Browsing by Author "Abate, G."
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Item A Diagnostic Survey on Striga in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands(Arem (Ethiopia) Journal , 1998) Esilaba, A.O.; Mulatu, T.; Reda, R.; Ransom, J.K.; Woldewahid, G.; Tesfaye, A.; Fitwy, I.; Abate, G.; AHI, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia)A diagnostic survey on Striga was conducted during March-April 1996 in the northern Ethiopian highlands. The main objective was to obtain information about current farming systems, the determinants of Striga infestation, and to identify and prioritize the Striga problems and constraints. Of the 218 farmers interviewed, 90 percent identified Striga as a major constraint to cereal production. Most farmers (87 percent) indicated that the witchweed problem was on the increase and 52 percent associated the incidence of Striga with the less fertile areas of the farm. The farmers identified seeds, farm implements, water erosion and animals as methods of Striga dispersal. Control methods that farmers use include hand weeding (74 percent), ox-plow cultivation (20 percent) and farmyard manure. Other crop management practices in the region were limited fallowing and fertilizer use as well as non-legume intercropping and rotation. Long-term research should be conducted on breeding and screening resistant cereal varieties, integrated nutrient management, improved cropping systems, use of multipurpose trees and forage legumes as trap crops to reduce the Striga seed bank, improve soil fertility, and decrease pests and plant diseases. Long-term socio-economic implications of the parasite problem need to be investigated. The development of integrated Striga control measures requires the involvement of farmers, extension agents and researchers.Item Participatory Rural Appraisal on Striga in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands(veterinary Record, 1997) Esilaba, A. O.; Reda, F.; Mulatu, T.; Ransom, J. K.; Woldewahid, G.; Tesfaye, A.; Fitwy, I.; Abate, G.; FAOA participatory rural appraisal on Striga was conducted during Febrary-March 1996 in the northern Ethiopian highlands. The main objective was to provide information on the farming systems, Striga status and control methods. A total of 108 farmers were interviewed and they identified Striga as one of the major constraints to increasing agricultural productivity. Most farmers are aware that Striga is found in nutrient depleted soils and that improved soil fertility alleviated the problem. They identified cultivation, stored grain, crop residues, erosion runoff, livestock and man as Striga dispersal methods. Fallowing, intercropping and crop rotation with trap crops are not practiced in the area are hand pulling, ox-plow cultivation and use of manure close to the homestead. Long-term research efforts should be directed towards reducing the Striga seed bank in the soil, integrated nutrient management strategies, cropping systems and multipurpose trees that improve soil fertility, decrease weeds, pests and the incidence of plant diseases. Breeding and screening for resistant cereal varieties should be conducted. The development of integrated control measures will require a farming systems approach in order to identify problem areas and the types of control measures that are likely to be acceptable to the farmers.
