Use of striga resistant varieties ARARI, OoA - Extension TeamsICRISAT, IPMS - TAWild animals and birdsattacking sorghumOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TALack of improvedagronomic practicesDiseases like smutLess attention to sorghumleading to low yield (e.g.weed infestation)Storage pests, mainlyweevilFarmers use high seedrate and plant populationbecoming too many dueto thillering, hence lowForm clusters, where manyadjacent farmers grow sorghumso that damage is distributed.effects along with scaring signsTraining of extension staff andmodel farmers on improvedmanagement practices (e.g. rowplanting, use neem leave forstorage, etc).Use of clean seed, seed dressing,burning of diseased sorghumstalks, use of resistant varieties. Ingeneral use of proper integratedpest management (IPM)Timely farm operations needed oruse appropriate chemicalsIPM – Use of Neem leaves instorageTraining of proper managementsystems of sorghum.ARARI/ICRISATOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAARARIOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS – TAARARIOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS – TAARARI/OoA – Extension TeamsIPMS – TAOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS – TA37

productionInput supplyCurrently, few varieties (Gobiye, Yeju, Berhan, Teshale, Ashebir and Meko) have been introducedsince 2 years, but not widely. “Wody Aker” is one variety that has been there for many years but issusceptible to striga attack. Most of the farmers use own local planting material which is red incolour and striga tolerant. The newly introduced varieties are relatively high yielding but also earlymaturing ones. As in the other commodities, fertilizer is not used for sorghum. Herbicide (2 4- D) isused during the second weeding in sorghum.Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities/tasksaddressedLack of sufficientimproved seeds(germplasm)Lack or late arrival ofchemicalsIntroduction and on-farmmultiplication of theimproved varieties byfarmers (contract farmingfor seed multiplication)Strengthen servicecooperativesLack of storage facilities Strengthen servicecooperativesLack of threshingmachines (mainly forcommercial farmers)StrengthencooperativesserviceARARIOoA – Extension TeamsCooperatives TeamIPMS – TAOoA – Extension TeamsCooperatives TeamIPMS – TAOoA – Extension TeamsCooperatives TeamIPMS – TAOoA – Extension TeamsCooperatives TeamIPMS – TACreditThe need for credit is high during first (labour power) and second weeding (2,4- D application).The culture of saving is weak even though there is Bank in Metema.Areas which need to beaddressedGroup credit systemdiscouraging farmersPotential interventionsCreate other convenient(farmer preferred creditsystems)Strengthen serviceResponsibilities/tasksACSI/ OoA-Extension TeamsCooperatives TeamIPMS-TAOoA- Extension TeamsWeak capacity of servicecooperativescooperativesMarketingSmall traders are involved in marketing sorghum. The traders sell most of the sorghum with in theworeda but some of it could be transported to Gondar. Lack of storage facilities is forcing farmersto sell sorghum immediately after harvest and becoming cheap. Currently, white sorghum (seedfrom the improved varieties) is sold at 160 birr/qt, while the local variety is sold at 120 birr/qt.Areas which need to be Potential interventionsaddressedLack of storage facilities Strengthen servicecooperativesMarket dominated by Introduce high market valuelocal grain, price is low improved sorghum varietiesMarket saturationbecause of harvesting atthe same timeStrengthencooperativesserviceResponsibilities/tasksOoA – Extension Teams,Cooperatives Team, IPMS – TAOoA – Extension TeamsCooperatives TeamIPMS – TAOoA – Extension TeamsCooperatives TeamIPMS – TA38

Table 13. Sesame –Both systemsProductionThe production of sesame is predominantly smallholder but also are some commercial farmers,especially to the west (bordering Sudan). This area is situated about 60 km south west ofMetema Yohannes town. Sesame is the dominant crop grown in Metema. It covered about 51%of the 2004 cultivated land (Table 3). Productivity of sesame is about 5 qt/ha. The increase inprice of sesame has encouraged farmers to increase area under sesame. In only 3 years, thearea under sesame increased from about 14,000 to 40,000 ha (Table 3). Different varieties havebeen introduced and this has encouraged farmers to plant more of sesame. These include, Adi,Hirhir, Tejareb and Gojam. On the other hand the last season’s rain was optimum for sesame.All these varieties are intended to grow under rainfed conditions. A traditional oil extractor,called Ansara, driven by camel is used to extract sesame oil. The camel is blindfolded in a shedand rotates the pestle after putting sesame seed in the mortar. About 45 litres is extracted from100 kg of sesame seed. However, cleanliness during the extraction of the oil is not up tostandard. The oil cake remains for the owner of the Ansara which could be sold at about birr150/qt and used as feed for very weak animals.Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities/tasksaddressedLack of improved Introduce and conduct Melka Werer, ARARI, IPMSgermplasmadaptation trial for varieties withhigh yielding potential and highPoor quality and yield oflocal red varieties(Dolmite)Termite damaging thestem and causing qualityto deteriorate because ofthe soil collected on thestemoil contentIntroduction of better performingwhite sesame varieties andimprovement of culturalpractices.Clean sesame “Hillas” (anupright standing heap ofsesame harvest on the field)before collecting seed in tocontainers and cleaning seedalso afterwardsARARI,Melka WererOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAHigh rainfall/waterloggingproblemsDusting of chemicals in areaswhere “Hillas” are formedTrain farmers to Grow rice inwaterlogged area while sesameon well drained soilsIntroduce techniques to removeexcess water from the fieldOoA Extension TeamsIPMS - TAShattering of seedincluding after harvestTraining to timely harvest,putting “Hillas” on canvas orplastic materialsIntroduce technologies thatkeep the pod closed for longerperiod (stickers)OoA Extension TeamsIPMS - TASesame sucking insect Apply sevin or other chemicals OoA Extension Teams39

(Elasmolus sorriddus),after harvest and instorageSome farmers grow lowquality sesame (non whitegrain colour and low oilcontent)Lack of technologypackage when newvarieties are introducedDiseases like blight(“mich”) are commonaround “Hilla“Popularise the new varieties(Adi, Hirhir, Abunaam andGojam) which are white graintypesProvide information ontechnology package and varietycharacteristics and trainextension workers and farmerson methods of productionDevelop and introduce resistantvarieties and exercising croprotation.IPMS - TAARARI,Melka WererWadi Medeni/SudanOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TABoA, ARARI, Melk Werer, ESE,IPMSARARI, Melka Werer ResearchCenre, OoAOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS – TAInput supplyFarmers in the Metema do not use fertiliser for sesame and also other crops. An Insecticideagainst the sucking bug (sevin) is supplied for free by OoA. Farmers are aware that if this insectattacks their seed the price will be very low. As a result farmers are even asking the OoA fordifferent chemicals at cost so that they will keep it with them and use when necessary. Threeimproved varieties have been introduced recently and farmers are happy about it. Wideadaptation of these varieties seems to be achievable.Areas which need to beaddressedLack of sufficientimproved varietiesLate arrival of chemicals,particularly against thesucking bug.Potential interventionsIntroduction and on-farmmultiplication of newlyintroduced varieties byfarmers for reliability ofsupplyCapacitate cooperatives tokeep important chemicalslike sevin and others intheir store for easydispatch.Responsibilities/tasksARARI/Melka WererOoA – Extension Teams/cooperativesIPMS – TAARARIOoA – Extension Teams/cooperativesIPMS – TACreditACSI is very active in Metema. Group credit is possible. Farmers need a lot of money forweeding and harvesting sesame. Depending on the season, daily wages are very expensive inMetema. During weeding, a daily labourer would be paid 10-30 birr, where about 7-8 labourerswould be needed/ha. During harvesting, labourers would charge about 100 to 160 birr/ha. Thismeans on average farmers growing sesame would need to spend about 350 birr/ha. Credit thenbecomes an important tool to cover these expenses. This then makes farmers in need a lot ofcash before selling his product. When credit from ACSI is not available for some reason, thereare local money lenders who lend money at 50% interest rate during weeding and harvesting tobe returned after selling sesame.Areas which need to beaddressedGroup credit systemdiscouraging farmersPotential interventionsCreate other convenient(farmer preferred creditResponsibilities/tasksACSI, OoA- Extension TeamsIPMS-TA40

systems) and introduceCredit and Saving systemat PA levelStrengthen serviceWeak capacity of serviceOoA-Extension TeamscooperativescooperativesIPMS-TAMarketingThis is a key factor in the production of sesame. Currently, the price of sesame is about 520birr/qt in Metema. Price is fluctuating faster. In October, when sesame was being harvested, theprice was 660 bir/qt. This is showing a price drop by about 140 birr/qt in only 4 months. Thisissue has been a major concern of most of the farmers (commercial and smallholder farmers).Therefore other alternatives need to be assessed. The big advantage is that sesame producedin Metema is purely organic. With the European and other markets requiring this, there could bea possibility to attract international traders to buy Metema sesame. In addition the volume ofproduce is also not easy. Currently there 4 stores with a capacity of 1,000 tons capacity eachare being built by Food Security of the Region. These will ultimately be given to the FarmersUnion in Metema. These stores may contribute towards marketing of produces from the area.Besides, sesame can have value added market advantages (oil and sesame cake) for smallscale farmers.Areas which need to beaddressedPotential interventionsPrice fluctuation Link with internationaltraders who would beinterested in buying highquality organic sesameLack of awareness aboutthe organic naturesesame from theimporters sideWhole sellers ConsiderMetema sesame as poorquality and pay lowerprices as compared toHumara sesamePoor quality (grain colourand oil content) of thecurrent varietyPopularise the organicnature of sesame producedin MetemaCertify the organic sesameCreate linkage betweenproducers and exportingcompaniesOrganize sesame tradeexhibition and convincewhole sellers on the qualityChange local varieties withwhite improved varieties likeAdi, Hirhir, and Gojamazene.Responsibilities/tasksRegional Market and Trade BureausIPMS - TARegional Market and Trade BureausRelevant International certifyingbodiesIPMS - TARegional Marketing PromotionBureauTrade and industry, Chamber ofcommerce, WALC, IPMSARARI, Melka WererIn put supply/Coopreratives OfficesOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAInsufficient storagefacilitiesContamination of sesameseed with inert materialsThe purchase of sesame bycoops should focus only onwhite seeded varietiesStrengthen cooperativecapacityCreate awareness tofarmers to sell clean sesameOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TA41

esulting to poor qualitySoil mixture due totermite affecting qualityand hence priceand introduce andpopularise small scalecleanersQuality based pricing willencourage farmers toproduce high quality sesameuse of appropriate chemical(against termites)Table 14. Tropical fruits –(Banana, papaya, mango, guava, avocado) Both systemsProductionThere is a fruit nursery (seed multiplication) site run the woreda OoA. In the nursery there is onetype each of papaya, mango, banana (“Kenya type”), avocado and orange. The management ofthe site is poor. It could be easily developed and be used a major source of planting material tothe woreda. The varieties are also unknown and what available in the nursery is not different fromwhat is available in the small farms. It could not be used as a backstopping to the farmers. Thereis a possibility of expanding this 2.5 ha site as the need arises. Metema has about 400 ha whichcould be developed under irrigation only about 10% is currently developed. These areas could besuitable for tropical fruits. There are about 19 private farmers who own small some irrigated landand pump their fruit farms from rivers. These farmers mainly grow local papaya which is tall anddifficult to harvest. People in the area use papaya as a medicinal plant and sick people are givenpapaya in most cases. Few farmers are growing mango trees (one was visited) The bananagrown in Metema has short which crack when ripe and become black during artificial ripeningtime. Farmers are eager to get the dwarf banana which is common in the rift valley and ArbaMinch areas. A kilogram of banana and orange are sold at birr 5 each, while papaya is sold at 2birr.Areas which need to be Potential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksaddressedExisting plantingmaterials of unknownorigin (in both the seedmultiplication site orfarmers plots).Newness to thetechnology and lack ofknowledge of fruitmanagementLack of technicalbackstopping andexperiencePoor shelf life of fruitsaggravated by hightemperatureConcentration aroundrivers and short life ofIntroduce new and high yieldingvarieties from MelkassaPractical training of DAs and farmers,experience exchange programmes,increased on-farm introduction,Introduce appropriate managementpracticesCapacity building of OoA staff andreorganising the existing OoAmanaged horticulture seedmultiplication site to satisfy demandIntroduce cold storage systemdeveloped by Adet Research Centre(ARARI)Encourage the use underground waterresourcesMelkassa,ARARIOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAMelkassa/ARARIOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAMelkassa/ARARIOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAARARI/AdetOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TA42

ivers during the dryseasonHard to manage types offruits existing (Tallpapaya, cracking,blackening banana)Abortion of mango fruitsat young ageIntroduce manageable and marketdemandedIdentification of the causes of thisproblem and recommend controlmethodMelkassa/ARARIOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAMelkassa/ARARIOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAInput supplyThe major input in this regard is availability of necessary planting materials. Currently, the seedmultiplication site of OoA is ill-equipped in terms of planting material and trained manpower.There were treadle pumps observed in the OoA but not with farmers. This site needs to bereinvigorated so that it satisfies the demand of farmers. There is a high demand for fruit seedlingsby farmers but the OoA could not avail the planting materials. There is no single tree of theCavendish dwarf banana or solo papaya or a fibreless mango variety in the woreda. The firstdwarf Cavendish banana suckers were introduced in early March of this year (2005) by IPMS.These suckers are expected to be the future planting materials for the area. After the creation ofawareness by the project, small commercial farmers also bought about 600 suckers of bananasuckers from Zwai in May 2005. Efforts to introduce other fruit types are also underway.Areas which need to beaddressedLack of improved plantingmaterials that hare of betterqualityLimited numbers of fruitvarieties other than banana,mango and papayaavailableLack of technical back upFruit production is limitedaround river sides only andthere is no homestead fruitproduction systemTheft is a big challenge infruit tree production systemRich ground water, but notPotential interventionsIntroduce improved plantingmaterial including short Cavendishbanana, Solo papaya and fibrelessmango varietiesReinvigorate the already existingnursery site for propagation and foradaptation trialIntroduce and test different typesof fruit including melamine nuts,grape and strawberry varietiesTrain farmers and Extensionworkers on methods ofpropagation techniquesIntroduce Rain water harvesting,and drip irrigation techniquesaround homesteadEstablishing local bylawsenforcementConverting the existing “Ansara”system to harvest water for fruitsResponsibilities/tasksARARI/Melkassa – TA forcapacity building includinggrafting techniquesOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAARARI/MelkassaOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAMelkassaOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAExtension TeamsIPMS - TAWALCSelam Vocational Trainingcentre, IPMS - TAutilized for fruit productionMarketingSome of the owners of the small-irrigated farms have small shops in the Woreda town and selltheir products. Banana and orange come all the way from Addis to Metema and are sold in thesefruit shops. There has been no marketing problem mentioned for fruits except that the shelf life isaffected due to high temperature. Once improved varieties of these fruits are introduced future43

market opportunities could go as far as Gondar and Bahir Dar. There is hope that the road fromGondar to Metema will be tarmac in the next year or so that it will facilitate accessibility to theworeda. This opens the opportunity that marketing of commodities from Metema will be mucheasier. In the future value added activities of fruits may need to be considered.Areas which need to be Potential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksaddressedPoor shelf life of mostfruitsRemoteness of the areacould pose a problem inmarketing commoditiesLack of knowledge withregards to supply anddemand of eachcommodityIntroduce cold storage systemdeveloped by Adet ResearchCentre (ARARI)Focus on valuable commoditiesthat could be needed regardlessof the distanceComprehensivemarketassessment studies neededARARI/AdetOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAOoA-Extension TeamsIPMSTable 15. Vegetables –(Onion and pepper)Both systemsProductionThere is hardly onion or pepper grown except in the small scale irrigated farms in the woreda.Size of the small irrigated farms range from 1 to 5 ha and all are situated around rivers. Expertsof the woreda considered onion as the second most important priority commodity amonghorticultural crops. Onion from the Sudan is sold at 2 birr/kg and for produces from Metema tobe competitive; it should be produced at a lesser cost. Pepper is also another potential cropwhich could be grown in the area. There will be no storage problems in relation to the lattercrop, on an individual farmer basis. Currently, there are few areas where pepper is producedwhile onion not produced and hence no problems were mentioned from farmers in relation toproduction were mentioned by farmers and experts. With the volume expected to increase,small trucks would be needed to pick up the produce from the farms. This is common in the riftvalley areas. The following problems are anticipated if these vegetables are to be produced.Areas which need to Potential interventions Responsibilities/tasksbe addressedLack of knowledge on Introduce and verify appropriate ARARI/Melka Wererproper agronomic management practices to OoA – Extension Teamspractices of vegetable optimise quality vegetation IPMS - TAproductionproduction.Lack of knowledge on Establish optimum water ARARI/ Melka Wererthe amount and application schedules for OoA – Extension Teamsfrequency of irrigation vegetables.IPMS - TAwaterLack of proper postharvesthandling andmanagementLack of market orientedproduction systemPests and diseasesPractical training to improve theproper time of harvest, transport,handling and storage.Training on the timing of growingvegetables targeting marketUse of clean planting materials,availability of necessaryARARI/Melka WererOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAARARI/Melka Werer - TAOoA – Extension Teams44

agrochemicals on timeIPMS - TAInput supplyMost of the inputs in relation to vegetable production are exchanged among farmersthemselves. There have been no improved varieties of vegetables, including onions and pepper.Some insecticides used for migratory insects are available in the OoA store. Other hand toolsnecessary for vegetable production are also available in the local market or brought in from thecentral market in Addis. These small scale farmers own donkey pulled carts and transport theirproduce to the town. However, with volume expected to increase small trucks would be neededto pick up the produce from the farms. This is common in the rift valley areas.Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities/tasksaddressedLack of improved plantingmaterialsAbsence of privateagrochemical suppliersLack of irrigationequipments (treadlepump, etc)On-farm program ofmultiplication of plantingmaterial (vegetables) byfarmersEncourage cooperativesand private small scaletraders to purchase and sellagrochemicalsIf shallow wells are to beused for irrigation, trainingof private traders to makesmall scale irrigationequipments is essentialARARI/Melkassa/OoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAOoA – Extension Teams,Cooperative TeamIPMS-TAOoA – Extension Teams,Cooperative TeamIPMS-TACreditACSI is operating in the woreda. Private lenders are also involved in lending money to farmerwho could not obtain credit from ACSI. Therefore, it is assumed that this also works forvegetable producers. However, vegetable production involves expensive materials, like waterpumps, in which case availability of credit becomes essential. The private lenders ask for higherinterest rate of 50% and repayment becomes very difficult. ACSI’s strong support to this venturewill determine its future success.Areas which need to beaddressedRigid credit systemGroup credit systemdiscouraging farmersPotential interventionsEncourage development offlexible credit systemCreate other convenient(farmer preferred privatecredit systems)Strengthen servicecooperativesIncrease loan to encouragefarmersResponsibilities/tasksACSI, OoA-Extension TeamsIPMS - TAACSI, OoA-Extension TeamIPMS-TAWeak capacity of serviceACSI, OoA-Extension TeamcooperativesIPMS-TAThe maximum loan is lowACSI, OoA-Extension Team(5,000 birr)IPMS-TAMarketingCurrently marketing of some of similar vegetables is done individually. Fresh vegetables aresold on the roads in the town by carts pulled by donkeys. Once produced, onion and peppercould be sold to Gondar and Bahir Dar. At present, onion comes from Sudan and sold at 2birr/kg. The Sudanese onion is also sold as far as Gondar town. For the onion produced inMetema to be competitive, it needs to be produced at less cost, other wise it may lose themarket. On the other hand, our other PLS, Fogera is growing onion extensively and hence calls45

for market assessment whether producing onion in Metema is economically viable or not. Thefollowing problems are expected to hamper onion and pepper production in Metema.Areas which need to be Potential interventions Responsibilities/tasksaddressedMarket fluctuation Organise cooperatives to OoA-Extension Teambuy and sell produces from Cooperatives TeammembersIPMS-TALack of market Strengthen cooperatives and OoA – Extension Teamsinformationlink with TAMSAIPMS - TAWeak capacity of service Strengthen service OoA-ExtensionTeams;cooperativesPoor shelf life, especiallyfor onionLack of knowledge withregards to supply anddemand of eachcommoditycooperativesIntroduce improved coolstorage facilities developedby Adet Research centreComprehensive marketassessment studies neededCooperatives Team, IPMS-TAMelkassa/AdetResearchCentre/ARARIIPMS -TAOoA-Extension TeamsIPMSTable 16. Lowland pulses – (Soybean and Mung bean, groundnut)ProductionSoybean is a new introduction to the area. Some smallholder farmers have been growing this cropunder adaptation trials recently. It is now considered as one of the potential crops that haveproven to grow well in Metema. Joint on-farm adaptation trial results between ARARI and OoAindicate that 18-23 qt/ha (variety Ethio-YE) yield was obtained on well drained black soils. Thisyield was obtained from uninoculated and unfertilized farmer plots. Soybean is one of the prioritycommodities for the Amhara Region. As a result, ARARI imported 3 soybean varieties from SouthAfrica. These 3 varieties were tested on 2 sites in South Wollo where the productivity was between10 and 12 qt/ha in one site (altitude 1650 m asl) and much lower than this in the other site (altitude1900 m asl). As a result, researchers concluded that if this crop is grown in low altitude areas, likeMetema, the performance will be better. The Gondar Research Centre sub station in Metema isconducting adaptation trials on 6 nationally released varieties even though results are notavailable. When growing soybean inoculation is needed.Informal discussions held with experts in the Amhara Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau(AARDB) indicate that large scale soybean seed multiplication activities will be launched for thenext planting season in Metema and other lowland areas in the region. Efforts are also underwayto purchase 1000 qt of soybean for the next planting season. A South African processing plant isgoing to be established soon in Bahir Dar and this is expected to as one of the buyers to theproduce. In addition the already operational “Guder Agro-industry plant” in Bahir Dar is alsoanother potential buyer of soybean produce. The latter plant produces baby food and needssoybean for this purpose. During the adaptation trials, there have been no problems observed.The plant stand was healthy and there were no insects observed. However, researchers believethat the crop needs to be inoculated during sowing and is also susceptible to waterloggedconditions.Some of the natives grow both mung bean (Sudan misr) and groundnut in Metama. There aresome areas that are suitable for these crops. Currently, mung bean is produced around Shew46

Robit in Ethiopia. Grocery prices are expensive as at now in Addis. Market assessment studies willbe required before embarking on aggressive production. Sudan produces a lot of groundnut andthe area is conducive for this crop. Some farmers in Shefina PA have tested and are interested inproducing groundnut.Areas which need to be Potential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksaddressedNew introduction,agronomic practices notknown wellSusceptibletowaterlogged conditionsDiseases and insectpests may appear forwhich farmers/OoA maynot have chemicals forTraining to both farmers andexperts needed.Identify less waterlogged area forsoybeanPractical training and awarenessto reporting cases toTimely preparations needed toInput supplyThe following are the potential problems for these crops.Areas which need to be Potential interventionsaddressedNew introductions, lack of Appropriate varieties inappropriate planting consultation with Melka WerermaterialsResearch CentreLack of knowledge on thecrop management andhandlingTraining of both farmers andexperts and availing trainingmaterials along with manualsregarding each agriculturaloperationARARIOoA – Extension TeamIPMS - TAOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAARARI/MelkassaOoA – Extension TeamIPMS – TAResponsibilities/tasksMelka Were/ARARIOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TAMelka Were/ARARIOoA – Extension TeamsIPMS - TACreditThere is no credit scheme directed towards encouraging the planting of soya bean, mung bean orother new crops.Areas which need to beaddressedPotential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksNew crops, hence difficultto address credit issues.MarketingIt is hopped that marketing of these crops, at least, during the first year will lead to clear marketchannels. If the two plants mentioned above take what is produced for the first year andproduction is going to be beyond, other markets need to be assessed. This is because the localmarket for soybean may be low. It is hopped when large scale introduction is made, contractfarming will be thought by the government/project so that farmers are not shocked due to lackmarket initially. This was observed in Alamta with haricot bean.Areas which need to beaddressedNo clear market channelon soybean marketingPotential interventionsResponsibilities/tasksStrengthenservice Regional Trade and Industrycooperatives to enable buyand sell haricot beanOoA-Extension TeamsIPMS-TALack of storage facilities Strengthen cooperatives OoA-Extension TeamsCooperative TeamIPMS - TA47

Lack of knowledge withregards to supply anddemand of eachcommodityComprehensive marketassessment studies neededOoA-Extension TeamsIPMSNatural Resources related commoditiesTable 17. GumBoth farming systemsProductionCollection of natural gums and resins is done in a traditional manner. The process is manualand labour intensive. The most widely used collection technique is tapping, the shaving of avery thin external circular layer of the bark. Nearly all the resin tappers come from Tigray andfollow a system that is used in the region. In Tigray, a tree is tapped at a height of one meterin three spots that are at 15-20 cm distance from each other. Each tree is tapped andwounds refreshed at an interval of 15 days, which is a total of 8–12 tappings a year. In onecollection season one tapper collects on average 10–12 quintals (1.2 tons). In Ethiopia, thereare six Boswellia species namely, Boswellia papyrifera, Boswellia ogadensis, Boswelliarivae, Boswellia pirrotae, Boswellia microphyla, and Boswellia negelecta). Out of the sixBoswellia species, B. papyrifera, B. ogadensis, and B. rivae are economically important.There is high coverage of Acacia dominated woodland in Metema. Important species inMetema are namely Boswellia papyferia, producing incense and covering 68,000ha, AcaciaSeyal and PolyaCantha (producing gum) also exist. The resource base is classified as dense(above 100 trees/ha,) medium (500-100trees/ha and sparse (below 500trees/ha).Areas that need to be Potential InterventionResponsibility/TasksaddressedSome gum trees such as A. Action research & ARARIployacantha productivity is demonstration in improvingless known (not either tested) productivityVery poor coverage of gumtrees despite potential andhigh returnQuality gum sourcesKnowledge gap onharvesting and handling ofGumsKnowledge gap onpropagationandmanagement of gum trees(especially Acacia Senegal)Knowledge gap on diversityand coverage of Gum treesspeciesFree grazing on Gum treeestablishmentsPoor diversity of geneticresourcesEstablishment of gum trees atlarge scale as well as at household levelIdentify and establish gum treesat large scale as well as athouse hold levelAction research on tappingmethods and handlingAction research on propagationand management techniquesSurvey and characterization ofGum species (at large scale)Enforcing community basedplantation and managementAdaptation trial from othersourcesOoA - Extension TeamsIPMS - TAForestry Research Centre(FRC), ARARIFRCARARIFRCARARIOoA - Extension TeamsFRCARARI48

Input SupplyAreas that need to beaddressedSeed sources are notavailableMarketingPotential InterventionIdentify seed sources to supplythe extensionResponsibilitiesARARI, FRC, IPMSAreas that need to beaddressedPoor Market informationPotential InterventionMake information accessible andalso do a research on marketsResponsibilitiesIPMSTable 18. IncenseBoth farming systemsProductionThere 3 private companies involved in tapping this resource by paying 12 birr of royality/qt tothe government. Incense is obtained from naturally established trees of BoswelliaPapyriferia. So far the incense is collected following the indigenous practice and exported bythe exporters themselves. The woreda has high potential covering 10 PAs with an area ofabout 53,849 ha and an estimated 37,130,292 trees. Trucks full of young people from Tigrayare employed for collecting incense in Metema.Areas that need to be Potential Intervention ResponsibilitiesaddressedKnowledge gap on Action research and FRC, ARARI/ IPMSpropagationand demonstration on propagationmanagement of Incense and management techniquestreesKnowledge gap on Action research and ARARI/FRC/IPMSharvesting and handling of demonstration on tappingIncensetechniques and handlingDeclining yield due tomoisture stressLack of protection on theexisting incense foreststandsLack of sense ofownership of theproducersInput supplyDemonstration and action trialon moisture harvesting toimprove yield.Fire protectionPreventionfromdeforestationEnrichment plantationStrengthening allocation andregulatory systemsExtension, IPMSExtensionExtension/IPMS49

Areas that need to beaddressedPoor restocking fordamaged tree populationMarketingPotential InterventionStrengthening production andplantation on private basisResponsibilitiesExtensionAreas that need to beaddressedLimited market informationPoor infrastructureKnowledge gap on theextent of processing andpackingPotential InterventionDevelop market informationfor produces and exportersDeveloping rural roads thatconnect PAsAssessing possibilities forfurther processing andinforming the stakeholdersResponsibilitiesIPMS/ExtensionExtensionIPMS/FRC/ARARITable 19. BambooBoth farming systemsProductionLowland Bamboo is dominantly available in Metema though its use limited only to fence andthatch house construction. Currently this resource is illegally exported to Sudan at only 1 birrper stand.Areas that need to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilitiesKnowledge gap on existing Bamboo Survey and characterization of Extension/ARARIpotentialthe potentialLack of protection on the existing Enforce community based Extension/IPMSBamboo forestbamboo management (CBBM)MarketingLimited market informationDevelop market information for IPMS/ExtensionproducersKnowledge gap on the extent of Assessing possibilities for IPMS/ARARIprocessingfurther processing50

Table 20. Cattle FatteningProductionCattle fattening in Metema Woreda is not very well practiced. There is no established culture offattening cattle for markets. Holding of large number of cattle is a common practice and has socialprestige value. Oxen are reared for plowing purposes than for meat. Direct beef cattle sell inMetema market is common; illegal cross boarder sale of live animals is common. On the otherhand, theft of livestock is a common phenomenon in the area. As a result transhumance cattleproduction system is a common phenomenon with highland cattle moving to the lowlands duringthe main rainy seasons from June to October in search of feeds. This brings about also livestockdiseases coming and going to and from Metema.Areas which needs to be addressed Possible intervention ResponsibilityLivestock Disease problemEstablishing health posts at Woreda OoA,the entry and exist points ILDP, IPMS-TAVery few farmers practice fattening of cattlebecause of lack of knowledge and theftproblemsBreed differences in sizeLack of knowledge of feed production andconservationEncourage and supportprivate drug Dealers, Supportto the existing animal healthserviceTraining farmers on fatteningtechniques and benefit ofcattle fattening andenforcement of laws.Selection of large body sizebreeding bulls from Sudan forfattening purposeEnhance forage developmentTrain in hay making and otherfeed conservation practicesOoA– extensionILDP, IPMS,ARARIOoA– extensionARARI, ILDP,IPMS,OoA– extensionARARI, ILDP,IPMS- TAProblem of large cattle holding for prestigeTrain farmers on the use ofsesame seed cakeTrain farmers on limited andselected breeds for fatteningTranshumance during the rainy season Develop grazing landrenovation, area closure andenrichmentShortage of water during the dry period andlong distance for watering pointsUncontrolled movement of animals (fromhighlands and Sudan)Develop system to use underground water, Use of Rainwater harvesting techniquesTrain farmers on animaldisease control, establishhealth postsPoor knowledge on improved feeding systems Increased utilization cropresidue, supplementation,improved forage productionMarketingOoA– extensionARARI, IPMS-TAOoA– extensionILDP, IPMS-TA, ARARIOoA– extensionARARI, ILDP,IPMS- TAOoA– extensionARARI, IPMS-TA51

There is no slaughter house in Metema town. Live animals are instead tracked through thisworeda.Areas which need to be addressed Possible intervention ResponsibilityLimited market information, resulting in low Use all means ofpricescommunication (Radio, etc),Establishing marketinformation systemTheft and illegal market across border Effort should be made tokeep laws and regulationPoor cattle price due to poor feed resources Develop proper feedingsystems, Introduce highvalue forage speciesLimited linkage with tradersConduct Demand study Inthe Sudan and Createlinkage with the potentialimporters. Increase linkageswith local and export marketsystemLimited local market Conduct market demandstudy in the near by townsIncrease linkages with localMetema is a major centre for cattle marketoutlet to the Sudanand export market systemStrengthen quarantine inorder to supply disease freecattle. Establish properanimal marketing systemOoA –coop, ILDP.IPMS TA, ARARIWALCOoA, ILDpARARI, IPMS- TAILRI, ILDPOoA, ILDP,ARARI, IPMSOoA, ILDP,ARARI, IPMSMoARD ILDP,ARARI, IPMSInput supplyInput supply specifically for cattle fattening purpose is not available in Metema Woreda. Use offeed supplements and improved feed resources are not common. Veterinary services from OoAare provided during programmed vaccination period and during disease outbreak cases. Thereare no well organized facilities for animal movement control and disease inspection for healthyanimal delivery to the slaughter houses.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityPoor supply and few sources of industrial byproducts(oil seed cakes, molasses, etc)Inadequate water supply for improved fatteningInsufficient veterinary service and drug inputForage development, cropresidue improvement,Chemical and materialsupplyTechnology and materialsupplyUse of hand dug wells andAvail materials for wateringEncourage private tradersto supply veterinary drugand materials, TrainprivatesOoA, ILDP,IPMSOoA, ILDP,IPMSOoA, ILDP, IPMSLack of trained man power Training and capacity OoA, ILDP, IPMSbuildingLack of cattle fattening proximal to the urban Establishing Urban WALC, IPMS52

centresAgricultureCreditACSI is the only institute available in Metema woreda. Credit is accessed for food securitypackages on individual household basis and on collateral basis for any other activity.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityCredit not available specifically for fattening Negotiate with ACSI to give OoA, ACSI,credit for fatteningIPMS, ILDPCredit arrangement for fattening inconvenient Apply individual loan scheme OoA, ACSI,IPMS, ILDPEstablishing Credit andsaving systemCoops deskCredit process too long (2 weeks up to 1month)Search other competitors for IPMS, WALCcredit provision and includeBanks to provide credit forinterested individualsShorten loan processes OoA, ACSI,ILDP, IPMS53

Table 21. DairyProductionMilk production is based on local cattle breeds in the rural areas of Metema. Feed and feedingsystems are based on low quality feeds with no intention for feed improvement andsupplementation. Proper health service is not available except regular vaccination and treatmentduring outbreaks. Production from the local breeds does not exceed 2 l/day.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityLack of improved forage Improvement of foragedevelopment suitable to thesystemARARIOoA, ILDPIPMSPoor genetic potential of local breeds for milkproductionPoor knowledge for increased utilisation oflocally available feed resourceAnimal health service is not satisfactorySelection of better localbreedsIntroduction of improvedheifers/bulls/AIFeed preservation (hay),increase crop residueutilization,applysupplementationPrevention and control ofinfectious and parasiticdiseasesARARIOoAILRI, IPMS, ILDPARARIOoAILRI, IPMS, ILDPOoAILRI, IPMS, ILDPEncourage and supportprivate sector animal healthprovidersThere is no improved husbandryTrain extension workers and OoAfarmers on improved ILRI, ILDP, IPMShusbandry and sanitationand proper housingPoor knowledge of farmers on specialised Training of farmersOoAdairyingILRI, IPMS, ILDPDeterioration of milk quality Confined feeding and OoAcooling systemsILRI, IPMS, ILDPNo selection for better milk yielding cows is Apply bull selection based ARARI, OoApracticedon dams milk yieldILRI, IPMS, ILDPInput supplyInput supply for dairy sector in Metema Wereda is very low and only restricted to veterinaryservices to the local breeds. Extension packages on forage development, breed improvement,diversified species utilisation, and locally available feed resource improvement is very weak. AIservices are delivered by the OoA. .Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityLess focus on dairy extension packages Give emphasis to improved OoAdairyingNo training on improved dairy production Train farmers andtechniciansIPMS, ILDPOoAIPMS, ILDP54

Lack of improved local dairy breeds Strengthen private bull OoA, ILDP, IPMSstationsCreditACSI provides money to farmers, however, dairy, as specialised activity does not yet receiveloan, but instead for livestock reproduction purposes. .Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityCredit insufficient for cattle dairying Encourage formation of ACSI, OoA-coopcooperatives and use of IPMS, ILDPdairy goats once the taboois removedMarketingMilk supply from rural areas is seasonal and greatly confined to availability of feed during therainy season.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityMilk supply is seasonal mostly confined to the Introduce improved feed OoA, ILDP,rainy season (when feed available)supply for year round supplyPoor milk quality and hygiene Milk collection andinspection throughcooperative formation;Training of farmers ontethering and milkprocessing and handlingCultural barriers on the sale of milk by ruralfarmersLess attention to whole milk sale (butterprocessing is preferred)Training of farmers on thebenefits of milk productionIntroduce butter processingtechnologyARARI, IPMSOoA, ILRI, ILDPIPMS, ARARIOoA, ILDPIPMS, ARARIOoA, ILRI, ARARIIPMS, ILDPTable 22. Goat (meat)ProductionThere are about 35,000 goat and sheep and over 75% of these is goat population. The goatbreeds are local and are meat type. The major sheep breed is known as Gumuz sheep. The areais suitable for goat production and the WOoARD plans to distribute about 6,240 goats to settlers.They are however kept under traditional management with no improved feeding and housingsystem. Currently the population of both sheep and goats is about the same in the woreda.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityNo exercise of supplementation and improved Train to adopt improved OoA, ILDP, IPMS,feedingInternal and external parasites and diseasesproblems affecting productivityLack of better breeds with faster weight gainfeeding systemsTrain paravets, encourageprivate traders to sellveterinary medicineIntroduce improved breedsand improved feeding,health and managementaspectsARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMS,ARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMS,ARARILack of goat fattening knowledge Training on fattening OoA, ILDP, IPMS,ARARIStray dogs (attack young animals and spread Focus on crossesOoA, ILDP, IPMS,diseasesARARI55

Input supplyExtension support for improved sheep and goat production and marketing is very weak.Veterinary service focuses on regular vaccination during disease outbreak. Local goats beingsupplied as food security package. No selection and improvement of local breed’s geneticpotential.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityLess extension support, low packagedisseminationVet post construction,Forage seeds and plantingmaterial provisionTraining of extensionworkers and farmers onbetter goat keepingOoA, ILDP, IPMSVeterinary service low Supply of veterinary OoA, ILDP, IPMSfacilities and drugsNo trend for breed improvementOoA, ILDP, IPMSCreditThere is credit facility for improved goat purchase. However, the credit service does notspecifically focus on small ruminant production activity. However, many farmers start keepinggoatsAreas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityLack of small ruminant focussed credit Provision of credit to addresssmall ruminants productionOoA, ACSI, ILDPIPMSMarketingMarket is seasonal mostly during the holidays. Marketing is done on an individual basis as for theother commodities. Middle men collect from Metema market and its surroundings and transportthem to Gondar town. The price of goat in local market ranges from 150 to 500 Birr and that of anaverage sheep is about 250 Birr. Goats have better market than sheep in Metema town.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityMiddle men based market to Gondar and other Organize farmers and OoA, ILDP, IPMS,towns during holidaysCreate linkage with potential ARARISeasonal market, during holidays,buyers in GonderAwareness of farmers fordirect selling of their productOoA, ILDP, IPMS,ARARINo market information given to farmersConduct market demandstudy (volume, type ofbreed and other qualityrequirements In the Sudan)Establishing and Provisionof market informationsystemWALC, IPMSOoA, ILDP, IPMS,ARARI56

Table 23: Poultry productionProduction (Eggs/Meat)In rural areas, poultry (eggs/meat) are produced by scavenging backyard production with localchicken. No extension activity on local chicken; some extension activities (pilot package) on geneticimprovement program for egg production have just started, comprehensive package (housing,feeding, health management). Traditional network of marketing from rural to urban areas.Areas which need to be Potential areas of interventionResponsibilityaddressedTraditional low input systemAttack by predatorsPoor growth and egg layingperformanceHigh chicken mortality due todiseasesHigh post harvest losses;storage problemPoor genetic potentialProvide appropriate technologies, especiallyto women and childrenProper housing systemSupply improved genotypesVaccination, improved animal health servicesMarketing cooperativesIntroduce of appropriate technologies forgenetic improvement– (chick rearing; hay boxtech); Lack of knowledgeARARIOoAILRI, IPMS, ILDPInput supplyLimited input supply of improved genotypes which includes vaccination only. There is no drug andfeed supply systemAreas which need to beaddressedPotential areas of interventionResponsibilityPoultry package with improved Enhance and expand activities ARARI, OoA,genotypes just startedILRI, IPMS, ILDPIncrease supply of chicken from multiplication ARARI, OoA,Shortage of pullets and daycentersILRI, IPMS, ILDPold chicksLack of vaccines, drugs Involve cooperatives and private sector ARARI, OoA,Shortage of appropriate feeds Involve cooperatives and private sector ILRI, IPMS, ILDPCreditCredit system just started along with package.Areas which need to be Potential areas of interventionResponsibilityaddressedThere has been no creditfacility – Recently, creditavailable for packageImprove and expand credit facility outside thepackage (involve micro finance)ARARI, OoA,ILRI, IPMS, ILDPMarketingMarketing is done on individual basis in rural markets.Areas which need to be addressed Potential areas of intervention ResponsibilityLow pricesLack of marketsEggs collected from small ruralmarkets and sold in bigger townsPoor quality of eggs due to storageproblemOrganize marketing cooperatives andlinkages with private tradersARARI, OoA,ILRI, IPMS, ILDP57

Table 24. Apiculture (Production)ProductionHoney production is a common practice. Vegetation cover of the indigenous species is better.Honey production is dominantly traditional hive based but some transitional hives (about 800)have been recently introduced. It is possible to harvest honey twice in a year. Data on theproductivity of the modern hives was not availableAreas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityShortage of trained manpower on modern beeproductionTraining of farmers andexperts on modern beekeepingBee pests and diseases affecting production Training of thecommunities and DAs inthe identification andtreatment of diseases &pestsMostly traditional bee hives based productionsystemSources and potentials of bee forage notidentifiedLong distance travelling as a result of shortage ofbee watering pointsLow yield as a result of pests and diseasesLack of knowledge on modern bee productionIncrease modern bee hiveintroductionBee forage identification,screening and introductionof adapted speciesWatering point and springdevelopment neededTraining of farmers forproper pest and predatorcontrol and safe herbicideapplicationTraining of experts andfarmers on modern beekeepingOoA , IPMS,ILDP, SOS,ARARISOS-Sahel/ICIPEIPMS, ILDP,ARARIOoA, IPMS, ILDPARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMSARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMSARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMSARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMSARARIInput and supplyRecently modern bee hives have been introduced. Extension support is not adequate.Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityNo honey extractor Introduce number ofextractorsShortage of bee hives Training of localcarpenters on modern beehive productionOnly few bee hives introduced Introduce additionalnumber of modern hives,extractorsandaccessoriesBee fodders not identified and no bee fodder Identify existing beeintroduction madefodders and introduceLow supply of bee colonyimproved onesTraining of farmers onmodern queen rearingtechniquesOoA, ILDP, IPMSOoA, ILDP, IPMSOoA, ILDP, IPMSOoA, ILDP, IPMSOoA, ILDP, IPMSShortage of accessories Improve the supply of OoA, ILDP, IPMS58

accessoriesCreditThe existing credit system does not specifically target to improve bee production in the area. Ifsome farmers involved on bee keeping activity, availability of credit is essentialAreas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityLack of apiculture targeted credit Strengthen apiculture OoA, ILDP, IPMSfocussed creditMarketingMetema market is the centre for honey market. Honey from traditional hives has many impuritiesand the price ranges from 16 – 20 Birr/kg. Accessibility is another constraint affecting honey price.Middle men are potential buyers of honey. Gondar and illegal market to Sudan are the majoroutlets .Areas to be addressed Potential Intervention ResponsibilityTraditional honey extraction affecting quality Organise cooperative OoA, ILDP, IPMS(only one extractor available)based collection and ARARIcleaning centres (moreextractors) and trainInaccessibility affecting honey price and hencemiddle men and some traders in Metema are theonly buyers of honey from farmersNo organised honey marketQuality affecting price of honey (15 Birr/kg)farmersCreate other clean honeymarket outlets, provideinformation on marketsOrganise cooperatives forcollecting, cleaning andmarketing honeyOrganise cooperatives forcollecting, cleaning andmarketing honeyOoA, ILDP, IPMSARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMSARARIOoA, ILDP, IPMSARARI59

5. Outline of Programme of Work for Metema Woreda PLS5.1 Priority commodities and natural resource management technologiesDuring the first year, attention will be focused on innovative technology practices andinstitutional innovations for the priority commodities and their supporting NRMtechnologies.Cotton, rice/livestock farming systemPriority crop commodities: Cotton, Rice, Sesame, Fruits (papaya, banana, mango),PepperPriority livestock commodities: Meat from cattle and goats, dairy (butter)Sesame, cotton, sorghum/livestock farming system:Priority crop commodities: Sesame, Cotton, Fruits (papaya, banana, mango), PepperPriority livestock commodities: Meat from cattle and goats, dairy (butter)*For both farming systems potential crop commodities include Soya bean, haricotbean, vernonia, while the potential livestock commodities are apiculture andpoultry. Studies will determine consideration of these commodities as prioritycommodities from year 2 on wards. The project will identify relevant institutions,including project staff for the study..NRM technologies in both farming systems: Water harvesting mechanisms,including shallow wells, river diversion for irrigation purposes will be considered.Introductions of new water harvesting technologies will be emphasized. Water tableis considered to be very high and irrigation potentials will be emphasized. Initially,locally (in country) existing irrigation (water harvesting equipments) will be given dueattention.The PLS has high potential for incense and gum. Incense is already produced fromlarge areas. Focus will be made towards improving the quality of the produce. Inaddition communications will be made with relevant local and/or internationalinstitutions to contribute towards introducing better propagation, handling andharvesting methods. Incense production is believed to be declining due to moisturestress and better management. In situ water harvesting mechanisms will also befocused on. On the other hand, bamboo grows in the area but there is knowledgegap in terms of identifying on how many ha it is grown. Relevant institutions will beconsulted/invited to identify this resource and make it valuable to the farmhouseholds.Based on the knowledge captured and the lessons learned during the initialimplementation of the innovation program some of the priorities commodities may bedropped, while others may be added.5.2 PLS knowledge management – general (RBM code 100 series)To improve the capturing and sharing of knowledge on priority commodities and thesupporting NRM technologies in the PLS, the state of knowledge and knowledgerequirements will have to be assessed on a continuous base during the project life.60

(The initial PRA and the subsequent assessments will form an integral part of thisprocess).The knowledge will be synthesized and assembled at the federal level in a ResourceInformation Centre using electronic data base formats.To share this knowledge with institutions and communities, various processes andmechanisms will be used including the distribution of appropriate printed materials(manuals, training materials, posters, and leaflets in the local language), radioprograms, local exhibitions etc.To link the PLS institutions with the Resource Information Centre, electronic linkageswith the Woreda Agricultural Desk will be established. This effort will have to beintegrated and synchronized with other activities in this field i.e. Woreda Net, SchoolNet and Agri Net (Metema) was one of the test woreda for this project and receivedcomputers and staff training). There is one junior high school (up to grade 10) inMetema woreda, Shehedi town. The school is equipped with 16 plasma TVs andSchool Net has already started at the same time like the other woredas. Theprogram is a one way (only listening including picture) transmission. Two teachersfrom the Junior High School and two staff members from Civil Service Reform havebeen trained in the use of the plasma TV and some basic computer training includingIntroduction to video conferencing, Introduction to computer, basic net working, MSword, MS excel, MS access, MS window, Internet explorer, web page design andbasic PC trouble shooting for 35 days in Gondar by Neuro net with financialassistance from UNDP. Ato Solomon Nega and Nega Aseffa from Metema woredacivil service reform and Ato Gashaw Alemu and Tewolde Kasahun from the schoolhave taken the training. Six subjects are given at the junior high school level through6 channels. Major problems encountered are the absence of electric power in thetown. The woreda is does not enjoy the 24 hr electric power supply. As a result, theschool uses diesel fuel powered generator which is very difficult to cover costs. Onthe other hand, education materials were sent on CD. However, due to lack ofcomputer, the school was not able to use this resource. On the other if evenmanaged to get a computer, the software on which these materials are prepared areon adobe which will require acrobat reader and converter to make it easily to readand print using word. This software is not easily available.Regarding woreda net, a generator house, satellite room and meeting hallconstruction have almost been completed. The program was supposed to start lastDecember, 2004. In this system, two way communications with picture and soundwill be transmitted where participants will receive and send messages. According toAto Solomon, there will soon be training on web site for three weeks in Addis Ababa.The training is supported by information communication technology authority andthere is a plan to connect sector woreda offices with this system.Table 25. Project support for PLS knowledge management system (first year)Activities Target Responsible(100) Continuous Woreda institutions Woreda institutionsassessment of currentinvolved in extension,state of knowledgeinput supply, micro61

equirements based onfield work (see 5.4) andmeetings(100) Collection andsynthesis of data forPLS (GIS) database(100) Preparation ofextension materialsand methods andtraining materials *(100) Purchase andinstallation ofcomputers and hardware(100) Training of staffin electronic knowledgemanagement**finance, cooperatives,marketing under thesupervision of projectstaffWoreda Project staff withWoreda AgriculturalofficeWoreda institutions and Researchandfarmersdevelopment partnerswith the help of projectfunding.Woreda Agricultural Project staffofficeStaffmemberagricultural office.Project staff*For details see commodity program described in section 5.4–indicated with code100Training is suggested on basic computer utilization, data management includingintroduction to GIS, communication systems and technical support.5.3- PLS public institutional capacity building (RBM code 200 series)In order to introduce the project, and to train public institutional staff in innovativetechnology transfer methods, inter-institutional collaboration and cross cuttingthemes like gender and environmental assessment, various trainings will beconducted for Woreda staff. (Materials for such training will be prepared by theproject with the help of consultants and contributions from the project partners). Tostimulate the integration with private institution staff, some of the staff of the privateinstitutions will also be involved in this training. The training will be continuous duringthe project life and the effectiveness of the training will be assessed regularly.Lessons learned will become an integral part of follow up training events. One of thecritical trainings to be given will deal with innovative methods of agriculturalinstitutional service delivery.Table 26- Potential woreda staff (Training of Trainers) to be included in theinnovative methods trainingWoreda officesNumberCrop Production 11NRM* 5Livestock 5Horticultural crops 1Cooperatives 2Micro finance 1Women affairs office* 162

Rural Women Affairs* 1HIV/AIDS office* 1Total 28*These trainees are to be included only in the training on gender, HIV/AIDS andenvironment.The trained Woreda staff (TOTs) are expected to introduce the innovation conceptsto the Development Agents in the FTCs and some other specialists (gender, naturalresource management, environment), who in turn will use these concepts duringtheir daily work with the farmers and communities (see section 5.4). Use of theseinnovative methods by FTC staff will be monitored and evaluated by the project staffand form the basis for adjustment in the TOT trainings.Besides the building of the capacity of the Woreda and FTC staff in the use ofinnovative methods and institutional arrangements, technical training on the prioritycommodities, including new production methods/techniques, farmer/group/cooperative based input supply and marketing systems will be provided (Materialsfor such training will be prepared by the project with the help of consultants andcontributions from the project partners). Details for such training are included in thePLS sustainable livelihood development activities described in section 5.4.Table 27. Potential Woreda staff to be included in technical training of prioritycommoditiesOffice Priority commodity NumberAgricultural Development Sector NRM 1Agricultural Development Sector Cotton and sesame 3Agricultural Development Sector Tropical fruits and Vegetables 3Agricultural Development Sector Goat fattening 3Agriculture development sector Dairy and beef production 3Agricultural development sector Poultry and apiculture 3An integral part of the capacity building activities at the Woreda level is thedevelopment of the FTCs. In the initial phase, the project will support these FTCswith printed materials (see knowledge management) and demonstration materials insupport of the priority commodities and supporting NRM technologies.While many capacity building activities have been undertaken for public staff bynumerous projects operating in Ethiopia, the actual use of the increased capacity bythe staff in their daily work is often minimal because of a host of other bottlenecksand a lack of reward for those staff which have made progress despite the presenceof these bottlenecks.The project will introduce various other capacity building initiatives at the PLS level toalleviate some bottlenecks in order to facilitate the introduction of technologies andinstitutional innovations. This will include the supply of credit funds and financial andtechnical support for market studies and linkages for priority commodities andoperational cost of experts to supervise and guide the DA staff at FTC level. Theseactivities are integrated in the PLS sustainable livelihood activities.63

The project will furthermore set aside some funds for rewarding experts and FTCstaff which have been made good progress in technology and institutionalinnovations. One potential reward may be in the form of visits to places of interest(this will be introduced in the second project year).Finally, an integral part of the PLS capacity building support is to create a learningsystem between the region and the PLS and to create an inter-institutional learningsystem at the Woreda and FTC level. To facilitate this arrangements the project hasestablished Regional and Woreda level Advisory and Learning Committees (RALCsand WALCs). A budget will be made available to use/develop various learningmechanisms including field visits and small workshops. An integral part of thislearning will be the sharing of knowledge between the regions and institutionsconcerned.Table 28. Project support for PLS general capacity building support (first year)*Activities Target Responsible(200) Training and follow Woreda staff and FTC Project staff andup in innovative methods staffconsultants(200) Training and follow Woreda staff and FTC Project staff andup in genderstaffconsultants(200) Training and follow Woreda NRM staff and Project staff andup in environmental FTC staffconsultantsassessment(200) Development of areward system forinstitutional staffExperts and FTC staffProject staff and WALC andRALC(200) RALC and WALC RALC and WALC Project stafflearning activitiesincluding field visits andworkshops* Commodity and or technology specific support to Woreda staff institutions andFTCs is described in section 5.4.- indicated with code 200.5.4 PLS sustainable livelihood development (RBM code 300 series)The project will concentrate its efforts on introducing innovative technology(practices) and institutional innovations with farmers and communities near FarmerTraining Centers (FTC) which have a potential for the identified priority commoditiesand supporting NRM technologies.Table 29. FTCs with potential for priority Commodities and NRM technologies inboth farming systemsFTC Sesame Cotton Rice Horticulture Fattening sheep Dairyand goatKokit X X X X X XMeka X X X X X X XMender X X X X X X64

6,7,8Shinfa X X X X XDasGundoX X XTable 30. FTCs with potential for NRM technologies in both farming systemFTC Irrigation Fertilizer/herbicide/ Malaria FloodPesticideKokit - X X XMeka X X X XMender 6,7,8 - X X XShinfa X X X XDas Gundo - X X XIt is important to note that an initial set of potential interventions regarding the marketoriented priority commodities were determined during the Woreda planningworkshop (see chapter 4) and an initial set of activities were designed with regionaland woreda representatives and partner institutions in the national planningworkshop. However, a further (re-) assessment of these activities will take place withthe farmers as an integral part of the PLS initial implementation program.The following sections deal with detail description of the priority commoditiesand activities on the priority commodities which are envisaged to beaccomplished within the first year of the project ‘s life.5.4.1 Sesame (Both farming systems)ProductionDuring the programme launch workshop, Sesame was ranked first as a commoditycrop. The crop is widely grown and it is a major crop for 85% of the Kebeles found inthe woreda. Although Metema area has high potential for sesame production, manyproduction constraints are hindering to realize high yield. Among the manyproduction constraints, lack of improved varieties, poor seed supply system and lackof adequate knowledge were identifiedCommonly farmers grown different local varieties of sesame (Hirhir, Abunam,GojamAzene, and Tajareb) and farmers choice is largely depend on the marketability of thevariety, productivity and the prevailing environmental condition of the season. Somevarieties are preferred because they do not shatter immediately, e.g. Gojam azene.In addition, these late shattering varieties in general are preferred by womanhousehold heads. This is related to labour availability in the farms.Hirhir has a white colour, high oil content and high yielding potential, relatively ittolerate drought and it matures within a short period of time. The variety is introducedto the area more recently by private investors from Humara area and it is being65

expanded from time to time. Currently, many small-scale farmers are started to growthis variety after they realize its marketability. Shattering and poor yield when therainy season is prolonged are some of the potential problems related to Hirhir varietyAbunaam is also considered as one of marketable variety although its production isconfined to large-scale farms.The other potential variety grown in the Area is Gojam azene. This variety isintroduced from Pawe area (south) and it is widely grown in both large and smallscalefarm holdings. The variety has equal importance with respect to its quality andmarketability. This variety is believed to have a potential to improve the soil fertilitystatus when it is grown in poor soils. Moreover; it opens its pods very slowly so thatshattering is not a big problem. On the other hand, the labour demand to extract theseeds from the pod is very high. As opposed to the above two varieties, Gojamazene requires more rain in an expanded period of time and more days to mature sothat yield is highly affected whenever there is shortage of rain.Last year, the Ethiopian seed enterprise introduced Adi variety to this area fromMeleka Werer and distributed to both large and small-scale farmers. However,farmers found that the variety shown to have less performance as compared to theabove local verities and farmers recognize that the branches are easily detachablewhenever there is wind blown. Adi was a new variety to this area, and no adaptationtrial was conducted prior its introduction and farmers associated their failure with lackof production knowledge and packageThere is no seed supply system and farmers rely only on disorganized informal seedsupply system so that farmers use their own farm saved seeds from time to time.There is no research work on sesame and popularisation of new technologies islimitedSesame is less affected by diseases, even though blight is observed in some years.In a similar way, the crop is less affected by field insect pests but sesame seed bug(sucking insect) is the major problem after crop harvest. There is no recommendedpest control practice and farmers themselves tried various chemicals against thecrop attack. Sesame in general is susceptible shattering loss. However, themagnitude of shattering loss varies from one variety to the other, for example Hirhiris more susceptible than Gojam azene. Varieties with high shattering characteristicsrequire more labour during harvest and the harvest is very poor at times when thereis shortage labour.Table 31. Project support for Sesame productionActivity Target Responsibility(400) Study the existing Farmers in and around 5 Students, Project staffsesame production system FTCsand its constraints(200) TOT on SesameAgronomy, Crop protection,cleaning, and post harvesthandlingWoreda Crop productionand protection team, 5FTC staffEARO research station66

(200) Supply of demonstrationmaterials on diseases andsesame seed bug controltechniques(200) TOT on farmers basedseed production and qualitydeclaration methodsOrganize seed growers at acommunity level(200) TOT on SesameVarieties demonstration(200) Supply demonstrationmaterials on varieties, seedingrate, fertilizer application andagronomic work(400) Study and characterizethe existing varieties(200) Search and supplytechnologies against shattering(Stickers)(200) Training on chemical useand handling, impact ofchemicals on health and theenvironment; and timing ofchemical application, etc.against sesame sucking insectand termites5 FTCs Project in collaborationwith EARO and MoARDWoreda experts, 5 FTCstaff5 FTCBOA, IPMSWoreda experts, 5 FTC EARO/project staffstaff,5 FTC ERO5 local varieties with goodquality and high oil contentWoreda crop productionand protection experts (3experts)Melka Werer, IPMSARARIMelka Werer, ARARI,IPMSFederal Plant Productionand ProtectionDepartment, MelkaWerer/Gondar ResearchCentre, IPMS - TAInput supplyThe major problem in input supply is shortage of improved varieties and timelyavailability and; lack of adequate funds for input supplyTable 32. Project support on sesame input supplyActivity Target Responsibility(400) Study the existing Farmers near 5 and Project staff inSesame input supply around 5 FTCs and collaboration withsystem and identify DA postsWoreda experts andpotential areas forEARO, Studentsimprovement (includinggender and environment)(200) Demonstrationmaterials for input supplyincluding improvedseeds, small scale seedcleaners and oil pressingmills5 FTCs Melka Werer/EARO,IPMS- TA(300) Facilitate supply of Farmer in and around Support Woreda input67

improved seed fromEARO Melka Werercentre(300) Provide credit fundfor on farm seedmultiplication(400) Study, introduceand popularise improvedseeds from within andoutside of Ethiopia(300) Facilitate credit forinput purchase andorganize farmers creditand saving group at PAlevel5 FTCs supply with fundsprovided by the project.Farmers in and around5 FTCsMicro Finance withproject funds5 FTC Melka Werer/EARO,IPMS-TA5 FTC ACSI, Co-ops Desk,IPMSSMarketingTo contribute to improving the marketing of sesame with a strategy on improvingquality at the farm level, improved knowledge shall be transferred through the FTCson good agricultural practices and proper post harvest handling.Table 33. Project support for sesame marketing improvementActivity Target Responsibility(400) Study on sesame Farmers, near 5 FTCsseed quality at farm and DA postslevelexperts(200) TOT in qualityimprovement at the farmand marketing levels(300) Farmer training inquality improvement(400) establishmarketing informationsystem at Woreda level(200) Popularisingorganic Metemasesame and ensureCertificate(200) Create linkagebetween producers,exporters/internationalbuyers(300) Training on qualitygrading systemWoreda experts, 5 FTCstaffFarmers in or near 5FTCs and DA postsFarmers near 5 FTCsand DA postsCooperative, Unions,small scale andcommercial farmers, toexporters, internationalbuyers, standardagenciesExporters, internationalbuyersFarmers in and around5 FTCBy EARO staffcollaboration with WoredaBy EARO staffFTC staff guided byworeda expertsProject staff, woredaexperts, cooperativesIPMS - TA, Chamber ofCommerce, RegionalTrade and industryIPMS - TA, Chamber ofCommerce, RegionalTrade and industry BureauEthiopianseedEnterprise/Chamber ofCommerce, IPMS -TA,68

5.4.2. CottonProductionCotton production is a common practice in Metema, however; the productivity ofcotton is very low as compared to the potential of the area. Various reasons weresuggested for the observed low productivity. Among the many problems indicated,use of low yielder local variety, Lack of know how on improved practices, Pestdamage particularly caused by flee beetle, limited use of Fertilizers, Water loggingproblem, shortage of appropriate Chemicals and shortage of manpower and overlapof cotton picking with sorghum harvest and threshing play significant role. Therefore,the present emphasis in cotton production is to improve productivity of cotton. Thisrequires training of extension workers and farmers on Improved Agronomic and cropprotection practises moreover there is a need to train farmers on post harvesthandling techniquesTable 34. Project support for cotton productionActivity Target Responsibility(200) TOT on improved methods of Training of Woreda BOA, ARARI/Melkacotton production including agronomy, staff and farmers in 5 Werer, IPMS - TApest control (seed dressing, etc.), and FTCpost harvest handling(400) Study the effect of fertilizer use on Farmers in and ARARI, IPMS-TA Melkayield(200) TOT on the use of BBM on waterlogged cotton farms(300) Supply of demonstration materials,like BBM, seed dressing drums, printedmaterials, small scale ginnery, seeddrillers(300) Provide credit fund for cottonproduction(200) Training on chemical use andhandling, impact of chemicals on healthand the environment; and timing ofchemical application, etc. against fleebeetle, boll worms, etc.around 5 FTCTraining of Woredastaff and farmers in 5FTCWerer, Woreda OoAARARI, BOA, IPMSMelka Werer5 FTCs ARARI/Melka Werer,Woreda OoA, IPMS - TAFarmers around 3FTCsWoreda cropproduction andprotection experts (3experts)ACSI with project fundsFederal Plant Productionand ProtectionDepartment, MelkaWerer/Gondar ResearchCentre, IPMS - TAInput supplyThe major problem observed on input supply system is lack of inputs includingimproved seed, fertilizers, farm implements and chemicals. Moreover, lack of privatesector involvement in the distribution of inputs is the other constraintTable 35. Project support for cotton input supplyActivity Target Responsibility(400) Study the existing cotton input Farmers around Woreda OoA, Students,supply system and identify potential 5 FTCs and DA IPMS - TA69

areas for Improvement (includinggender and environment)(200) Supply of Demonstrationmaterials for input supply includingpesticide, sprayers, seed treatingdrum, improved seed, seed drillers,row planters, etc.(200) TOT on cotton seedmultiplication,(300) Organize seed grower farmersand facilitate basic seed of improvedand Adaptable varieties from MelekaWerer(300) Provide credit funds for thepurchase of Chemicals, knapsacks,Fertilizers, BBM, and improved seeds(300) Encourage and support privatesector to involve in input supplythrough credit/training(200) TOT on organizing farmers oncredit and saving group(300) Organization on credit andsaving groups at FTC level(300) Facilitate funds for input and output product storageposts5 FTC EARO, ARARI, BOA,IPMS-TA,Woreda cropproductionexpertsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsFarmers servedin 5 FTCTraders inaround 5 FTCsMelka Were/EARO,ARARI,Woreda Cooperativedesk, Co-Ops promotionBureau, Melka WererProject staff,ACSI/Banks with projectfundsACSI/Banks with projectfunds, Woreda OoA,5 FTCs staff Woreda CooperativesofficeFarmers in and FTC staff supported byaround 5 FTCs woreda staff, IPMS - TACooperatives ACSI/Banks with projectfundsMarketingTo address the marketing problems of cotton with the strategy on improving qualitythere is a need to link producers with textile industries and exporters. Since extendedperiod of sorghum harvesting and threshing activities compete with the timely pickingof cotton and hence resulting in poor quality cotton, the project intervention toshorten the prolonged time required for sorghum threshing is vital. Lack of cottongrading mechanisms and lack of price differential between poor and good qualitycotton hinders to focus on quality cotton production. The most important factors onpoor cotton market development are lack marketing information and lack of cottoncontractual farming. This requires rapid interventionTable 36. Project support in improving cotton marketingActivity Target Responsible(400) Conduct detail study on 5 FTCs Regional Marketcotton market chain andPromotion Offices,potential quality deteriorationARARI, Woredafactors in relation to marketExtension, IPMS - staff(300) Create linkage between Farmers in and around Regional MarketProducers (small scale and 5 FTCPromotion Office, Woredacommercial farmers) andExtension Teams, IPMStextileindustriesTA(300) Organise contractual Farmers in and around RBoARD, , Woreda70

farming arrangement(400) Identify and establishmarket information system forcotton(300) CapacitateCooperatives. In purchase ofquality cotton from members(Training/Credit)(400) Study on appropriatepackaging materials andtechniques to improve quality5.4.3 Fruit5 FTCs and interestedcommercial farmersFarmers in and around5 FTCsCo-ops in and around5 FTCsFarmers in and around5 FTCs andcommercial farmersExtension Teams, IPMS -TARegional MarketPromotion and Bureautrade and industry officesand IPMS-TABureau of trade andindustry, StandardsAuthority and IPMSEARO/Melka Were,Regional MarketingPromotion Offices,Bureau trade andindustry, StandardsAuthority and IPMS - TAProductionCurrently, farmers in Metema exercise growing of fruit trees (Mango, Papaya, andvegetables) with the use of irrigation water. The area has an ideal environment togrow tropical fruits, however, production is limited to areas adjacent to riverbanks. Ithas been identified that lack of knowledge on fruit propagation techniques andabsence of hand dug wells around homesteads are the limiting factors for realisingthe high production potential.The project will provide due emphasise on stimulating production throughintroduction of high quality fruit seedlings and training of extension workers andfarmers to upgrade their skills on fruit propagation techniques. Moreover, trainingswill be provided on post harvest handling of perishable commodities and introductionand popularisation cold storage facilities will be undertaken. Moreover, introductionof animal driven water pumps will be considered to stimulate fruit production aroundhomesteads. Metema is believed to have a high water table which could be exploitedfor this purpose.Table 37. Project support on fruit productionActivities Target Responsibilities(200) TOT on fruit production Woreda crop Melkassa/EARO/production experts Adet,-IPMS - TA(300) Training of fruit growers and Fruit growers and OoA, Project Staff,other interested farmers on fruit other interested Melkassa researchproduction methodsfarmers in and around5 FTCs(200) Introduce and establish fruitnursery with different adaptablefruit spp. for demonstrationpurposes5 FTCs Melkassa/EARO,ARARI, IPMS - TA(300) Organize and establish Farmers in and around IPMS71

farmer to farmer fruits seedlingsupply5 FTCsInputDespite the high potential to grow fruit trees, the production is limited due to variousconstraints mainly due to lack of knowledge and input supply. To change the existingsituation the following activates will be performed to facilitate input supply systemTable 38. Project support on fruit input supplyActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study existing fruits’ input Regional BoARD, Students, IPMS - staff,supply systemWoreda OoA, Melkassa/EAROfarmers in andaround 5 FTCs(200) Introduce high quality papaya, ExistiWoreda IPMS, Melkassabanana, and mango varieties into the OoARD nursery Research/EARO,existing OoARD nursery to be usedfor demonstration and source ofplanting materiasl (banana)(200) Supply of demonstration 5 FTCs and Fruit Melkassa/EARO Selammaterials including budding, grafting grower farmers Vocational Centre,and efficient irrigation equipmentsARARI, IPMS-TA(treadle pump, drip), animal drawncarts, cold storage facilities and othertechnologies(300) Facilitate supply of improved 5 FTCs Woreda Input supplyfruit seed/seedlings from variousoffice, Project researchsourcespartners, Project staff(300) Facilitate credit for input supply Fruit growers ACSI/Bank through(300) Training of farmers to convertthe existing “Ansara” system forirrigationInterested “Ansara”owners in the 5FTCs and beyondproject fundsSelam VocationalTraining Centre,Woreda OoARD,IPMS-TAFruit marketingCurrently the demand for fruits is attractive. One kilogram of papaya is sold 2 birr, asingle mango fruit costs 1 birr and a kilo gram of orange costs 5 birr. This impliesthat the demand is much higher than the supply. However, this may not be longlasting and things may change when production increases. Therefore, marketstudies have to be conducted in large and small towns around Metema Woreda,including Bahir Dar, Gondar, Quarra and some towns in Sudan that close to Metematown. In addition, as the weather is harsh preservation technologies will be ofimportance for marketing of these fruits.Table 39. Project support on fruit marketingActivities Target Responsibilities72

(400) Conduct market studies in Gonderand Bahir Dar and smaller towns aroundMetema(400) Conduct feasibility/profitability studyon fruit production(300) Train small scale traders in valueTownsMetemanearFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsSmall scaleadding of fruits in Metema areatraders(200) Training on group marketing WoredaCoops. staffStudents,OoAIPMS-staff,Students, IPMS-staff,OoAMelkassa/EARO, OoAHome science5.4.4. RiceProductionRice is one of the potential crops grown in Metema Woreda. The crop is newintroduction to the area and it was spread in short period of time in most Kebeles andwas covered up to 400ha of land. Many research works were conducted to screenadaptable varieties and two varieties (Kokit and Tegabe) were found to beadaptable. Currently, the production is dramatically reduced due to lack of postharvest (Threshers and polishers). Much can not said about the productionconstraints of production except the input supplyTable 40. Project support for rice productionActivity Target Responsibility(200) TOT in the production andNationaluse of Azolla anabaena on rice(200) TOT in rice agronomy(transplanting, land preparation)and seed production includingNERICA varieties.(400) Study on the existing riceproduction systems(300) Training through travel toFogera PLS and Adet ResearchCentreInputThe major problem identified on rice production is lack of threshers, polishers anddrought resistant varieties. The following activates will be performed to solve theproblem and to restart rice production in MetemaTable 41. Project support for rice input supplyWoreda crop productionexperts and staff in FTCslocated in theCotton/Rice/Livestock systemLaboratory/Adet/IPMS - TAActivities Target Responsible(300) Facilitate the Farmers in and around the FTCs National SoilSoilTraining of 4 supervisors and Adet Research1 expert, FTC staff located in centre, IPMS - TAthe Cotton/Rice/LivestocksystemFarmers around 5 FTCs Adet ResearchCentre/Project staffSelected farmers in and Adet/ARARI/ Woredaaround the FTCs located in OoA, IPMS - TAthe Cotton/Rice/Livestocksystem73

supply of Azollaanabaena on rice(300) Introduce droughtresistant varieties(300) Organize seedgrowers group(200) Introduce andpopularise small scalerice polishers andthreshers (post harvesttechnologies)Marketinglocated in the Cotton/Rice/Livestocksystems (including 2 PAs in theother farming system)Farmers in and around the FTCslocated in the Cotton/Rice/Livestocksystems (including 2 PAs in theother farming system)Farmers in and around the FTCslocated in the Cotton/Rice/Livestocksystems (including 2 PAs in theother farming system)Farmers in and around the FTCslocated in the Cotton/Rice/Livestocksystems (including 2 PAs in theother farming system)LaboratoryIPMS - TAAdet/ARARIIPMS - TAAdet/ARARIIPMS - TAAdet,Adet/ARARI,Selam VocationalTraining Centre,IPMS - TABefore 4-5 years ago, rice was produced on more than 400 ha. Last year, it isproduced from only 8 ha. The current price for rice in Metema is 4.00 birr/kg. Withthe availability of reliable post harvest equipments in the woreda, rice production isexpected to increase dramatically. This is because many farmers contacted stillshow very interest in growing rice. Withthis potential increase of production, it willtherefore be essential that appropriate market studies are conducted.Table 42. Project support in rice marketingActivity Target Responsibility(400) Study on cost benefit Farmers in and around the Adet Researchanalysis of rice production FTCs located in the Centre, Project staffsystemCotton/Rice/Livestock systems andother(including 2 PAs in the other collaborators, IPMSfarmingsystem)TA(300) Provide revolving fund to Coops. in and around the ACSI/Bank, withcooperatives to purchase rice FTCs located in the funds from IPMSduring harvest period and sell Cotton/Rice/Livestock systemsduring better periods(including 2 PAs in the other(300) Link for marketopportunitiesbetweencooperatives and potentialbuyersfarming system)Coops. in and around theFTCs located in theCotton/Rice/Livestock systems(including 2 PAs in the otherfarming system)Regional Bureaus ofTrade and Industryand CooperativesPromotion, IPMS- TA74

5.4.5 SorghumSorghum productionProduction of sorghum in Metema is a very old activity. Farmers have developedown ways of controlling striga. Productivity of of the locslly grown land races is poor.Better yielding varieties need to be available. Currently, striga resistant varietieshave already been tested at the research sub-centre in the area.Table 43. Project support in sorghum productionActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study the feasibility/profitability Small and big Students, Project staffand market chain of sorghum farmers in andproductionaround 5 FTCs(300) Popularise high yielding andstriga resistant improved varieties(Gobiye, Yeju, Berhan, Teshale,Ashebir and Meko) on farmers fields(200) TOT on general agronomy andprinciples of IPM (e.g. use of Neemleaves in storage, etc.)(300) Training of model farmers onimproved management practices(e.g. row planting, seed dressing,use neem leave for storage, etc).Input supplyFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsFTC staff, WoredaOoARD cropproduction/protection expertsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsARARI, Woreda OoARD –Extension Teams, IPMS -TAARARI/Regional BoARDcrop production/protectionexperts, IPMS – TAFTCs staff guided byWoreda crop production/protection experts, IPMS-TALimited number of varieties are introduced so far. However, efforts are underway tointroduce new one to the system. Early maturing, high yielding and striga resistanceis what is required from the new varieties. If sorghum matures early, cottonproduction will not be affected.Table 44. Project support in sorghum input supplyActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study sorghum input supply Farmers in and Students, Project staffaround 5 FTCs(200) TOT on on-farm seed Woreda cropmultiplication system(300) Train farmers on on-farm seedmultiplication system(300) Encourage farmer to farmerseed distribution system and availcredit, if neededproductionexperts, 5 FTCstaffFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsRegional BoARD cropproduction/protection experts,IPMS- TAFTCs staff guided by Woredacrop production/protectionexperts, IPMS- TAACSI/Banks through fundsfrom IPMS, Input supply Desk(200) Introduce simple threshing 5 FTCs and Selam Vocation School,75

machines (animal driven, manuallyoperated, for small farmers; andmotor driven for commercial farmers)for demonstration purposesMarketinginterestedcommercialfarmersARARI, IPMS- TAMost of the produces from commercial farmers, left after distribution to labourers, issold to small traders in Gondar. Small farmers also produce enough for their foodand some for sell. Neither the cooperatives nor the commercial farmers havesufficient store to keep the produce for longer period of time. As a result, grain is soldimmediately after harvest. Storage weevils are are also common in the area. Fewmonths after the harvest, the price of sorghum substantially increases. It is currentlysold at more than 200 birr/qt, while it was between 120 and 160 birr/qt, depending onthe grain colour, during the harvest period.Table 45. Project support for sorghum MarketingActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study the marketing of sorghumincluding market chainFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsRegional Marketing PromotionBureau, Students, IPMS- TA(300) Training of farmers on group Farmers in and(cooperative) marketing and market around 5 FTCsWoreda Cooperatives desk,IPMS-TAorientation of sorghum production5.4.6 Irrigated Vegetables (Onion, Pepper)ProductionThe potential for vegetable production in Metema is high. The water table is believedto be shallow. Currently water pumped from river is the main source of irrigationwater. There are no technologies to support the pumping out of this resource forvegetable production. Efforts will be highly needed to support this. There are locallyavailable technologies that could easily be introduced into the area. Development ofwater harvesting technologies (wells, river diversion, streams, etc.) could significantlycontribute to the expansion of vegetable production in Metema. Onion is importedfrom Sudan and the price of the locally produced onion need not be higher than theprice from Sudan. A study will be needed to know the existing production system.Table 46. Project support to improve production of vegetablesActivity Target Responsibility(400) Study of existing Farmers around 5 FTCs Project staff withvegetable productionMelkassa (EARO)/ARRIsystemstaff, students(200) Training on Woreda NRM experts, Regional BoARD experts,improved water/irrigation and staff of 5 FTCs project staffmanagement (wells, riverdiversions, dams)(200) Training on Woreda crop production ARRI, Melkassa (EARO),76

improved vegetableproduction, includingpest, disease control(300) Training of farmersand program follow up (inFTCs) in improvedvegetable production,and water managementInput supplyand protection experts,and staff of 5 FTCsFarmers in and around 5FTCsproject staffFTC staff under theguidance and supervisionof Woreda staffAs there is poor or no vegetable production, there is no supply of improved varietiesof vegetable seeds. However, those few that produce use grow own seeds (pepper)or seeds bought from town (pepper, onion), which are either poor in quality or veryexpensive or a combination. Establishing a regular on farm supply system will beone of the primary tasks of the project. Supply of irrigation equipments is also limitedin the area. Therefore, appropriate small scale irrigation equipments will need to beavailable locally. It will be worthwhile linking with Selam Vocation Training Centre forirrigation equipments.Table 47. Project support to improve input supply of vegetablesActivity Target Responsibility(400) Conduct study of input Farmers around 5 FTCs, Project staff, Melkassasupply systemcooperativesEARO, students(300) Facilitate the supply of Farmers in and around 5 Woreda input supply, projectinputs (different vegetable FTCs interested in staff, Melkassa (EARO),seeds, small scale irrigation vegetable production Selam Vocation Trainingequipments, etc)Centre(200) Training on improvedinput supply system (farmersto farmer seed system)(300) Training and programfollow up (in FTCs) in farmerto farmer vegetable seedsupply system(200) Supply ofdemonstration/trainingmaterials on post harvesthandling and improvedvegetablesMarketingWoreda crop productionand protection experts, staffof FTCsFarmers in and around 5FTCs and cooperativesMelkassa (EARO), IPMS - TAFTC staff under guidancefrom Woreda crop productionand protection experts andMelkassa (EARO), IPMS-TA5 FTCs Adet Research Centre,Melkassa (EARO), IPMS - TAMarketing of vegetables is done on individual basis. Since farmers harvestvegetables at about the same time, prices fall significantly at harvest. The project willhelp conduct feasibility study of the commercial production of vegetables. If feasible,project support for production, input sup77

ply and marketing will be provided. Farmer groups will need to be strengthened tomarket own produces. Contract farming will also be encouraged with this regard. Themarket for vegetables seems to be limited but study will be needed to verify this.Table 48. Project support to improve marketing vegetablesActivity Target Responsibility(400) Conduct feasibility Farmers around 5 FTCs, Melkassa (EARO)/Adetstudy on vegetable nearby market towns Research Centre,marketing and the market including Mekelle students, Project staff ,chain.(200) Training on Woreda cooperative staff Melkassa (EARO)/Adetmarketing group and staff of 5 FTCs Research Centre,formation, and vegetablestudents, Project staff,marketing(300) Farmer training and Groups, cooperatives FTCs staff andprogram follow up (in around 5 FTCscooperative promotionFTCs) on marketingdesk staff, IPMS - TAgroup formation andvegetable marketing5.4.7 Lowland pulses (Soya bean, Mung bean, groundnut)ProductionLowland pulses are new introductions to the area. Of these lowland pulses, soyabean has been introduced into the area. It has proved to be doing well underfarmers’ conditions. As a result of this, it is expected that Metema will be an areawhere large scale seed multiplication scheme will be launched, during this croppingseason. Groundnut is grown by the natives (Gumuz), especially around Shinfa andTumet PAs, to the south of the woreda. Mung bean on the other hand is also grownby the same group of farmers, but the extent to which it is produced is very low.Table 49. Project support for Lowland pulses productionActivities Target Responsible(400) Study on existing production systems,constraintsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsMelkassa (EARO), Projectstaff(200) TOT on agronomic management of 5 FTCs staff Melkassa (EARO)/ARARI,lowland pulsesIPMS - TA(200) Training of farmers on agronomic Farmers in and FTC staff guided by staffmanagement of lowland pulsesaround 5 FTCs fromMelkassa(EARO)/ARARI, IPMS- TA(200) Supply of demonstration materials on 5 FTCs Melkassa (EARO)/ARARI,diseases, pests and agronomy in the formIPMS-TAof written materials (pamphlets, handouts)Input SupplyCurrently, supply of planting materials for these crops is inexistent. The regionalgovernment is attempting to secure planting material for this planting season. Farmer78

to farmer seed supply system need to develop because the PLS is remote andexpecting planting materials from the centre could be discouraging.Table 50. Project support for Lowland pulses input supplyActivities Target Responsible(400) Study on existing input supply system Farmers in and Students, Project staff,around 5 FTCs andbeyond(300) Develop farmer to farmer seed supply Farmers in and Woreda agronomists,systemaround 5 FTCs, Project staff(300) Initially facilitate supply of improvedlowland pulses, avail credit, if needed(300) Supply of demonstration materials forsmallholder and commercial farmersMarketingcommercial farmersFarmers in andaround 5 FTCACSI/Bank, WoredaOoARD, Melkassa(EARO), IPMS - TA5 FTC Melkassa (EARO),IPMS- TAGrocery price for mung bean is believed to be very high. There are interested traderswho would want contractual arrangements to grow this crop with farmers for areasonably good price. This is an opportunity for developing contract farming in thearea. The same holds true for soya bean. There are some companies in Bahir Darwho would want a bulk of this produce. It is expected that a South African companyis planning to open a food processing factory in Bahir Dar. If this materialises, therequirement for soya bean will be substantially high.Table 51. Project support for Lowland pulses MarketingActivities Target Responsible(400) Study on lowland pulses marketing Farmers in and Regional Marketingand market chainaround 5 FTCs and Promotion Bureau,beyondStudents, Project staff,(200) TOT on community based marketing, Cooperatives and 5 Regional Marketingcooperatives/creation of marketing groups, FTCs staffPromotion Bureau,purchasing and processing of pulsesProject staff(300) Training on community based Farmers in and FTCs staff guided bymarketing, cooperatives/creation of around 5 FTCs, Project staffmarketing groups, purchasing and Traders andprocessing of pulsescooperatives(300) Facilitate the provision of marketing Cooperatives/Mark ACSI/Bank, Woredafund for cooperatives/marketing groups eting groups OoARD, IPMS - TA(200) Facilitate market linkage for output Cooperatives,/mark Regional Marketingmarketingeting groups in and Promotion Bureau,around 5 FTCs OoAARD, Project staff5.4.8 Natural Resources related commodities- Incense, Gum and Bamboo79

These have been identified as the important commodities in the area. As a resultproblems related to these commodities have been addressed in Chapter 4. Theseare natural resources owned by the government and involvement of individualfarmers with regard is limited. For this reason, the possible interventions on thesecommodities are less clear, at least, for year 1. Hence, areas of intervention are notspelled out in this section. Once the area of interventions for these commodities isidentified, they will be detailed, at least for year 2.5.4.9.Cattle Beef2.1.1. Production SystemCattle fattening in Metema area is not well known. There is no established culture offattening cattle for market. Holding of large number of cattle is a common socialprestige value. Oxen are reared for ploughing purpose only. In the Woreda there istranshumance during the wet season. There are different breed types includingFogera cross, Rutana and Felata cattle breeds. The area has quite big potential forcattle beef production. However, it has been observed that the absence of bestselection among the local breeds, disease problems, absence of improved forage,water shortage/long distance of watering points during the dry season, theft and lackof knowledge on cattle fattening hinder to realize this potential. Therefore, thisproject need to play a role to improve the production systemTable 52. Project support for cattle beef productionActivity Target Responsible(400) Study existing beef production Farmers in and ARARI, Projectand management systemaround 5 FTCs staff(200) TOT to educate and create 5 FTCs staff and DAs Woreda Extensionawareness on the value of good qualityTeams, Projectanimals (animal selection), developstaff, ILRI, ILDPgrazing land management, areaclosure and improved feeding system(300) Train farmers to educate and Farmers in and FTC staff aided bycreate awareness on the value of good around 5 FTCs and Woreda staffquality animals, develop grazing land interested tradersmanagement and improved feedingsystem(200) TOT on improved animal healthand disease control, effects oftranshumance and on feedconservation and utilization techniques(300) Training on feed conservationand utilization techniques andimproved animal health and diseasecontrol and effects of transhumance(300) Organize forage seed growersgroup5 FTCs staff and DAs Woreda extension,Project staff, ILRI,ILDPFarmers in andaround 5 FTCs andinterested livestocktradersFarmers In andaround 5 FTCsFTC staff aided byWoreda staff,IPMS - TAFTC staff aided byWoreda extension,Project staff, ILDP80

Input supplyIt has been identified that there is poor supply and source of feed supplement. Inonly limited instances, weak animals are feed with sesame oil cake. People withAnsara, local oil presser, sell sesame oil cake at about 150 birr/qt. However, as mostof the sesame sold in grain form, supplementation very poor. This trend of notextracting oil locally is happens especially when sesame grain is sold at higherprices. This season (2005) was one of them as most of the grain was sold out of theworeda. Shortage of water is another big problem and cattle move long distances insearch of water. Veterinary service is very poor and the intervention of private sectorin this venture is very limited. Credit supply for fattening purpose is none existant.Table 53. Project support cattle beef input supplyActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study beef input supply Farmers in and Students, Extensionaround 5 FTCs Teams, IPMS - TA(300) Facilitate credit funds for Private veterinary ACSI/Bank with fundsveterinary service providers service provider from IPMS,(200) Establish health posts atentry and exit points with in theWoreda OoARD Woreda OoARD, IPMS -TAworeda(200) Introduce and populariseimproved forage species5 FTC ILDP, IPMS - TAMarketingThe marketing system is underdeveloped. There is no market information providerin the area and no one is concerned to link producers with potential buyers. As aresult there is no encouragement for those who practice cattle fattening. Illegal cattletrade is common and up to 4000 cattle daily are believed to cross the border to enterthe Sudan. There is no market auction at the border and there are no healthinspection posts both at the entry and exit points.Table 54. Project support in cattle beef marketActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Conduct beef Metama woreda, Students, IPMS, BOA, OoAmarketing study in the Sudan woredas close to(Demand and supply), Metema both with inincluding the market chain Ethiopia and theSudan(200) Establish market 5 FTCs Trade and industry, IPMS-information system(300) Facilitate linkage ofproducers with potentialbuyers(300) Establish veterinaryinspection system in marketplacesFarmers in and around5 FTCFarmers in and around5 FTCTARegional MarketingPromotion Bureau,Extension Teams, IPMS-TAOoARD, IPMS-TA81

(300) Encourage creation ofbylaws to control theft(300) Facilitate credit fundsfor fattening(300) Establish link withveterinary clinics and drugstores5.4.10. DairyFarmers in and around5 FTCFarmers in and around5 FTCsFarmers in and around5 FTCsWALC, woreda OoARD,ACSI/Bank with funds fromIPMS,OoARD, IPMS-TADairy Production systemDairy production in Metema is very traditional and entirely based on local breeds.The productivity of local breed is very low (2 l/day) it can be said it is cow calf based.However, productivity varies from breeds to breeds and the Felata breed is identifiedto be better milk yielder with low fat content as compared to the other breeds.Despite this opportunity no attempt was made to select better breed to be used asdairy cowsApart from the observed inherent low milk yield of local breeds. This is believed to beaggravated because of poor feed conservation and utilization methods, lack ofimproved forage with better nutritional value, livestock diseases and prevalence ofinternal and external parasites. To improve the situation, Developing improvedforage production, selection of better milk yielding local breeds, use of better feedconservation and utilization techniques, use of improved feeding system andimproved animal health services are believed to solving this problem. In order to dothese training of communities to improve their knowledge and skills on themanagement of dairy animals will be critical in improving the existing poor dairyproduction.Table 55. Project support on dairy productionActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study milk marketing, its 5 FTCs Students, OoARD, IPMSfeasibility and profitability- TA(200) Establish improved forages for 5 FTCs OoARD, project staff,demonstration purposesILDP, ILRI(200) TOT on improved dairy Woreda Livestock production Regional BoARDmanagement, feeding system, feedconservation and utilization methodsexpertslivestock experts, ILDP,,ILRI, Project staff(300) Train farmers, including women, Farmers in and around 5 FTC Woreda OoARD, ILDP,on improved dairy management, and DAsILRI, Project staff,feeding system, feed conservation(preservation) and utilization methods(300) Train women farmers in milkprocessing and handling(300) Organize dairy farmers groupparticularly, womenFarmers in and around 5 FTCFarmers in and around 5 FTC,but close to Shehdi andMetema Yohanes townsILDP, ILRI-Debre Zeit,Project staff,OoARD, Project staff,82

Input supply systemIn Metema, there are no improved genotypes with high milking yield and less focushas been provided on dairy extension package including credit. Despite theexistence of high disease incidences there is no animal health service provider.Improved milk processing and preservation equipments are unknown. Establishingbull service centre and provision of AI will dramatically change the existing situationTable 56. Project support on dairy input supplyActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study the potential for privatization Farms in and around 5 Students, ILRI andof the supply of drugs, veterinary and bullservicesFTCsproject staff(300) Provide credit funds for startingprivate bull station service (year 2)(400) Study the existing fodder systemwith the aim of developing a innovativesystemInterested farmers inand around the 5FTCsFarmers in and around5 FTCs(200) Training on on-farm fodder Woreda livestockproduction with the aim of developing on experts and staff 5farm fodder seed multiplication schemes FTCs(300) Supply of different fodder species Interested farmers in(300) Training of farmers and cooperatives(in FTCs) the development of a farmbased fodder seed multiplication scheme(300) Encourage private traders/farmers tointroduce and supply improved dairygenotypes(200) Supply improved dairy processingequipments, including milk churner,improved forage seeds, and trainingmaterials for demonstration purposes(300) Facilitate credit for dairy farmersparticularly for womenand around 5 FTCsInterested farmers inand around 5 FTCsACSI/Bankproject fundswithILRI ForageDiversity/CIATStudents, ProjectstaffILRI ForageDiversity/ProjectstaffILRI/CIAT, ILDP withProject fundsFTC staff, guided byWoreda/project staffInterested traders OoARD, IPMS,and/or farmers in and Holleta researcharound 5 FTCs5 FTCs ILDP, ILRI-DebreZeit ResearchStation, Project staffDairy farmers in 5 FTC ACSI/Banks throughfunds of the projectMarketing systemDairy marketing is under developed..It is only rural based seasonal milk supplysystem. Whole milk, butter and Arera (wegemet) are supplied for market. However,there is no consistent supply (round year) of milk. The price of one litter of milk is 1birr during the wet season, while it is hard to find a litter with 4 birr during the dryseason. There is also high demand for Butter (ghee) in the Sudan. It is sold at 25birr/kg. The potential needs to be exploited. However, this needs to be studied andbe verified so that farmer groups/cooperatives may benefit from this effort.83

Establishing dairy groups and dairy products marketing, units based on the resultsobtained, will stimulate dairy production system in the woredaTable 57. Project support on dairy marketActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study the feasibility/profitability of dairy Small towns around the Students,products marketing, including market chain woreda, including towns in OoARD, IPMStheSudanTA(300) Organise milk days to create awarenessfor urban people(300) Establish and develop milk and milk Farmers in and around 5 Co-ops desk,products marketing groupsFTCsproject staff,(300) Organise milk days to create awarenessfor urban peopleWomen dairy groupsaround towns, within the 5FTCsWALCOoARD,staff,Project5.4.11. GoatProduction systemThree local breeds (Rutana, Gumuze and local) are known in Metema area. Theaverage number of goat per household is five this is due to easier management ascompared to cows or oxen. Gumuze Goats have shorter in size broaden in widthhave faster growth and good fertility, Moreover, they provide higher milk yield.Commonly the price of goat ranges from 150 – 400 birr/goat in the Woreda market.There is high fertility of goat and single goats give berth twice a year with highprobability of 2 or 3 twins in one occasion this is largely depend on feeding and goodmonitoring. However, there is a problem of foot rot disease in the area and providingslatted floor is must to protect them against the disease. Generally goat husbandry isextensive type and there a problem of labour to keep and monitor in the fieldTable 58. Project support on goat productionActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Conduct study on the current Farmers in and ILRI, Regional BoARD,goat production systemaround 5 FTCs Project staff(200) Training on improved goat Staff of 5 FTCs Regional BoARD, Woredaproduction (including breed selection),livestock experts, Projectincluding disease and peststaffmanagement; and feed production(300) Farmer training on improvedgoat production, including disease andpest management; and feedproduction(300) Farmer training and programfollow up (in FTCs) on on-farm fodderproduction and feeding systemsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsFTC staff supervised byworeda staffFTC staff supervised andguided by woredalivestock experts, IPMS -84

(300) Encourage and train farmers inmarket oriented goat productionsystem(200) Create conditions that enforcelaws against theftFarmers around 5FTCsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsTAWoreda OoARD, projectstaff,WALC, Woreda OoARD,The communityInput supply systemAlthough there is huge potential for goat production in Metema, production is verytraditional due to various reasons. These include of lack of input for improved goatproduction. These problems need to be addressed if goat production is thought tobring about changes in the livelihoods of the farming community. Currently, localgoats are being supplied as food security package.Table 59. Project support on goat input supplyActivities Target Responsibilities(400) Study the current inputsupply system in order to developinnovative improvementsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCs(300) Facilitate improved inputsupply, including improved breeds(300) Strengthen and privateanimal health providers throughcredit, if needed(200) Training on communitybased livestock health services(300) Farmer training and programfollow up (in FTCs) on communitybased livestock health services(300) Facilitate credit funds formarket oriented goat productionFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsPrivateveterinary.service providersstaff of 5 FTCsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsFarmers around5 FTCsStudents, woreda inputsupply, Project staffWoreda input supply unit,cooperative office, projectstaffACSI/Bank through fundsfrom IPMSRegional BoARD, Woredalivestock experts, ProjectstaffFTC staff supervised andguided by woreda livestockexperts, IPMS - TAACSI/Bankswith funds fromIPMSMarketing systemThe goat population in Metema area is very high as opposed to the high populationof goat, the average price paid in Metema is higher when compared to the price inthe high lands having the same body weight. Therefore, the possibility of sellinggoats to Gonder or Bihar dark is not profitable. Therefore, there is a need forAssessment on the potential Demand and supply of goats in the Sudan.Table 60. Project support on goat marketingActivity Target Responsibility(400) Conduct study on goat Farmers in and Students, Regionalmarketing system, including market around 5 FTCschainMarket promotion office,Project staff85

(200) Training on market orientedgoat production(300) Farmer training and programfollow up (in FTCs) on marketoriented goat production(300) Develop linkages with tradersand potential exporters(300) Facilitate credit funds formarket oriented goat production(200) Training on group formationfor goat marketing, if required(300) Farmer training and programfollow up (in FTCs) in groupmarketing of goat5.4.12 PoultryWoreda livestockexperts (5), staff of 5FTCsFarmers in andaround 3 FTCsFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsFarmers around 5FTCsWoreda livestockexperts, Coopsoffice, FTC staffFarmers in andaround 5 FTCs,cooperativesILRI, Regional BoARD,Regional Marketpromotion, IPMS - TAFTC staff supervised andguided by woredaexperts, and staff ofIPMS- TARegional Marketpromotion Office, IPMS -TAACSI/Banks with fundsfrom IPMSRegional Marketpromotion Office, IPMS -TAFTC staff supervised andguided by woredaexperts (Cooperatives,livestock experts),IPMS-TAProduction systemThere is no modern poultry in Metema. The existing chickens are all local and henceproductivity is poor. These chickens may have own merit of surviving without muchfeed. Currently, chicken are only allowed to look for own food. However, this systemcan not help improve livelihoods of farming families. Improvement is thereforerequired with this regard. The extension did not support this sector until recently.Table 61- Project support for poultry productionActivities Target Responsibility(400) Conduct study to assess Farmers in and Students, Project staffprofitability of poultry production around 5 FTCs(200) TOT in commercial poultry Woreda livestock DZRC/EARO, IPMS -production (diseases control, feeding expert and staff from TAand other management techniques) 5 FTCs(300) Farmer training and follow up in Interested farmers in FTC staff guided byFTCs/DA posts on commercial poultry and around 5 FTCsproductionWoreda/ project staffand DZRC/EARO(200) TOT in the use of hay brooders, Woreda livestock DZRC/EARO, Woredaand vaccines (paravets)experts and 5 FTC livestock experts,(300) Farmer on the use of haybrooders and vaccines.staffInterested farmers inand around 5 FTCsIPMS - TAfFTC staff guided byWoreda/project staffand DZRC/EARO staff.86

Input supply systemCurrently, there is lack of improved chickens and vaccination supply in Metema.Diseases control and the supply of feed are also inexistent. Training of paravets willalso need to be considered as this may provide the basis for efficient animal healthservices, including poultry. Hay box brooder will also need to be demonstrated and asustainable supply system needs to be thought. Private and/or cooperative systemmay be considered for the supply of feed/drugs in the area.Table 62- Project support for poultry input supply(300) Provide improved genotypes,especially to women and children, availloan money, if needed(200) Provide improved technologies(Hay box brooder, day old chicks,eggstorage facilities, vaccines, etc.) fordemonstration purposesFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsARARI,/DZRC/EARO ,Woreda OoARD, ILDPACSI/Bank, IPMS forTA and loan money5 FTCs DZRC/EARO, ARARIIPMS - TAMarketing systemPoultry marketing is carried on an individual basis, as the production is smallholderbasedusing local chicken. There is a substantial poultry resource in the Woreda.The local price is about 20 Birr for female and 35 Birr for male chicken, while theprice of an egg is about 50 cents. Once the market viability fo poultry is identified,group formation may be important.Table 63- Project support for poultry marketingActivity Target Responsibility(400) Study existing supply and Farmers in and around Students, Project staffdemand and market chain5 FTCs and traders(200) TOT for poultry marketing group Woreda livestock Regional Marketingformation (women and young jobless) expert, staff from 5 promotion Bureau,FTCs and DA posts Project staff(300) Farmer training and follow up in Interested farmers in FTC staff guided byFTCs for group formationand around 5 FTCs Woreda staff, IPMS -TA5.4.13 ApicultureProduction systemTraditional honey production is a common practice in Metema. The vegetation coverof the woreda is currently ok and can support big number of bee colonies. Thereneeds to be a study whether the existing bee species are of type to domesticate.This is because they seem to too wild. It could be for this reason that very fewfarmers keep very few beehives in the backyard. Therefore, there should be a studyto determine this.87

Table 64- Project support for Apiculture productionActivities Target Responsibility(400) Study the existing apiculture Farmers in and Holleta Bee Researchproduction systemaround 5 FTCs Centre (HBRC)/SOSShale, IPMS - TA200) TOT on modern bee keeping Woreda apiculturist, SOS Shale/HBRC,(disease & pest identification and control) other livestock Woread OoARD, IPMSexperts, 5 FTCs staff - TA(300) Training of farmers modern bee Farmers in and FTC staff guided bykeeping, disease & pest identification andcontrolaround 5 FTCs woreda staff, IPMS -TA(300) Training of farmers on modernqueen rearing techniques(200) Identification of the existing best beeforages, introduction of other forage fromelsewhere which are adaptable to thearea(300) Encourage farmers to dig wells toavail water for beesFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsAreas around the 5FTCs and otherplaces, includingoutside of MetemaFarmers in andaround 5 FTCsHBRC/SOS Sahel,Woreda OoARD, IPMS- TAHBRC/ SOS Shale,Woreda OoARD,IPMS-TAWoredaIPMS-TAInput supply systemRecently, few modern bee hives have been introduced. Extension support towardsapiculture is not adequate.Table 65- Project support for Apiculture input supplyOoARD,Activities Target Responsibility(200) Introduce number of extractors, 5 FTCs HBRC/SOS Sahel,different types of modern hives andWoreda OoARD,accessariesIPMS - TA(300) Avail credit facilities for buying Farmers in and around ACSI/Bank, Woredamodern bee hives once honey production 5 FTCsOoARD, IPMS foris vailableavailing credt money(200) Introduce different bee forages for 5 FTCs HBRC/SOS Sahel,demonstration at FTCsIPMS - TA(300) Train local carpenters to make bee Farmers in anround 5 HBRC/SOS Sahel,hives and accessories locallyFTCs and interested Woreda OoARD,carpenters in town IPMS - TAMarketing systemsMetema is the centre for honey market. Honey from traditional hives with impuritiesis sold at 16 – 20 birr/kg. There is no organised marketing of honey as is for theother commodities. Small traders buy and take the honey to Gondar. Illegal marketto Sudan is another major market outlet.88

Table 66- Project support for Apiculture marketingActivities Target Responsibility(300) Organise honey market by creating Farmers in and aroundhoney marketing groups/cooperatives with 5 FTCscollection and cleaning centresSOS Sahel, WoredaOoARD, IPMS - TA(200) Avail market information 5 FTCs SOS Sahel, WoredaOoARD, IPMS - TA89

Annex 1. List of workshop participants Metema PLS, March 3-4, 2005No Name Sex Organization Responsibility Telephone1 Grazmatch Gewede M Kumer-Aftit PA Farmer2 Gashaw Mohammed M Agam Wuha Administration Head3 Gizat Anteneh M Office of Agriculture Cooperatives Team 310121/22Leader4 Mulugeta Alem M Office of Agriculture Bee Keeping Expert 3102225 Tekaligne Yiblet M Kekit FarmersChairmanAssociation6 Abdi Suleman M Office of Agriculture Crop Prod. & Prot. 3001237 Mulat Getahun M Office of Agriculture DA8 Abeba Biruk F Agamwuha DA 3100819 Fasika Kassie F Kumer DA10 Mekashaw Nadew M Meka DA 31012111 Dejen Alebachew M Office ofDAAgriculture/Kokit12 Bitew Melese M Region Agriculture Dept. Head 205850Office13 Mebrahtu Degu M Metema Administration Deputy Administrator 31012514 Dr. Hassen Kebede M Office of Agriculture Deputy Head of OoARD, 310152and Representative15 Shumet Gobeze M Office of Agriculture Environmental Protection 310121/2216 Molla Mohammed M Office of Agriculture Extension Team Leader 310121/2217 Mintesnot Mesku M Kokit FarmersFarmerAssociation18 Sherif Mango F Aftit FarmersFarmerAssociation19 Alefu Sisay F Kokit FarmersFarmerAssociation20 Alga Takele F Kumer Farmers FarmerAssociation21 Enanu Mengesha F Kokit FarmersFarmerAssociation22 Emiwedu Belete M Kokit FarmersFarmerAssociation23 Wubale Alemu F Gendewuha Farmer24 Asres G.Meskel F Mender 6,7,8 Farmer25 Aregash Bogale F Agam Wuha Farmer26 Sele Ayanaw F Shenfu Mariam Farmer27 Zerihun Demissie M Aftit Farmer28 Ayalew Hassen M Agam Wuha Farmer29 Addisu Legesse M Tumet PA Farmer30 Kiros Woldeyes M Shehdi Investor (Farmer) 31006431 Sheih Yenus Yusuf M Gorgoro Farmer32 Takele Teshagere M Meka Farmer33 Mekashasw Abohay M Meka Farmer34 Yitayew Beyene M Meka Farmer35 Dr. Getachew M ARARI Director 205200Alemayehu36 Mezgebu Tegegn M Metema Office ofAgriculture & RuralHead 31012190

Development37 Fisseha Eshete M Woreda Capacity Head 310120/183Building38 Taemyalew Asnakew M Office of Agriculture Head of the Office 31016939 Samre Manasebo M Metema -Youhannes Investor (farmer)40 Yahiya Yimer M Shehdi Investor (Farmer)41 Tesfa Worku M Metema-Yohannes Investor (Farmer)42 Worku Tiruneh M Metema Farmers’ Manager 310140Union43 Dessie Teshager M Office of Agriculture Marketing & Input44 Tayachew Alemneh M Office of Agriculture People’s Participation45 Solomon Berhane M Information Public Relations 31012446 Abay Akale M Office of Agriculture Regions AssociationHead47 Terefu Tesfaw M Information Support 31012348 Daniel Taddese M Office of Agriculture Team Leader 310121/2249 Dr. Berhanu G.Medhin IPMS Project50 Azage Tegegne IPMS Project51 Kahsay Berhe IPMS Project52 Abebe Misgina IPMS Project91

Annex 2. Metema PLS planning workshop program, March 3-4, 2005Shehdi town, MetemaDate Time Topic SpeakerMarch 3,2005 8:00 - 8:30 Registration Ato Worku Teka(Thursday)Moderator - Ato Adebabay Mengist8:30-8:40 Welcome and Introduction Ato Mezgebu Tegegne (Wereda Agr. and RuralDevelopment, Head, WALC Chair)8:40 - 9:00 Project Background Dr. Berhanu Gebremedhin9:00 - 9:10 PRA Process Dr. Azage Tegegne9:10 - 9:30 Coffee breakChair Person – Dr. Getachew Alemayehu9:30 - 9:50 Crop Production Ato Kahsay Berhe9:50 - 10:00 Questions/Discussion Participants10:00 -10:20 Animal Production Dr. Azage Tegegne10:20 - 10:30 Questions/discussion Participants10:30 - 10:50 Institutions Ato Abebe Misgina10:50 - 11:00 Questions/discussion Participants11:00-12:00 Technology display Ato Worku Teka12:00 - 3:00 Lunch break Organizers3:00 – 3:15 Organizations of breakup Dr. Berhanu GebremedhinsessionsChair persons/Rapporteurs of breakup sessionsGroup 1. Crop production and NRM: Dr. Getachew Alemayehu/Ato Worku TekaGroup 2. Livestock production Dr. Azage Tegegne/Dr. Hassen KebedeGroup 3. Institutions: Dr. Berhanu Gebremedhin/Ato Abebe MisginaMarch 4,2005 8:00 - 9:00 Breakup session continued Participants(Friday)9:00 - 9:30 Coffee break9:30-12:00 Group Discussion12:00 - 3:00 Lunch breakChair Ato Berhane Gidey3;00-3:20 Group 1 Crop report Ato Worku Teka3:20 -3:40 Questions/discussion Participants3:40 - 4:00 Group 2 Livestock report Dr. Hassen Kebede4:00 -4:20 Questions/discussion Participants4:20 - 4:40 Group 3 Institutions report Ato Abebe Misgina4:40 - 5:00 Questions/discussion Participants5:00-5:50 General discussion Participants5:50 - 6:00 wrap up and the way Dr. Azage Tegegneforward session6:00 Closing Ato Mebratu Degu, Metema WeredaV/Administrator92

NoAnnex 3 -Amount of short and medium term credit delivered by multipurpose cooperatives for purchase of inputs and goatproduction, 2004.CooperativesDAP(Q) UREA(Q)Chemical(lts)Seed(Q) **Short term creditSpray Beeer hives(no) (no) *Poultry(no)CreditAmount(birr)No. offarmersMedium term creditNumber Creditof amountfarmers1 Kokit 39.5 402(150) 142.5 46 160,010.50 648 113 116,007.502 Dass - - 194 89.9 13 46 79,775.00 694 111 114,837.503 Kumer 23.0 15.5 163 13 2 46 19,169.50 100 60 72,429.504 Gende Wouha 18.5 22.0 189 9.8 17,562.00 175 30 26,499.905 Metema - 221 23.7 24,100.00 99 30 26,499.90Yohannes6 Shenfa 45.5 22.4 183(150) 99.4 29 2 46 109,302.00 336 72 73,897.807 Mender 6,7,8 11.0 14.0 167 54.4 7 34 50,537.40 430 101 106,004.208 Tumet 26.0 13.0 212 120.7 6 46 105,635.70 339 60 70.086.009 Zebach Baher 16.0 18.0 188 - 7141.60 17 -10 Lemlem - - 178 9.6 10,903.00 98 9 7949.90Terara11 Agam Wouha 16.5 14.6 147 9.7 36 14,033.00 100 4 3534.3012 Gorgoro - - 131 9.9 8520.00 93 7 6183.30Total 196.0 119.5 2,375 582.6 29 30 300 606,689.70 3129 597 623,929.80RemarkSource: Metema woreda, OoANote* = Kenya top bar type of hive- Figures in parenthesis are sevin chemicals in kg**= Cotton seed93

Annex 4. Total number of cooperative members and total capital as of October 2004, Metema woredaNameof Year of Household Members Capital (birr) Capital ( Birr)No. Cooperatives Establishby Service Type ment Male Female Total Fixed Asset Cash Total Capital Liability Capital Total Asset1 Kokit 1995 778 169 947 5690.00 842,179.00 847,870.00 572,283.00 275,586.00 842,179.002 Dass 1993 281 24 305 10,875.00 1,327,294.00 1,338,169.00 1,308476.00 29,693.00 1,327,294.003 Kumer 1997 310 50 360 2523.00 235,585.00 238,107.00 198,909.00 39,198.00 235,585.004 Gende Wouha 1993 241 21 262 5286.00 93,019.00 98,306.00 66,717.00 31,589.00 93,019.005 Metema Yohannes 1998 112 9 121 7347.00 65,981.00 73,328.00 61,635.00 11,693.00 65,981.006 Shenfa 1998 196 8 204 992.00 64,586.00 65,578.00 59,878.00 5700.00 64,586.007 Mender 6,7,8 1997 72 2 74 13,098.00 1,334,154.00 1,347,252.00 1,326,040.00 21212.00 1,334,154.008 Tumet 2004 112 8 120 565.00 77,220.00 77,785.00 71,695.00 6089.00 77,220.009 Zebach Baher 1997 166 6 172 600.00 20,487.00 21087.00 11,973.00 9113.00 20,487.0010 Lemlem Terara 1993 113 13 126 1,861.00 27,631.00 29,492.00 16,756.00 12,736.00 27,631.0011 Agam Wouha 1993 126 19 145 60.00 28,298.00 28,358 20,863.00 7,494.00 28,298.0012 Gorgoro 1993 146 17 163 29,191.00 14,090.00 43,282.00 41,776.00 1,505.00 14,090.00Total 2653 346 2999 78,088.00 4,130,521.00 4,208,609.00 3,757,001.00 451,608.00 4,208,609.00Source: Metema woreda, OoA94

Annex 5. List of WALC members and telephone addressNo Name Title Telephone1 Ato Mezgebu Tegegne Head, Woreda Agricultural & Rural Dev. Chair 08- 3101222 Ato Hailu Berhanu Deputy Head, BoA, Member, 08- 3101213 Ato Mebratu Degu Woreda V/Administrator, Member. 08- 3101264 Ato Daniel Tadesse Extension Group 1 Leader, Bureau of Agriculture, Member. 08- 3101215 Ato Mola Mohammed Extension Group 2 Leader, Bureau of Agriculture, Member 08- 3101216 Ato Guadeshet Aseffa Natural Resources Group Leader, Bureau of Agriculture, 08-310121Member.7 Ato Gizat Anteneh Cooperative Development Group Leader, BoA, Member 08-3101218 Ato Worku Tiruneh Head , Cooperative Union, Bureau of Agriculture, Member. 08- 3101409 Ato Fekadu Haile Head, HIV/AIDS Secretariat, Metema Woreda, Member, 08- 31013510 Ato Tamyalew Head, ACSI (Amhara Crdit and saving Institution), 08-310169AsnakewMember,11 Ato Getachew Assefa Head, Small Scale Trade and Industry, Member, 08-31011612 Ato Tayachew Women's Affairs Desk, Member, 08-310132Alemneh13 Dr. Hasen Kebede ILDP Coordinator (Integrated Livestock Development 08-310152Project, Member.14 Ato Worku Teka Research and Development Officer, IPMS, Secretary, 09-766677

Annex 6. Market price of some commodities (2004/05)Type Unit Average price in RemarkbirrCash cropsSesame (herher) kg 5.20Cotton (local and Delta pine) kg 2.20Cotton (Gedera) kg 3.30 Not yet confirmedCerealSorghum kg 1.60Rice kg 2.00Vegetables and fruitsBanana kg 4.00Papaya kg 2.00Orange kg 5.00LivestockOxen No 1218.00Bull No 1010.00Cow No 937.00Young bull No 820.00Heifer No 759.00Goat No 234.00Donkey No 463.00Chicken/cock No 18.00Honey Kg 12.00Bee hive No 270.00 Kenya top barBee hive No 80.00 LocalInputsDAP Kg 3.10UREA Kg 2.78Endosulphan Lt 55.30Sevin Kg 78.20Cotton seed(gedera) Kg 23.40Cotton seed(akala,delta pine) Kg 8.25Sesame (adi variety) Kg 5.90Sprayer (solo) No 347.00Sprayer (Matebe) No 433.00Source: Metema Woreda, OoA96

Annex 7. Peasant associations visited and farmers held discussions during the PRAprocessNo. Name of PA Farming system Farmers contacted1 Tumet Menduka Sesame, cotton, Ato Addisu Legessesorghum/livestock2 Shinfa “Ato Mohamed“3 Metema Yohanes ““Ato Samre ManaseboAto Tesfa Worku4 Agam Wuha ““Ato Gashaw MohamedAto Ayalew Hassen5 Kokit ““6 Kumer Aftit ““W/o Aregash BogaleAto Gibtsu sisayAto Tekalighn YibletW/o Alefu SisayW/o Enanu MengeshaAto Grazmach BaudiW/o Ragaya sheriffAto Zerihun DemissieAto Fasika KassieAto Alga Takele7 Meka Cotton, Rice/Livestock Ato Moges TadesseAto Dinku AleneAto Mekashaw NadewAto Takele TeshagereAto Mekashasw AbohayAto Yitayew Beyene8 Awlala Cotton, Rice/Livestock9 Shehdi Sesame, cotton,sorghum/livestockAto Yahya YimamAto Gebrehiwot Gebreselassie97

Annex 8. List of participants in the project introduction workshopFebruary 4, 2005 (7:30-10:30 PM),Shehdi, MetemaNo. Name Institution Responsibility Address1 Fekadu Haile Micheal HIV/AIDS Coordinator Woredaadministration2 Gezahegne Moges Peoples Participation Expert 08/310022affairs3 Dr. Hassen Kebede OoA Representative/Desk 08/310152Head4 Getachew Assefa Sharew Small scale Industries Head 08/310116and Trade5 Worku Tiruneh Lemlemu Cooperatives/Union Manager 08/3101406 Gizat Anteneh Mekonen Cooperatives Expert 08/3101217 Wondemhunegne Deres EnvironmentalSurveyor 08/310121TezeraProtection and LandAdministration8 Worku Teka ILRI/IPMS RDO-Metema 08/3101219 Abebe Misgina ILRI/IPMS Research01/463215Technologist10 Kahsay Berhe ILRI/IPMS Research01/463215Technologist11 Aklilu Mesfin Kidane Regional BoARD Natural Resources 08/460695Expert12 Yirgalem Asegid ILRI/IPMS RDO-Fogera 08/46069513 Mezgebu Tegenge OoARD Head 08/31012214 Dr. Azage Tegegne ILRI/IPMS Animal Scientist 01/46321598

Annex 9. Cropping calendar (Eth. calendar) of some crops grown in Metema woredaCrop typeLandPreparation(months)Sowing timeWeeding(months)Harvesting(months)Threshing(months)Sorghum - June 12-30 July, August Nov. to Dec. JanuaryMaize - June 1-15 July, August October NovemberTeff May, July July 25 – Aug. 5 Aug., Sept. Nov. – Dec. JanuaryFinger millet* - June 15 - 30 July, August November JanuaryRice March, May June 12- 18 July, August October NovemberChickpea May, June, July August 27- Sep September Nov. – Dec. Dec. –Jan.Cotton May June 1- 10 Jul., Aug., Sep. Nov- Jan Jan.- FebSesame (Var.Tejareb)Sesame (Var.Hirhir, Gojamazene)- June 25-Jul. 5 July, Aug. October November- July 1-15 July, Aug. October November* Grown in 2 PAs (Kemechela and Awlala)Source: Metema Office Agriculture, 200599

Annex 10. Tree population of Boswellia sp. distribution in some dominating PAs*PA Tree spcies Coverage in ha Tree populationDas Gundo Boswellia 15,855.00 1,434,500Tumet Mendoca >> 960.25 546,500Shinfa >> 2.088.00 2,204,000Lencha 5895.54 5,895,540Shashage >> 5677.04 5,128,912Gubay Jejebit >> 6,186.00 5,151,500Lemlem Terara >> 1,932.13 1,620,130Zebach Bahir >> 3,050.00 2,684,000Awasa >> 8,750.00 8,968,750Metema Yohannes >> 3,455.00 3,496,460Total 51,763.048.00 37,130,292*Other than these, Boswellia sp. is also grown in Ashera, Akushera, Gend Wuha,Zebach Bahir and Kemechela PAs.100