On-farm Validation of Bread Wheat Innovations for Supporting Extension Package Formulation in Ethiopia

Bread wheat is an important crop type in the Ethiopian production system because of its dual function both as a staple crop that improves food security and income-generating. This study had three intervention treatments on the production sector with the selected method of substantive cost-benefit analysis. The objectives of this research were; to conduct partial budget analysis of the treatments and to improve the recommendations by incorporating the benefits derived from the production process with economic constraints and opportunities for improving bread wheat production systems in Ethiopia at smallholder level. This study presents the partial budget analysis (PBA) framework for the economic analysis of different bread wheat package treatments for their benefit returns. The on-farm experiment was conducted in Hetosa and Tiyo district (Oromia regional state of Ethiopia) and Minjar Shenkora districts (Amhara regional state of Ethiopia) to assess the cost and the return of the treatments. The study investigated for costs and benefits associated with adaptation approaches employed by the farmers on farm packages expressing in monetary term and identify the most effective and economic options based on general information and responses on station and trials with the necessary agronomic practices. Findings from this study shows that the packages tested for the two sample districts varies accordingly; in Oromia regional, state the average grain yield for ATA, Extension and New research package was found 5070, 4830 and 4130 kg per hectare while for Amhara regional state 3870, 4330 and 5000 kg per hectare. The thousands of kernel weight was 36.2, 34.7 and 39.3 for Oromia while 34.6, 38.7 and 33.1 grams. The hectoliter weight was found 69.7, 69.9 and 70.3 in Oromia while it was 77.7, 79.3 and 79.2 in Amhara. The average benefit cost ratio was 1.41, 1.34 and 1.20 for Oromia whereas 1.83, 1.45 and 1.97 in Amhara. This states that the ATA package had a good return in Oromia while new research package had 1.97 returns for 1 Birr invested in bread wheat production in Amhara. The net revenue in Oromia samples per hectare had 16,615.20 ($604.8), 16,602.67 ($604.4), and 8,518.33 ($310.1); whereas 15,413.73 ($561.1), 24,027.20 ($874.8), and 31,656.87 ($1,152.4) Eth.Birr per hectare in Amhara regional state. With the exchange rate of 1 USD=27.47 Eth.Birr. In Amhara the new research package has a worth net return while in the Oromia ATA package had a worth net return as compared to other package treatments.