Promotion of Improved <i>Tef</i> (<i>Eragrostis Tef</i>) Technologies Through Cluster-Based Large-Scale Demonstration in Oromia and Amhara Regional States, Ethiopia

Abstract

Technology awareness and adoption by farmers in Ethiopia are low. Therefore, the study was conducted to improve farmers’ awareness, and enhance the adoption of full package Tef production technologies. The large-scale demonstration was implemented in two regional states using the Tef variety Dagim, Ebba and Boset for two years (2020-2021). The demonstration was implemented in three districts (Boset, Becho in Oromia region and Shebel Berenta in Amhara region) covering 9 kebeles and 100 hectares of land. A total of 212 households, including 29 women-headed households participated in the activity. Participated farmers contributed a land size of 0.25 to 1 hectares. The findings of the study showed that the improved variety of Tef showed better performance in grain yield where variety Specifically, Dagim variety gave 2370 kgha^-1 and 2580 kgha^-1 in Becho and Shebel Berenta districts respectively, whereas 2280 and 2480 kgha^-1 were obtained from variety Ebba at the same location. In moisture deficit areas of Boset district, the average yield of Boset and Bora variety was 2260 kgha^-1 and 2350 kgha^-1 respectively, compared to the farmer’s practice of 222 kgha^-1 in highland area and 211 in lowland areas. The technology gap (TG) for the demonstrated varieties ranged from 540 to 725 kgha⁻¹, indicating that the technologies have not been adopted. Similarly, the extension gap ranged from 150to 275 kgha⁻¹, highlighting the need to strengthen the extension approaches to bridge the gap. The results demonstrate that the varieties are the best fitted, and the large scale demonstration approach significantly increased yield s compared to the farmers’ local cultivars and traditional practices. Thus, to ensure a sustainable production of improved Tef technologies, both the extension and the seed system should be considered to deliver the seed supply for the entire Tef producers.