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InnoFood Africa Project activities at ARARI are in Progress

Sowing, field management and survey

As a continuation of the InnoFood Africa Project activities, some participatory research

undertakings have been implemented at Jigayelmdar and Gashena Akayta Kebeles of Jabitehnan

and Banaja Woredas respectively.

Tef PVS: Tef participatory variety selection using 10 different varieties (Holeta Key, Key

Tena, Dima, Filagot, Asgori, Dega Tef, Gimbichu, Boset, Hiber-1, and Local variety) was sown

on July 21 and 23, 2021. The PVS which has been implemented as one mother trial and two baby

trials was first weeded and urea side dressed from 18 – 21 August 2021. In addition, the second

weeding has been conducted from 29 – 31 September 2021 as per the research recommendation.

Land preparation & tef sowing at Gashena Akayta Kebele of Banja Woreda

Faba bean PVS: Eight faba bean varieties namely Wolki, Tosha, Gebelecho, Ashebeka,

Numan, Dosha, EH08/0B released, and local have been sown with lime on July 21 and 23, 2021

in participatory technology evaluation. The faba bean planted in one mother and two baby trials

First weeding and urea side dressing (left) and 2nd weeding of tef at Gashena Akayta Kebele, Banja woreda

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was first weeded from 17 – 21 August 2021, after it has fully emerged. The second weeding was

done on October 1st.

Maize PTE: The maize participatory technology evaluation (PTE) trial which has been sown

with four maize varieties (BH-546, BH-549, BH-660, and Limu) on June 16, 2021, was weeded

and hoed on 5 July 2021 at Jigayelmdar kebele. By the same token, its second weeding, hoeing,

and urea side-dressing were done from 29 July 2021. To increase its performance and get the

maximum yield, their 3rd round cultivation was done on 1st September 2021.

Maize weeding, hoeing & 1st urea side dressing at Jigayelmdar Kebele, Jabitehnan Woreda

Maize second cultivation (left) and current status (right)) at Jigayelmdar kebele, Jabitehnan Woreda

Land preparation & sowing (left) and 1st (middle) & 2nd (right) weeded faba bean plots at Gashena Akayta

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Maize PVS: The highland maize participatory variety selection (PVS) trial which has been

planted on 25th May 2021 with 6 maize varieties (BH-660, BH-661, AMH-850, AMH851, and

AMH853) was first weeded, hoed and urea side dressed from 21 – 25 June 2021. The trial that

has been planted as one mother and two baby trials was weeded and hoed from 19 – 24 July

2021. Third round weeding and fertilizer application (Urea) was done from 28 – 31 September

(Fig 7).

Second weeding and urea application at Gashena Akayta Kebele of Banja Woreda

OFSP PVS: Five varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) namely Alamura, Dilla,

Kabode, Kulfo, and NASPOT-12 have been planted on July 21, 2021. They were planted as one

mother trial and two baby trials at Jigayelmdar kebele of Jabitehnan woreda. The crop has been

chosen as one of the project crops because of its enormous health benefits. In spite the

transplanting was done during high rainfall (Fig 8), most of the varities established and

performed well. The plots were cultivated once on September 6, 2021 (Fig 9).

Lime application & sowing (left) of 2nd weeding & hoeing of highland maize PVS

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Fig 8. Transplanting of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato at Jigayelmdar Kebele

Orange fleshed Sweet Potato PVS plots after its 1st cultivation at Jigayelmdar Kebele

Data collection & disease control: Some agronomic data (such as stand count, and

vigoursity for maize and faba bean; number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod for

faba bean; establishment score for orange-fleshed sweet potato and tef; disease and pest

surveillances for all crops) have been collected for all intervention crops in the two research

domains timely. Because of the pest incidence, the maize PTE has been sprayed with Best 5 EC

chemical against Fall Army Worm (FAW).

Spraying a chemical for the protection of FAW at Jigayelmdar

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The other important subsidiary activity done in line with the project is the production of an

eleven-minute documentary film. It is produced with the view of providing information about the

status of the current overall activities of the project by ARARI. Besides, five training manuals on

post-harvest technology (Maize, Faba bean, Tef, and Sweet potato), vermin-compost, integrated

soil fertility management and tef seed system have been

prepared. Furthermore, four leaflets on maize & faba bean

post harvest handling and on OFSP postharvest & processing

have also been prepared and made ready for printing.

Survey: Furthermore, baseline surveys on farmers’ needs,

seed system and value chain have been carried out by the

team members in the project intervention kebeles, woredas,

zones, and regional bureau. The first draft report of the need

assessment survey has been written, edited, and compiled;

soon it will be finalized and sent to publishers. Likewise, the

seed system survey that has been conducted at kebele,

woreda, and zonal levels will be continued and finalized at the regional level in the 2nd week of

October.

Need assessment survey at Gashena Akayta (left) and Jigayelmdar (right) Kebeles

Interview with an agent (seed marketing) & farmers on seed system in Jigayelmdar Kebele

የበቆሎ ፣ ባቄላ ፣ ጤፍ እና ስኳር ድንች የድህረ ምርት አያያዝ

ሥልጠና ማንዋል

ለግብርና ባለሙያዎችና አርሶአደሮች የተዘጋጀ

Maize, Faba bean, Tef and Sweet potato Postharvest

Management Training Manual

Prepared for Agricultural Experts and Farmers

በአብክመ የአማራ ግብርና ምርምር ኢንስቲትዩት ሰኔ 2013 ዓ.ም

ANRS Amhara Agricultural Research Institute

June 2021

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Interview with flour mill owners and grain trader (chain actors) in the town of Kosober