1. Presented at the International Food Security Dialogue
2014
“Enhancing Food Production, Gender Equity and Nutritional
Security in a Changing World.”
Sponsored By:
Hosted By:

2. Survival of the fittest or survival of the most creative & hard working?!
Near Lake Langano, Ethiopia (2011); Courtesy of Dr. Tesfaye Abebe

3. Molla Assefa Mengistu (PhD student, U
ofS)
Wondwosen Tena (PhD student, HU)
Walelign Worku (Plant Science)
Sheleme Beyene (Soil Science)
Endalkachew Wolde-Meskel (Soil
Science)
Legesse Hidoto (PhD student, HU)
Zenebe Worku (Extension, HU)
Tewodros Tefera (Agricultural
Economic)
Bunyamin Tar’an (Plant
Sciences)
Fran Walley (Soil Science)
Carol Henry (Nutrition)
Susan Whiting (Nutrition)
Bob Tyler (Food Science)
Gord Zello (Nutrition)

4.  The total area of the country is about
111.5 million ha, out of which 74.3
million ha is suitable for annual and
perennial crop production and only 15
million is under utilization
 45 % (50.2 million hectares) is mid-
highland and highland; the remaining is
lowland.
 The average annual rainfall ranges
from 200 to 2500 mm.
 The agroecology is highly diversified
(18 major and 49 sub-agro ecological
zones).
Agriculture sector in Ethiopia:
 Accounts for 47% of the GDP,
 Provides 85% of employment, and
 Provides 90% of foreign exchange.

5. Food supply systems in Ethiopia
Three
major
systems
Crop
production
Livestock
Market
dependent
system
75% of the population
Mostly in highland
10% of the population
Mostly in arid and
semiarid zones
15% of the population
Dependent on the
preceding food
supply
Diverse range of
production
Failure of rain during
cropping season
Shortage of
food supply

6. 400-1400 Sorghum
Corn
1400-2200Sorghum
Corn
Teff
Wheat
Barley
Beans, dry
Chickpeas
Lentil
Snap bean
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sowing Mid-season Harvest
Crop Calendar of Ethiopia (Cereals and Pulses)
Altitude (m)
(irrigation)

7. http://ethiopia.usaid.gov/program/feed-the-future
Pulse Production Regions:
~ 13 percent of the croplands
Production is seasonal following the rainfall pattern
Two seasons Three seasons
Four seasons

8. Research sites in SNNPR
500 km
Prevalent Zn and Fe deficiency

9. Research components:
Pulse agronomy &
Breeding
Soil management & N fixation
Food processing and
nutrition
Nutrition education
Social Economy &
Gender
Chickpea, lentil,
snap bean, faba bean
Capacity building
Food and nutrition security
21 MSc students
8 PhD students
7 Faculties – research sabbatical to U of S
Nutrition Education
Farmers training as seed growers
Analytical lab. (AAS)
Soil Microbiology lab.
Field equipment

10. IMPACT PATHWAY
Identify Target Populations
Setting Targets
Screening for micronutrient rich genotypes
Discovery
Crop Improvement/Varietal testing/Agronomy
Genotype x Environment, Variety release
Nutrient Retention Processing Studies
Bioavailability and Efficacy Studies
Development
Seed Production and Distribution System
Education, Promotion and Consumer Acceptance
Improved diet for target population
Dissemination

11. Key factors for expanding area of pulses
and enhancing productivity of pulses
Availability and adoption of suitable varieties
(short-duration, high yielding, disease resistant,
drought tolerant);
Availability and adoption of low cost agronomic
package including the use of inoculant;
Promotion of pulses in cereal based cropping
system;
Transportation and linking farmers to markets.

12. Case of chickpea
 Low productivity in the region (0.6 -0.8 tons/ha)
 Due to predominant cereal-cereal rotation, soils are generally
deficient in nitrogen fixing bacteria, which contributes to poor yield
of chickpea especially under no N application;
 Other problems: drought, disease, human theft
Participatory variety selection :
Both extension and research approach
Simultaneous efforts of promotion and dissemination
The objectives were to:
Identify adapted and high yielding varieties of chickpea
Familiarize farmers with improved varieties and production
technology
 Majority of farmers are willing to grow chickpea if they could
access to improved varieties.

13. Map of Ethiopia showing sampling sites for Rhizobium collection

14. 0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
CP
01
CP
04
CP
05
CP
07
CP
08
CP
10
CP
12
CP
16
CP
19
CP
20
CP
22
CP
27
CP
30
CP
33
CP
36
CP
41
CP
44
CP
49
CP
51
CP
53
CP
61
CP
65
CP
67
CP
69
CP
76
CP
77
CP
78
CP
79
CP
82
CP
84
CP
88
CP
95
CP
96
CP
97
CP
99
CP
101
CP
102
CP
105
CP
109
CP
113
N- N+
Shootdryweight/plantinmg
Rhizobial strains
Symbiotic effectiveness of selected rhizobial strains on chickpea
(45 days)
CP41 is a local isolate and it is better than the introduced and as good as N+
treatment
CP 41
CP113
(Commercial strain from Canada)
N fertilizer
Data from Fran Walley and Endalkachew Wolde-Meskel (2011)

15. Seeds before inoculation with ignite based inoculant Seeds after inoculation
Preparation of
chickpea inoculation
trial

16. Inoculation trial (Nov 2013 Halaba)

17. Inoculation trial (Nov 2013 Halaba)
Inoculated plot Un-inoculated plot (control)

18. Inoculated and non inoculated chickpea plants

19. Only released varieties plus local checks
Kabuli
Arerti
Chefe
Ejeri
Habru
Shasho
Desi
Wolaita local
Butajira local
Mastewal
Natoli
Participating farmers were selected with the development agent (DA): consent and
ability to provide land
• Seedling vigor
• Earliness
• Plant height
• Plant vigor
• Disease resistance
• Insect resistance
• Biomass
• Grain yield
• Seed colour
• Seed size
• Taste
• Marketable
• Overall
Assessment:

20. Variety trials: Site selection and land preparation

21. Top three chickpea varieties based on farmers’
participatory evaluation:
Butajira (2011), Wolaita (2011), Hulbareg (2013)
(2011) (2011) (2013)

22. Grain yield of chickpea varieties at Wolaita and Butajira
(based on 2011 & 2012 trials)
 All improved varieties performed better than the local
t/ha
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
Arerti Chefe Ejeri Habru Shasho Local Mastewal Natoli
Wolaita
Butajira
NS at Wolaita

23. Variety
Grain yield
(t/ha)
100-seed
weight (g)
Shasho (#2) 3.0 a 27.7 b
Mastewal (#3) 2.8 a 22.6 d
Natoli (#1) 2.8 a 26.5 bc
Ejere 2.7 a 33.9 a
Arerti 2.6 ab 23.8 cd
Habru 2.1 b 29.1 b
Local 2.1 b 10.3 e
LSD (5%) 0.54 3.3
CV 11.78 7.47
Grain yield of chickpea varieties at Hulbareg (2013)

24. Wolaita Butajira
Average monthly rainfall (mm) 1996-2010
Location Seeding time (2011 and 2012)
Early Medium Late
Wolaita 7th September 16th September 27th September
Butajira 6th September 16th September 28th September
Effects of seeding dates Molla Mengistu, PhD student

25. Habru Local check
Early Seeding
Maturity (days) 101 99
Yield (% check) 118% 100
Medium
Seeding
Maturity 103 99
Yield (% check) 117% 100
Late Seeding
Maturity 100 98
Yield (% check) 127% 100
Performance of chickpea cultivar Habru across locations and
seeding dates (2011&2012)
 No significant effects of seeding dates on yield;
 All improved varieties performed better than the local.
 Early maturing variety such as Habru is suitable for use for
double crop in cereal-based rotation

26. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Snap Bean (early) Chickpea(early) Cereals
(irrigation)
Cereal-based
rotation
Wolaita
Butajira
Rainfall (mm)
Rainfall (mm)

27. Evaluations of chickpea elite varieties and germplasm lines for
micronutrients and carotenoid complex across locations and years

28. Implementation:
 Scaling up and out: Var. Habru and Mastewal
Seed production ~ all stake holders
 Linking formal eg. Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE)& non-formal seed
sectors
 Establishment of village seed banks/farmer cooperatives
 Possible involvement of agro-entrepreneurs in seed supply chain
 Supply of macro and micronutrients
 Link farmer groups with industry/suppliers – involvement of local gov.
 Soil testing facilities and soil health cards?
 Supply of inoculants ~ link with N2Africa Project
 Grain handling, transportation and storage.
 Value addition and linking farmers to market

29. Year No. of
districts
No.
kebeles
No. of
farmers*
Area
(ha)
Seed supply
(tonnes)
2012 3 4 45 3 0.4
2013 4 8 600
(794)
150
(200)
21
2014 6 12 3,000 750 105
2015 15 30 15,000 3,750 525
2016 30 60 30,000 7,500 1,050
Target districts, kebeles (villages), farmers and area
coverage of chickpea production in five year scaling up
* targeting 20-30% female farmers

30. Thank
You!
Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF):
Call 1 (2010-2013);
Call3 (2012-2014);
Pre Scaling Up (2013-2014)
Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre
Southern Agricultural Research Institute
Bureau of Agriculture
Southern Farmers Cooperatives Federation and member coops union
Zone and District agriculture offices, AgriService Ethiopia
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute
Participating farmers

31. Participating farmers