Kindie Tesfaye

Maize systems under climate change in sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the biophysical and socioeconomic impacts of climate change on maize production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using adapted improved maize varieties and well-calibrated and validated bioeconomic models. Design/methodology/approach – Using the past climate (1950-2000) as a baseline, the study estimated the biophysical impacts of climate change in 2050 (2040-2069) and 2080 (2070-2099) under the A1B emission scenario and three nitrogen levels, and the socioeconomic impacts in 2050. Findings – Climate change will affect maize yields across SSA in 2050 and 2080, and the extent of the impact at a given period will vary considerably between input levels, regions and maize mega environments (MMEs). Greater relative yield reductions may occur under medium and high-input intensification than under low intensification, in Western and Southern Africa than in Eastern and Central Africa and in lowland and dry mid-altitude than in highland and wet mid-alt...

Climate change adaptation-disaster risk reduction nexus: case study from Ethiopia

Purpose The recently released fifth IPCC report indicates a high agreement among global actors on the need to integrate climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). However, there remains little local level evidence on how DRR and CCA could be linked, the sorts of adjustments that are required for the two concepts to be integrated and the challenges ahead. This paper aims to provide an empirical insight on the possible links and departures between DRR and CCA. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative case study approach to excavate lessons from an existing DRR intervention for CCA using a local-level adaptive capacity assessment framework as a normative criteria. Data was collected both from primary and secondary sources. The primary data collection involved the use of participatory rural appraisal techniques with village communities in Chifra District, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. Findings The findings showed that the DRR interventions studied addressed parts of the elements of adaptive capacity at the local level. The findings also showed the limitation of the DRR intervention, which could be attributed to both the nature of the DRR interventions in general and implementation problems of the case study intervention in particular. The limitations show cases where full integration of DRR with CCA could be challenging. Originality/value The paper argues why the two approaches may not be integrated fully and also shows the need to focus on the design of DRR interventions in achieving both short-term (reducing disaster risks) and long-term objectives (enhancing adaptive capacity).

Determination of optimum plant density for faba bean (Vicia faba L.) on vertisols at Haramaya, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract A field experiment was carried out to identify the optimum plant density, inter and intra-row spacing for the maximum agronomic performance of Gachena (a recently released faba bean variety). A three by three factorial combinations of inter-row (30, 40, and 50 cm) and intra-row (8, 10, and 12 cm) spacing were used as treatments and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of this experiment showed that there was a significant difference in all parameters measured except in 100 seed weight and harvest index. The widest inter and intra-row spacing (12 × 50 cm) gave a significantly higher number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod and seed yield per plant. Besides, it helped the crop to mature earlier than under the narrowest spacing. On the other hand, the widest spacing produced a lower leaf area index (LAI), plant height, seed yield (kg ha−1) and total dry biomass (kg ha−1). 30 × 8 cm spacing combination was found to be optimum spacing that can give the optimum economic yield on vertisols.

Effect of Temperature on Growth and Sporulation of Botrytis fabae, and Resistance Reactions of Faba Bean against the Pathogen

Chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) is a devastating disease of faba bean and reduces its production and productivity. Three controlled condition experiments were conducted to assess the effect of temperature on growth and sporulation of B. fabae, and faba bean resistance reaction against the pathogen using a single B. fabae isolate and Degaga and Bulga-70 faba bean varieties. For cultural experiment, a circular block of actively growing B. fabae mycelia was placed on faba bean dextrose agar medium and arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. For resistance reaction evaluation, fresh culture of isolate suspension was prepared (2 × 105 spores ml-1) and inoculated on to three weeks-old faba bean seedling detached leaves and the whole plant. Inoculated leaflets and seedlings were factorial arranged in a CRD with four replications. Both sets were incubated at 20, 22, 24 and 26°C. The maximum (84.00 mm) radial growth on 5 days after inoculation (DAI); average conidial size (24.86 × 16.32 μm), sporulation (2.48 × 103 conidia ml-1) on 12DAI and growth rate (1.058 mm day-1) were recorded at 22°C. The least values of these parameters and nil sporulation were obtained from 26°C. The highest average lesion size (17.67 mm in Degaga and 22.83 mm in Bulga-70), AUDPC for lesion sizes (30.92 mm in Degaga and 42.08 mm in Bulga-70) and severity (2.13 score) values were recorded at 22°C on 5DAI in detached leaf test. Infection and disease development was reduced at 26°C. The trend was similar in the whole plant test. Such parameters were linearly increased with temperature to maximum and declined progressively in both reaction evaluation tests. The two evaluation experiments indicated that the optimum temperature for B. fabae growth, sporulation, infection and disease development was at 22°C.

Farmers' climate change adaptation options and their determinants in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Exploring micro-level evidences is critical to fine tune effective adaptation options to cope with the adverse impact of climate change. In this regard, detailed studies on climate change adaptation options are not available in the study areas. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess farmers’ climate change adaptation options and determinant factors that influence their choice. Data were collected from 253 respondents randomly using probability proportional to the sizes (PPS) of the population of each district and peasant association from which sample households to be drawn. Descriptive statistics were employed to assess adaptation options while the multinomial logit model (MNL) was used to identify factors influencing households’ choices. The results revealed that farmers use change in crop type /variety, soil and water conservation practices, crop diversification, change in planting date and irrigation practices as climate change adaptation options. Educational level of the household head, age of the household head, sex of the household head, farm income, access to extension service, access to credit, access to climate information and agro-ecological settings were the most important determinant factors that affect significantly the choice of farmers to climate change adaptations. Therefore, an effort that enhances farmers’ awareness to climate change and creates the capacity to adopt climate resilient options is an important strategy that should be considered by a variety of societal groups, including policy makers, and farmers support organizations.

Potential for Scaling up Climate Smart Agricultural Practices: Examples from Sub-Saharan Africa

Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is predominantly rain-fed, and erratic weather patterns and extreme weather events, exacerbated by the changing climate, adds to the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in producing enough food to feed the ever growing population of the region. While the farming communities are responding to these challenges, there is an intensive need for scaling-up adoption of appropriate interventions that can help increase crop yields and resilience to climate change. A review and analysis of potential climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAs) in SSA indicate that some CSAs are increasingly adopted by farmers and show potential for scaling up. Some particularly promising CSAs include drought tolerant (DT) maize varieties and sustainable intensification through crop associations which are increasingly adopted across SSA regions. Other CSA’s which also offer promise include water harvesting and small-scale irrigation, climate information, and natural resource conservation. The presence of successful smallholder CSA practices in SSA means that opportunities exist for cross-country learning and scaling up by supporting farmers’ efforts through exchange of knowledge, incentives and policies.

Meteorological drought assessment in north east highlands of Ethiopia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the patterns and trends of drought incidence in north east highlands of Ethiopia using monthly rainfall record for the period 1984-2014. Design/methodology/approach Standard precipitation index and Mann – Kendal test were used to analyze drought incident and trends of drought occurrences, respectively. The spatial extent of droughts in the study area has been interpolated by inverse distance weighted method using the spatial analyst tool of ArcGIS. Findings Most of the studied stations experienced drought episodes in 1984, 1987/1988, 1992/1993, 1999, 2003/2004 and 2007/2008 which were among the worst drought years in the history of Ethiopia. The year 1984 was the most drastic and distinct-wide extreme drought episode in all studied stations. The Mann–Kendal test shows an increasing tendencies of drought at three-month (spring) timescale at all stations though significant (p < 0.05) only at Mekaneselam and decreasing tendencies at three-month (summer) and 12-month timescales at all stations. The frequency of total drought was the highest in central and north parts of the region in all study seasons. Originality/value This detail drought characterization can be used as bench mark to take comprehensive drought management measures such as early warning system, preparation and contingency planning, climate change adaptation programs.

Effect of Integrated Climate Change Resilient Cultural Practices on Faba Bean Rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) Epidemics in Hararghe Highlands, Ethiopia

Climate variability due to increasing temperature and erratic precipitation could affect faba bean rust disease epidemics and the crop productivity. Rust caused by Uromyces viciae-fabae is one of the serious foliar diseases of faba bean in Ethiopia. Field studies were conducted at Haramaya and Arbarakate during 2012 and 2013 to assess effects of integrated climate change resilient cultural practices on rust epidemics in the Hararghe highlands of Ethiopia. Three climate change resilient cultural practices: intercropping, compost application and furrow planting alone and in integration were evaluated using Degaga and Bulga-70 faba bean varieties and Melkassa-IV maize variety. Treatments were factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Faba bean-maize row intercropping and intercropping integrated treatments significantly reduced disease severity, AUDPC and disease progress rate. These treatments reduced rust mean severity by up to 36.5% (2012) and 27.4% (2013) at Haramaya, and up to 27% in 2013 at Arbarakate on both varieties as compared to sole planting. Compost fertilization also led to slow epidemic progression of rust and significantly reduced disease parameters when integrated with maize row intercropping. Compost fertilization in row intercropping recorded the lowest (23.1%) final mean disease severity and the highest (36.5%) percentage reduction in mean disease severity compared to sole cropping at Haramaya in 2012. The trend was similar in 2013 at both locations. Degaga had the lowest rust disease parameters studied compared to Bulga-70 at both locations over years. The overall results indicated that integrated climate change resilient cultural practices were effective to slow the epidemics of rust and to increase faba bean productivity. Hence, integrated climate change resilient cultural practices along with other crop management systems are recommended in the study areas.

Response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotypes to NaCl levels at early growth stages

-1 ) and eleven sorghum genotypes. The experimental design was completely randomized design with three replicates. Data was analyzed using statistical analysis system (SAS) (version 9.0) statistical software. Germination rate, final germination percentage, seedling shoot length and seedling root length were measured. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for treatments, genotypes and their interaction was found to be highly significant (p<0.001) with regard to all parameters. Genotype ICSV-111 showed greater salt tolerance during germination stages while Teshale and 76T1#23 were better salt tolerant during seedling growth stages. However, genotypes ESH-2 and 97MW6130 were found to be salt sensitive based on all parameters. All parameters measured showed to have an inverse relationship with increase in NaCl salinity levels. The study affirmed presence of wide genotypic variation among the sorghum genotypes for NaCl salt tolerance.