Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
This study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Agriculture |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5553659 |
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| author | Shimelis Mengistu Ajebu Nurfeta Adugna Tolera Melkamu Bezabih Abera Adie Endalkachew Wolde-meskel Mesfin Zenebe |
| author_facet | Shimelis Mengistu Ajebu Nurfeta Adugna Tolera Melkamu Bezabih Abera Adie Endalkachew Wolde-meskel Mesfin Zenebe |
| author_sort | Shimelis Mengistu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele were randomly chosen for the purpose of individual interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and Excel. The topmost livestock production constraint was feed shortage where a larger proportion of farmers (75.6%) suffered from the problem with higher (p ≤ 0.01) severity in nonproject intervention areas. Of these, 38.6% were challenged for a period of three months while another 61.4% suffered for about four months. Purchasing grass (31.4%) and concentrate (33.5%) and feeding enset (Ensete ventricosum) leaf (21.49%) were the most commonly adopted coping mechanisms to alleviate feed shortages during the dry season, while using purchased grass and enset leaf was the main coping strategy in nonproject intervention (p ≤ 0.01) areas. The majority of households (90.75%) participate in improved forage production regardless of farm size. Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) (71.38%) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (42.63%) are the most common improved forages in both study areas. These forages are produced for the purpose of two or more functions (feed, cash, and preventing erosion) that vary (p ≤ 0.01) among intervention status. Major niche locations adopted for improved forage production include farm land, soil and water conservation structures, and perimeter fencing. Greatest constraints on improved forage production were seed/material shortage followed by land shortage and lack of awareness. Project intervention (p ≤ 0.01), tropical livestock unit (TLU) holding (p ≤ 0.01), and forage seed/planting material access (p < 0.05) were identified as factors (among others) having significant relationship with improved forage development. Strong extension services and efficient input delivery for farmers are vital to support profitable livestock production and resource utilization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba7bdf39d5c74f258df64a7c6a61fc01 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2356-654X 2314-7539 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba7bdf39d5c74f258df64a7c6a61fc012025-08-20T03:23:12ZengWileyAdvances in Agriculture2356-654X2314-75392021-01-01202110.1155/2021/55536595553659Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, EthiopiaShimelis Mengistu0Ajebu Nurfeta1Adugna Tolera2Melkamu Bezabih3Abera Adie4Endalkachew Wolde-meskel5Mesfin Zenebe6College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Department of Animal Production and Technology, Wolkite University, Wolkite, EthiopiaSchool of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Awasa, EthiopiaSchool of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Awasa, EthiopiaCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Department of Animal Production and Technology, Wolkite University, Wolkite, EthiopiaCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Department of Animal Production and Technology, Wolkite University, Wolkite, EthiopiaWorld Agroforestry (ICRAF), Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSend a Cow, Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThis study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele were randomly chosen for the purpose of individual interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and Excel. The topmost livestock production constraint was feed shortage where a larger proportion of farmers (75.6%) suffered from the problem with higher (p ≤ 0.01) severity in nonproject intervention areas. Of these, 38.6% were challenged for a period of three months while another 61.4% suffered for about four months. Purchasing grass (31.4%) and concentrate (33.5%) and feeding enset (Ensete ventricosum) leaf (21.49%) were the most commonly adopted coping mechanisms to alleviate feed shortages during the dry season, while using purchased grass and enset leaf was the main coping strategy in nonproject intervention (p ≤ 0.01) areas. The majority of households (90.75%) participate in improved forage production regardless of farm size. Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) (71.38%) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (42.63%) are the most common improved forages in both study areas. These forages are produced for the purpose of two or more functions (feed, cash, and preventing erosion) that vary (p ≤ 0.01) among intervention status. Major niche locations adopted for improved forage production include farm land, soil and water conservation structures, and perimeter fencing. Greatest constraints on improved forage production were seed/material shortage followed by land shortage and lack of awareness. Project intervention (p ≤ 0.01), tropical livestock unit (TLU) holding (p ≤ 0.01), and forage seed/planting material access (p < 0.05) were identified as factors (among others) having significant relationship with improved forage development. Strong extension services and efficient input delivery for farmers are vital to support profitable livestock production and resource utilization.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5553659 |
| spellingShingle | Shimelis Mengistu Ajebu Nurfeta Adugna Tolera Melkamu Bezabih Abera Adie Endalkachew Wolde-meskel Mesfin Zenebe Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia Advances in Agriculture |
| title | Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Livestock Production Challenges and Improved Forage Production Efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the damot gale district of wolaita zone ethiopia |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5553659 |
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